Harvey Vale Called Up: Ireland Squad for World Cup Play-Off vs Czechia Revealed
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s tenure as Republic of Ireland manager has been extended through the Euro 2028 tournament, the Football Association of Ireland confirmed Thursday. The news arrived alongside the announcement of the squad set to face Czechia in a crucial FIFA World Cup play-off semi-final next week.
Hallgrimsson, who took the reins of the Irish national team previously, will now oversee the squad through a home European Championship, with Dublin set to host seven matches in the expanded 2028 tournament. The extension provides “stability and clarity” according to the FAI, particularly as Ireland prepares for the high-stakes clash in Prague on .
The squad itself features a blend of familiar faces and new additions, most notably QPR midfielder Harvey Vale. The 22-year-old, a former England Under-19 captain, recently had his switch of allegiance approved by FIFA and has been monitored by Hallgrimsson for over a year.
“The exception to that rule is Harvey Vale,” Hallgrimsson said after revealing his squad. “I talked to him over a year ago when I was at Queens Park (Rangers) and he expressed a desire to play for Ireland. He was injured at that time so we have been watching him since then, his development at Queens Park. He’s been growing by every game and I think it’s a perfect time to bring him into this squad now.”
Vale’s versatility is a key asset, having featured both as a winger and an attacking midfielder for QPR. Hallgrimsson believes the latter position may be where he thrives most for the national team. “He’s been playing out left for Queens Park but he is probably best in a centre role. He is a versatile player, can play all across the top positions,” the manager explained.
Alongside Vale, Josh Keeley of Luton Town, Bosun Lawal of Stoke City and James Abankwah of Watford have been included in the 25-man selection. Whereas Keeley, Lawal, and Abankwah have been involved in previous camps, Vale represents a fresh face as Ireland seeks to secure a spot in the World Cup.
The squad as well includes several players currently facing challenges with limited playing time at their respective clubs. Séamus Coleman, Robbie Brady, Chiedozie Ogbene, and Adam Idah are among those who have seen reduced minutes in recent weeks, often due to injury. But, Hallgrimsson isn’t overly concerned.
“Not a concern,” he stated. “But, obviously, you would like everyone in a national team to be playing on a regular basis and doing well at their clubs. That’s what you want. But, for the likes of Séamus [Coleman], we have had him in not playing [at club level] and he did exceptionally well for us. In him, Robbie [Brady], are players who have the experience and the know-how from these games, they can share that with the players as well. So, not only football reasons but also psychological effect, it’s good to have these players back.”
Lawal’s inclusion, despite a recent spell on the sidelines, was a deliberate choice. Hallgrimsson highlighted the Stoke City player’s physicality as a valuable attribute for what he anticipates will be a demanding match in Prague. “Bosun is physical, he’s taller so he can he can cope with what we expect this game to be about,” he said, adding that Lawal was “fit” despite his recent lack of game time.
The decision to select Lawal came at the expense of a spot for Conor Coventry, a tough choice for Hallgrimsson. The manager acknowledged the difficulty of leaving players out but emphasized Lawal’s specific strengths for this particular contest.
Interestingly, Hallgrimsson revealed that veteran striker David McGoldrick, currently enjoying a productive spell with Barnsley, was considered for a potential recall. The 38-year-old had previously retired from international duty in 2020, but his recent form prompted discussions between Hallgrimsson and assistant coach John O’Shea.
“Yeah, his name came up when we were looking at our strikers’ option,” Hallgrimsson admitted. “We just wanted to see what options we had and he’s one that has done exceptionally well in his career. He’s doing well at this moment as well. I know his age but still we just wanted to know what options we would have. Me and John spoke and we decided to give him a call just to see if we needed him. If he would be ready. He was surprised to have this call but we just wanted to see all our options what options we had. He was not in our provisional squad but again, we might look at him at a later date.”
The Republic of Ireland squad will now turn their attention to the crucial play-off semi-final against Czechia. The match, scheduled for , will be broadcast on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, with live coverage beginning at 7:00 PM Irish time. Fans can also follow live updates on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
Republic of Ireland Squad:
Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Brentford), Mark Travers (Everton), Josh Keeley (Luton Town).
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Jimmy Dunne (QPR), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Jake O’Brien (Everton), John Egan (Hull City), James Abankwah (Watford), Liam Scales (Celtic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Midfielders: Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), Alan Browne (Middlesbrough), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Finn Azaz (Southampton), Harvey Vale (QPR).
Attackers: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Johnny Kenny (Bolton, on loan from Celtic), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United, on loan from Ipswich Town), Sammie Szmodics (Derby, on loan from Ipswich Town).