Ipswich Town stars looking to qualify for the World Cup
Dara O'Shea will be joined by Jack Taylor as Ireland look to qualify for the World Cup (Image: PA)
DARA O’SHEA AND JACK TAYLOR
It’s a big international break for Town’s Irish contingent, with four players called up by the Republic of Ireland for their World Cup play-offs.
That includes two members of the Blues’ current first-team squad, in the form of O’Shea (41 caps) and Taylor (10 caps), as well as loanees Sam Szmodics (11 caps) and Chiedozie Ogbene (30 caps), who are at Championship rivals Derby County and Sheffield United respectively.
Winger Kasey McAteer misses out on a place for the second international break in a row, having last featured for the Boys in Green back in September. He was an unused substitute in qualifying games in October.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side are just two wins away from the World Cup, having earned a play-off spot thanks to a sensational hat-trick from former Ipswich loanee Troy Parrott in November’s 3-2 win against Hungary.
That sets them up to face Czechia at the Fortuna Arena in Prague this evening (7:45pm). The winner will then host the winner of Denmark v North Macedonia – which kicks off at the same time – on Tuesday (7:45pm).
Ireland are hoping to qualify for the World Cup for the fourth time in their history and the first time since 2002. Should they make it, they will join Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
Anis Mehmeti is back with the Albania national team after almost four years away (Image: Ross Halls)
ANIS MEHMETI
January recruit Anis Mehmeti may have been born in Islington, London, but he represents Albania through his parents, who emigrated to England before he was born. He represented them regularly at youth level and earned three senior caps in Euro 2024 qualifying, coming off the bench to play on the right against Poland, Moldova and the Faroe Islands.
Since then, it’s been frustration for the versatile attacker, who regularly questioned why his excellent form at Bristol City wasn’t enough to force his way back into the squad under former Arsenal and Man City defender Sylvinho.
A move to Portman Road seems to have changed his fortunes. He’s back with Albania for the first time in almost four years, returning at the perfect time. The Red and Blacks are in World Cup play-off action, first taking on Poland in Warsaw this evening (7:45pm).
The winners of that tie will then go on to face the victors of Ukraine v Sweden on Tuesday (7:45pm) for a place at the World Cup, something Albania haven’t achieved in their history.
How much of a part will Mehmeti play? That remains to be seen, but Sylvinho seems to have a unique role set out for him.
“Mehmeti was brought in three years ago and he has grown and improved a lot,” he said. “I see him as a wing-back, despite the fact that at the club where he plays, he is in the position of the number 10, but he is specifically a wing striker.”
George Hirst is aiming to secure a spot in Scotland's World Cup squad (Image: PA)
GEORGE HIRST
Scotland's spot at the World Cup is already secured. A superb qualifying campaign saw them top Group C ahead of Denmark, Greece and Belarus, booking their place at the tournament for the first time since 1998.
For six-cap Hirst, there’s now a simple goal – to ensure that he’s in Steve Clarke’s squad, with games against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil to come in in the group stage this summer.
There has been some frustration surrounding his call-up. Many fans were keen to see someone like in-form Oli McBurnie, who has bagged 13 goals and seven assists for Hull this season, but it’s Hirst who gets the nod. This international break will be his chance to prove he’s the right man.
Scotland have two games, first facing Japan at Hampden Park on Saturday (5pm) before travelling south of the border to take on the Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday (7:30pm).
If Hirst can deliver, both during this international break and for Town in the run-in, he should find himself on the plane to North America later this year.
Elkan Baggott has struggled for minutes so far this season (Image: Ross Halls)
ELKAN BAGGOTT
Baggott has had a tough season so far. Instead of being sent back out on loan following his stint at Blackpool, the 23-year-old was kept as centre-back cover, with most of his appearances coming for the Under-21s in the Premier League 2.
As a first-team player, his only start came in the FA Cup exit at Wrexham. Hopefully international football will give him a chance to get some more minutes under his belt.
He’s back with the Indonesian team for the first time in more than two years, although their dreams of World Cup qualification were brought to a swift end back in November. They have just one game, hosting St. Kitts and Nevis in Jakarta tomorrow (1pm).
Baggott will look to earn his 25th cap at senior level.
Somto Boniface was named on the bench for Town's 0-0 draw against Millwall (Image: Ross Halls)
SOMTO BONIFACE
While not officially part of Ipswich’s first-team squad, Boniface is clearly in the picture, having made the bench in the Premier League last year before doing the same in the FA Cup and the Championship this season.
He’ll have the chance to shine internationally now, joining up with England U20s for their friendly match against Italy, which will be played at the Riano Athletic Centre in Rome tomorrow (3:30pm).
Should he play, it will be Boniface’s third cap for Neil Ryan’s side.
