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If England do come to Dublin, the Aviva Stadium will host the match ©INPHO/Norman McCloskey

Welcome back: Lansdowne Road looks set for visit of Three Lions

UEFA have given the green light for the two sides to meet in the run-up to Euro 2012

THE FAI HAVE taken a significant step closer to hosting the much-anticipated friendly with England after UEFA’s latest ruling which would allow the game to take place in May 2012.

There have been positive comments coming from both camps in recent months with FAI chief executive John Delaney indicating that there was a real chance of the team ranked fifth in the world coming to the Aviva Stadium if the two nations weren’t drawn in the same group at this summer’s European Championships.

Ireland have since discovered they will play current champions Spain, Italy and Croatia while Fabio Capello’s side are in Group D with co-hosts Ukraine, Sweden and France – meaning an agreement looked to be on the cards.

A window in late May was mooted as the most suitable date for the game to go ahead, with the Czech Republic scheduled to visit Dublin on 29 February and Holland travelling to play at Wembley on the same date.

The fixture was put in serious doubt when it was discovered that UEFA prevented Euro 2012 finalists playing each other 30 days prior to the start of the tournament meaning it would be impossible for the match to take place in the coming months.

Warm-up

However, the European football governing body have now amended that rule after lobbying from a number of international football federations.

“The UEFA Executive Committee at its meeting yesterday agreed a change to article 2.08 of the UEFA European Football Championship 2011-12 regulations and exceptionally to allow the playing of one friendly only in the month prior to the start of the final tournament among competing teams as long as they are not from the same group,” a UEFA spokesperson told The Score earlier today.

While the FAI were unavailable to comment, the way is now clear for the first meeting of the two sides in 17 years.

That game in February 1995 was abandoned when rioting erupted in sections of the old ground after David Kelly had put Ireland a goal up.

‘Trap hurt me but I’m willing to return’ – Steven Reid

It’s Gdynia or bust as Ireland confirm Euro 2012 base

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    Mute Larry Roe
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    Sep 6th 2012, 7:45 AM

    brilliant so far ,brilliant athletes,brilliant atmosphere,enjoying every minute of it :)

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    Mute Edward Timoney
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    Sep 6th 2012, 1:02 PM

    These Paralympics are absolutely brilliant. Channel 4 giving super coverage, thanks be to jaysus I have sky. I bet RTE regrets not covering it now seeing its so popular and the Irish athletes are doing us so proud. I wonder will they now cover the Rio Paralympic.

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    Mute David Walsh
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    Sep 6th 2012, 9:23 AM

    The Alex Zinardi story must have a movie in it

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Sep 6th 2012, 5:15 PM

    I watch on UPC, on Channel 4. Setanta 1 is an extra pay channel. Setanta Ireland have highlights three times a day. It’s just brilliant and the Irish have excelled themselves.

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    Mute G
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    Sep 6th 2012, 10:22 AM

    I’m amazed at the amount of coverage these events get. As sports followers we are fascinated by who is the fastest man or woman over 100m on the planet, this is an age old tradition. Is anyone actually bothered who the fastest slightly blind man, man with one leg or woman in a wheelchair is. Pistorius is famous because he ran in the actual Olympics, the vast majority of people couldn’t name another paralympic competitor.

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    Mute Sean Flanagan
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    Sep 6th 2012, 11:09 AM

    It’s the adversity these athletes overcome to compete and succeed in the paralympics that has captured the imagination of the nation. They are inspirational and demonstrate the strength of human willpower. I’m actually disappointed there hasn’t been more coverage of the paralympics, particularly on RTE.

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