Maeda, O'Shea and Lukic Set For International Action
Thursday, 1st Oct 2026 09:40
Daizen Maeda, Dara O’Shea and Sasa Lukic look set to add to their international caps today.
Maeda’s Japan are first in action when they host Ecuador in a Kirin Cup semi-final in Yokohama this morning (KO 11.10am).
The forward will win his 32nd cap and be looking for his sixth international goal if he is involved having been an unused sub in the 2-1 victory over Uruguay on Monday.
O’Shea will skipper the Republic of Ireland and on-loan Blues winger Chieo Ogbene is also in the squad as they host Austria in the Nations League at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (KO 7.45pm, Amazon Prime) having won their controversial game against Israel in Hungary 3-0 at the weekend.
Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has confirmed that the return match against the Israelis this coming Sunday behind closed doors in Serbia will go ahead despite continuing protests.
O’Shea, yet to score an international goal, will be winning his 48th cap this evening, while Ogbene, who is on loan at Lincoln City for the season, will pick up his 37th if he is involved and will be looking for his sixth goal for his country.
Lukic’s Serbia are still looking to pick up their first Nations League points and face a tough trip to Germany this evening (KO 7.45pm, Amazon Prime).
The Town midfielder has previously won 65 full caps, scoring two international goals.
Elsewhere, Blues keeper Henry Gray, who is on loan at Wellington Phoenix and won his first senior cap as a sub last week, was an unused sub as New Zealand beat Panama 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in their Kirin Cup semi-final in Japan.
The All Whites will face the winners of the Japan-Ecuador match in the final.
_Photo: Reuters_