Soccer:The FAI expects to be able to confirm the Republic of Ireland's friendly against Hungary next summer in the coming days. Giovanni Trapattoni's side are due to play in Budapest on June 4th, the Italian's last opportunity to look at his players in a match situation before the Euro 2012 finals.

Those Euro 2012 preparations begin in earnest at the end of this month with Ireland due to meet the Czech Republic, who have also qualified for this summer’s showpiece, in their first outing since beating Estonia in the play-offs last November.

Trapattoni will name his squad for the friendly at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, with a certain James McClean hoping to force his way into the reckoning following a string of eye-catching performances since making the breakthrough at Sunderland.