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![Wales' Gareth Bale, left, and Republic of Ireland's Matt Doherty embrace after the Nations League B Group 4 match in Cardiff. Wales won the match 1-0. Reuters REUTERS/Rebecca Naden](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7SJCM7QW5C76OCR6ZOSYLT6ZOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d91efebc950a0bf4f75911691b223011f548bbb30891c1e2e72e745e3b13476&width=400&height=225)
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![Republic of Ireland's midfielder Jeff Hendrick , second right, is suspended for the Nations League match against Bulgaria. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OF2MAJCS5GI7TTWIECPF5MMG5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b0c62159d170b5b4fc20280f2a485e3fc761d2e0ef1d060270456124a51ad7b0&width=400&height=225)
![Republic of Ireland's Darren Randolph during the warm up before the match against Wales. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DLR3COOLV2TZJXPRFQSJOYVZEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fd6c6374a9a1e6362a4a2c1bf99e5284e14898de40bdc368f43bc8a158aad42&width=400&height=225)
![Republic of Ireland's Shane Duffy, centre, was the last Irish player to score an international goal, against Bulgaria last year. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IR2OWUILBPRBES4Q5QYJDFJWVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=29672b84fe09acb3b1a83672c2480cf0473be2a71e9e72e55e5da24fae698881&width=400&height=225)
![Republic of Ireland's James McClean will miss the Bulgaria game after testing positive for Covid-19. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/USVNJDITOQB4YQKJE66WCDAUEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5685c94ef909b5ff5edce53217f33017a052bb1da6a2f57fae83061b7f207f4b&width=400&height=225)
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![Republic of Ireland's midfielder James McClean shoots towards goal against Wales. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5P5CDUH3FIFJE67IKTIP45HPBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=040bf67e37fc040cebb252f2c8e2ddc81314bf505c41b6826445688ba3222c33&width=400&height=225)
![Wales' Gareth Bale, left, and Republic of Ireland's Matt Doherty embrace after the Nations League B Group 4 match in Cardiff. Wales won the match 1-0. Reuters REUTERS/Rebecca Naden](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7SJCM7QW5C76OCR6ZOSYLT6ZOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d91efebc950a0bf4f75911691b223011f548bbb30891c1e2e72e745e3b13476&width=400&height=225)
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![Republic of Ireland's midfielder Jeff Hendrick , second right, is suspended for the Nations League match against Bulgaria. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OF2MAJCS5GI7TTWIECPF5MMG5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b0c62159d170b5b4fc20280f2a485e3fc761d2e0ef1d060270456124a51ad7b0&width=400&height=225)
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![Republic of Ireland's Shane Duffy, centre, was the last Irish player to score an international goal, against Bulgaria last year. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IR2OWUILBPRBES4Q5QYJDFJWVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=29672b84fe09acb3b1a83672c2480cf0473be2a71e9e72e55e5da24fae698881&width=400&height=225)
![Republic of Ireland's James McClean will miss the Bulgaria game after testing positive for Covid-19. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/USVNJDITOQB4YQKJE66WCDAUEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5685c94ef909b5ff5edce53217f33017a052bb1da6a2f57fae83061b7f207f4b&width=400&height=225)
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![Manager Stephen Kenny has not seen his Ireland side score in six games. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z62JVNJF7MOZDC5KD4V3WY3IYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=abd680197d660331d8fadcd6dde4074660f96329aebaec89f4188786a655864f&width=400&height=225)
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Republic of Ireland's wretched form threatens to get much worse
Facing the indignity of Nations League relegation, Ireland manager Kenny is missing 13 of his original 26-man party for match against Bulgaria
![Richard Jolly](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Febc0c166-5a55-4620-acb4-81b42c495c64.png?smart=true&auth=d10b82c9721741924fda860bd011ae7e541234a5246170b9aaa44425179ea9ce&width=70&height=70)
Richard Jolly
November 18, 2020
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