Friendly preview: Nations Cup kicks off, Netherlands pick strong squad

New Wales boss Gary Speed has an injury crisis on his hands as his side prepares to take on Ireland in the Carling Nations Cup on Tuesday.

The Cup, which is a round-robin tournament between Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland, kicks off a big mid-week round of friendlies across Europe, Africa and the Americas.

Wales will face Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, minus the services of stars Gareth Bale, Craig Bellamy, Aaron Ramsey, Boaz Myhill, Danny Gabbidon and David Edwards.

The injury crisis leaves Speed with some serious headaches ahead of his first match in charge, but striker Robbie Earnshaw said the players who are involved will be determined to impress their new manager.

“For me it’s no friendly,” Earnshaw told RTE Sport.

“It’s a huge game. We are going there with a freshness about the camp as Gary has taken over and everyone wants to do well for the new manager and that can have a big effect.”

Wales have won just one of their last six matches, and will need to vastly improve against a Republic of Ireland side who sit second in their Euro 2012 qualifying group.

The other Nations Cup match pits Scotland against Northern Ireland, also at the Aviva Stadium.

Injuries have also hit the Northern Irish hard, with captain Aaron Hughes, West Brom playmaker Chris Brunt, Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty, Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor, Blackpool defender Craig Cathcart and Coventry midfielder Sammy Clingan all among those ruled out.

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher will be absent for the Scots.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Sweden will look to recover some form ahead of their upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers when they travel to Cyprus for a knockout tournament with the hosts, Romania and Ukraine.

Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast meet African neighbours Mali in Valence, France and Panama travel to Peru.

On Wednesday, the Czech Republic face the challenge of a visit from Croatia.

The Balkans side have not lost a match since September 2009 and will be determined to put their best foot forward in their last warm-up game before Euro 2012 qualifiers resume in March.

The Netherlands have named a near-full strength team to face Austria in Rotterdam, with Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong, Mark van Bommel, Dirk Kuyt and John Heitinga all named in Bert van Marwijk’s 22-man squad.

In the pick of the other European action, Euro 2012 co-host Poland face Norway just two days after their 1-0 win over Moldova, Greece welcome Canada to Larissa, Serbia travel to Israel and Belgium face Finland.

In the Americas, Honduras will host Ecuador, Venezuela face Costa Rica and Mexico travel north to play Bosnia-Herzegovina in Atlanta.