THE FAI yesterday confirmed that they had received an invitation to play a friendly game against Brittany in Nantes at the end of May, but described the game as a “non-runner”, writes Emmet Malone.

The association says that it is still working on its plans for the build-up to the European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine next summer.

It seems that a friendly against Hungary may feature late on a schedule that looks increasingly likely to involve a training cap in Montecatini, near Florence.