The round of UEFA testing for Covid-19 carried out with the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their match against Germany has come back negative.

Vera Pauw's players are currently based in Duisburg ahead of Saturday's UEFA Euro 2022 qualifier against the group favourites in Essen.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) say they have worked closely with the government, Health Service Executive and UEFA to follow all recommended guidelines.

As with all UEFA sanctioned matches at the moment, the qualifier will be played behind closed doors, which takes the home crowd factor out of what is a very tough fixture for Ireland who currently lead Group I by a point ahead of the Germans who also have a game in hand.

Irish midfielder Megan Connolly, who comes into the game off the back of some fine form with her new club Brighton, admits that they will still be up against it.

"If you look at the quality of the Germans and you look at all the individual players, you see their past results and you see how good they are. I think realistically it's going to be a tough one," said Connolly.

"They're maybe going to have a lot of the possession. It's a case for us of having to do the defensive job as best as we can but when we do get the opportunities, when we do have the ball it's a case of, can we play our game, can we try and move it, can we try play an not just panic on the ball when we get it.

"Obviously you build-up to the game but once you're in the game, anything can happen. You can plan up to the game but when you're in the game, ten or fifteen minutes in, it can be going any way and you just have to feel the game really. If it's a case of it being backs to the wall, [we'll try] to hold out as much as we can and if we get an opportunity, take it."

Germany v Republic of Ireland

UEFA 2022 Women’s European Championship Qualifying – Group I
Saturday, September 19
Stadion Essen
KO 13:00 (Irish Time)