In terms of drama, nothing at this month’s UEFA European Under-17 Championships is likely to surpass the goings on at last year’s event, from an Irish perspective at least.
Colin O’Brien’s side went into the 2018 edition of this annual UEFA event as the top ranked side in qualifying for the England-hosted tournament, before making it out of their group to set up a quarter-final encounter with the highly fancied Netherlands.
The Dutch were, as it happens, the second best side, in terms of qualifying, and the two could not be separated over eighty minutes at the Proact Stadium, home of Chesterfield FC.
Extra-time was bypassed and the contest was decided by way of a penalty shoot-out.
Ireland to shoot first, and it was advantage Holland straight away as Adam Idah’s opening effort was stopped by the Dutch keeper, Joey Koorevaar.
Eight converted efforts later, the Dutch were one penalty kick away from a place in the semi-finals with the shoot-out score 4-4 at that stage.
Watch the controversial conclusion to the penalty shoot-out between Ireland and the Netherlands at the Euro U17 Championships. #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/Mm8jln24Pr
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) May 15, 2018
Up stepped Daishawn Redan.
Jimmy Corcoran guessed right. Dived right. And saved the spot-kick, keeping Ireland involved and bringing the shoot-out to sudden death.
Or so he thought.
A magnificent save. Strong hands, at full stretch, batting the well-hit effort away towards the touchline.
But the then Cherry Orchard stopper had gambled and taken two steps off his line, aiding his momentum to save the shot.
Double trouble for Ireland, as first the referee ordered the spot-kick to be retaken, and then disaster for the young keeper as he was brandished a second yellow card and duly sent off.
Defender Oisin McEntee stood between the sticks for the re-spotted effort, but nothing could be done and the Dutch marched on as Redan made no mistake second time of asking.
Ireland bowed out. The Dutch lifted the trophy two games later, edging England, again on penalties, before beating Italy 4-1 – on penalties, naturally – following a 2-2 draw.
Twelve months on and the tournament has arrived on Irish shores with the opening games taking place on Friday at Tolka Park and Tallaght Stadium.
Two Group A encounters to kick-off the event in Dublin as, first, Czech Republic take on Belgium at Tolka (kick-off 12pm), followed by Ireland’s opening game, playing Greece at Tallaght Stadium (kick-off 7:00pm).
The top two teams in all four groups will progress to the quarter-finals, with the main change in format coming in match duration.
Previously, matches at this annual event were played over 80 minutes, but the 2019 event has introduced full 90-minute matches.
Another addition is the ability for teams to use up to five substitutions per game, while the top five teams will also qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil as the UEFA representatives.
Ireland, as hosts, did not have to qualify for this tournament and are also aided by the fact that they were placed in Pot 1 alongside the top seven seeds.
As a result, Belgium are the only other top seeded side in Ireland’s group with Czech Republic and Greece plucked from Pot 2.
England, just missed out on a top seeding and while Ireland avoided their near neighbours in the draw, the English must battle it out with reigning champions and top seeded side in qualifying, the Netherlands, France and Sweden.
Ireland’s squad, made up of players born on or after 1 January 2002, was finalised on Wednesday as star striker Troy Parrott was ruled out of contention through injury, with Southampton’s Roland Idowu drafted in to complete the 20-player squad.
Parrott played in last year’s tournament and scored from the spot in that penalty shoot-out, which means the only player eligible for this year’s squad from the 2018 selection is keeper Corcoran, who is now based at Preston North End.
Corcoran and Shamrock Rovers’ Kian Clarke were the only home-based players in the 2018 squad, yet that quota has doubled for this selection with four players based on the island of Ireland, including Sean McEvoy of Ballinmallard United, Shamrock Rovers defender James Furlong, Brandon Holt from St Patrick's Athletic and Derry City’s Ronan McKinley.
With no qualification process to help establish a settled team, Colin O’Brien's side have played a series of friendly games over the past 12 months.
The Under-17s were narrowly beaten 3-2 by fellow Group A side Czech Republic last November, while they also lost 4-1 to Germany and 3-1 to England in a Dublin-hosted International Tournament.
Ireland will face Belgium in their final group game on 9 May, also at Tallaght Stadium, and the two sides have already met this year, going head-to-head in a friendly encounter in Marbella in February.
O’Brien’s side trailed 2-0 after 30 minutes in that game, but showed plenty of character in a second-half comeback as Andrew Omobamidele headed home from a corner and it was almost completed in the final minutes as Ronan McKinley hit the bar.
Ireland will have taken plenty of positives out of that game going into the tournament, combined with the fact that they had beaten Poland 1-0 two days previously at the same Spanish venue.
Two further games were played in March as Ireland went down, twice, to Finland, as they played at both of their Euro venues, the RSC in Waterford and Tallaght Stadium.
O’Brien was missing key players for both matches with Gavin Bazunu and forward Festy Ebosele promoted to the Under-21 and Under-19 squads respectively. The Finland games were the first time that Manchester United’s Charlie McCann was called into the Under-17 squad and the midfielder made an immediate impression on the manager, making the final selection for this month’s tournament.
Ireland face Greece and the Czech Republic in their opening two games before meeting fellow seeded side, Belgium, in the last group match, so O’Brien’s side will be anxious to make a positive start in order to eye one of the quarter-final spots on offer.
And O’Brien believes the experience from last year’s event combined with the continuity in the coaching staff will help his side to hit the ground running in their opener with Greece.
"Even though we didn't go through the qualifying rounds, we have used the last year to prepare as best as possible for this tournament and our staff has remained consistent, which is an important part of keeping the players focused on what they need to do," said O’Brien.
"We are excited about this challenge. It has been on our minds for two years ever since we knew that Ireland would be hosting this tournament and now it is here we want to embrace it.
"The squad has been training and preparing well for our game against Greece. It is important that we begin as we mean to go on with a positive approach and a belief that we can go far in this tournament once we trust in our ability and bond as a team."
