Jim Crawford's Republic of Ireland Under-21 side remain on the cusp of qualification for their first ever European Championships after a 3-1 win at home to Montenegro on Monday night.
All eyes now turn to Thursday’s game between Sweden and Italy in Helsingborg.
THURSDAY'S CRUCIAL GAME
If that game ends in a draw, then Ireland will have a chance in Ascoli next Tuesday to top the group and qualify automatically with a win against the Italians. Ireland will be guaranteed second spot if the Italy-Sweden game finishes level.
The last game between the sides ended in a draw with Sweden earning a point thanks to a 92nd minute equaliser from Tim Prica.
If Italy defeat the Swedes, Ireland will be guaranteed a play-off place. However, if Sweden beat Italy, then Ireland will have to go to Italy and earn a point to qualify for a play-off.
They would finish above Sweden due to their better head-to-head record than their Swedish counterparts.
IRELAND V ITALY
If Italy fail to win on Thursday, an win Irish win would see Crawford’s side top the group and qualify automatically.
If Sweden beat Italy, then a loss in Ascoli would see Ireland finish third and miss out on any hopes of qualification.
STORY SO FAR
A 1-1 draw away in Luxembourg back in September 2021 before a shock defeat away to Montenegro in October 2021 meant that Ireland had only picked up seven out of a possible 12 points without playing either of the top two Italy or Sweden yet.
After suffering a home defeat to a very strong Italian side, back-to-back wins against likely rivals for second place Sweden got the campaign back on track. The first came at Tallaght Stadium thanks to a last gasp Ollie O’Neill goal before a solid 0-2 away win with goals from Ross Tierney and Tyreik Wright.
Further victories against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro have put Ireland in prime position for at least a playoff spot. The team has developed over the course of the qualifying campaign.
Cardiff City’s Mark McGuinness has become a rock at the centre of defence. Lee O’Connor has now become the most capped men’s underage international player in the history of the nation, while Joel Bagan has put in a series of fine performances at left back. He’s been helped by the pressure put on his position by the exciting Tayo Adaramola of Crystal Palace.
Captain Conor Coventry and midfield partner Gavin Kilkenny have caught the eye in the centre of the park and are probably not far away from a senior call up. However, it has been the development of Southampton’s Will Smallbone who has kicked this group on in the last couple of matches.
Three goals in his last two appearances have intensified calls for the advanced playmaker to be accelerated into the senior team. An attacking threat from the midfield area has been something that Stephen Kenny’s side has lacked.
The wide positions have had a fair amount of rotation, but Tyreik Wright has always been a threat whenever he has played. Motherwell’s Ross Tierney has produced some important moments but perhaps none more important than his opener away in Sweden.
The centre-forward position has arguably seen the most competition. UCD’s Colm Whelan started at home to Italy but a serious injury had ruled him out for the foreseeable. Evan Ferguson and Joshua Kayode have all led the line at times, but a fine performance from Mipo Odubeko against Montenegro surely has the West Ham centre-forward in pole position to start against Italy.
Conor Noß and Ollie O’Neill have impressed in fleeting performances from both the bench and the starting eleven, whilst UCD’s Liam Kerrigan shone playing wide on the right at home to Montenegro on Monday. Eiran Cashin has finally got his passport issues sorted out and looked a calming presence alongside McGuinness. The Derby defender will most likely deputise for the injury stricken Oisin McEntee.
The under-21 age group are tasked with balancing success on the pitch and also developing players for the senior international team. Gavin Bazunu, Troy Parrott, Nathan Collins, Festy Ebosele, Jason Knight and Michael Obafemi are all still eligible for the under-21s but are currently in the senior squad, whilst Aaron Connolly, Adam Idah and Andrew Omobamidele are missing through injury.
POTENTIAL PLAY-OFF
This crop of under-21s have never had a better chance to qualify for a major tournament, to do it missing those players would be a fantastic achievement.
The play-offs are due to take place in September of this year with the finals taking place in Romania and Georgia in the summer of 2023.
