Jim Crawford challenges Ireland’s U21s to keep up with Italy and Sweden
Jim Crawford has challenged the Republic of Ireland’s U21s to set up his November double header against Italy and Sweden by completing a perfect October in Montenegro.
Undefeated Ireland is third in European Championship qualifying group F Behind the Swedes, who have played one more match, and the Italians after Friday’s home victory with 2-0 at Luxembourg.
But as they prepare for Tuesday’s clash in Podgorica, Crawford knows that victory is essential if they are to be stuck in the hunt when the group’s big boys move to Dublin next month.
He said: “The goal in every match is to win and in this window the goal was six points. There is no doubt about that, if we can get six points here it will make it interesting, the next window, because we are against two of the highest ranked teams in the group.
“Italy will play Sweden tomorrow as well, so it will be an interesting match and we will get a lot out of it.
“But of course, when it comes to us getting six points, then it would set up the next window nicely and with the two matches in the next window at Tallaght Stadium we would like to think we can get a decent crowd there and get behind the players because it will be two fantastic games, there is no doubt about that. ”
Cardiff defender Mark McGuinness is also aware of how significant victory can be for what awaits.
McGuinness said: “Winning games is important in itself. Whether it is Montenegro or Italy or Sweden, it is always important. But getting that base to go in just gives us extra confidence. ”
The Republic enters the Montenegro qualifiers without Salford’s injured loaned Aston Villa frontman Tyreik Wright, but with the rest of the squad intact after a slowdown in travel restrictions in the corona virus made it possible for the head coach to select his players in the UK and Germany.
That decision came only after the match in Luxembourg, and it came as a relief that the Irish boss had had to prepare alternative troops with one consisting only of home-based players.
Crawford said: “It was a challenge, it was something new, that’s for sure, but I think you have to have a tight focus on what’s important now, and that was the game against Luxembourg.”
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