Ireland U21 guaranteed play-off after a draw against Italy against Sweden
Ireland U21 guaranteed play-offs.
Jim Crawfords Ireland U21 has been given the opportunity to secure the top spot in their European Championship 2023 qualifying group, after Sweden and Italy drew 1-1 in Helsingborg on Thursday night.
The result means that Italy remains in the only automatic qualifying spot of 21 points, two ahead of Ireland, who can take the top spot if they beat their hosts in Ascoli on Tuesday.
Ireland U21 can still top the group.
Thursday’s draw means that Sweden finishes in third place with 18 points and is now out of the game to qualify for the tournament in Romania and Georgia next summer, which means that Ireland is now guaranteed at least one final.
Ireland have never before qualified for the European Championships at U21 level and they may never get a better opportunity to do so than against Italy on Tuesday next week.
The match starts at 16.30 and will be broadcast live RTE 2just three hours before the Irish senior team kicks off against Ukraine in their Uefa Nations League meeting in Lodz.
🇮🇪 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬-𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗗 🇮🇪
Ireland’s U21 have secured a first ever # U21EURO playoff spot 🙌
Congratulations to manager Jim Crawford, his players and staff 👏
Now to Italy where a win would secure automatic qualification 💚# IRLU21 | #COYBIG | #We are one pic.twitter.com/UAoDbMcB5o
– FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) June 9, 2022
Ireland’s gifted harvest.
It all provides an appetizing double-header, but no doubt the talented U21 side will generate as much interest from the Irish public as their senior counterparts.
A number of Crawford’s young players have come to the fore in recent months, with senior manager Stephen Kenny even pointing out midfielder Will Smallbone for praise earlier this week.
“I would love to see him get a series of matches because he was definitely exceptional yesterday and it was great to see that,” said Kenny.
“He will obviously go and play against Italy next week for the 21-year-old, but he definitely has a future with the international senior team you would feel if he continues in that form.”
Crawford looks at the top spot.
While Ireland bet on a draw between Sweden and Italy, Crawford would have been forgiven for thinking such a result was a high issue.
However, after Monday’s victory over Montenegro at Tallaght Stadium, the former Newcastle United man expressed his conviction that it was still possible to top the group.
“Every match we play we want to win,” he said. “There is no doubt about it. And the same goes for Italy.
“Even if it’s a dead rubber, you’ll get a playoff, but we’ll go there to win, to keep up the pace the team has. And every game gives the players lessons and I’m sure we will go through the material and have presentations ready for the players on Friday. ”
It’s not a dead rubber, and it’s actually everything to play for when Ireland aim for a historic victory. Roll on Tuesday.
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