2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championships

[Razors left peg]

Is the Italy game televised in Ireland?

[elatedscum]

Is the Italy game televised in Ireland?

Eir Sport 1

[elatedscum]

Think we have a decent chance to win the group. I think we’ll beat Iceland at home and beat Luxembourg. If we can draw with Italy, they have to win every game left to match us on points...

That’s the away game to Iceland which is a difficult place to travel, especially in November - and home against Sweden who beat them recently. Harder games than we have...

Shame for the 21s that we’re missing 7 players with the senior squad... nonetheless, italy playing with a mixed u20/u21 squad helps us...

[elatedscum]

Hard to predict the team.

Bazunu will definitely start in goal.

-

Lee O’Connor at right back

Masterson in the centre

Second centre half is hard to predict. If Collins is fit, I think it’ll be him. If not, it’s a toss up between Scales and McCarthy.

Left back will probably be Thomas O’Connor but could easily be Leahy. Leahy is probably defensively better and is the more conservative choice, but O’Connor is the better footballing fullback and will contribute more when we have the ball...

-

Coventry will start in a holding midfield role

The Molumby/Knight role will go to either Taylor or Mandriou. Both are talented footballers. Mandriou was good against Sweden. Taylor has had the better time recently at club level.

-

As for the number 10, and the front 3, it’s 4 out of 5 I think:

Number 10 could be Ronan or Smallbone.

Centre forward could be Obafemi or Afolabi.

Afolabi could play wide left, Obafemi could play wide right too, Smallbone could also play out side. Then there’s Elbouzedi who has been a regular squad member and can play either wing.

Amazing how strong the side looks considering how it’s missing it’s best players

[Razors left peg]

I would think Smallbone will play alongside Coventry, I hope so. I think he could be good there

[Olé Olé]

Is this televised folks?

[jbyrne]

Is this televised folks?

only place I heard of is here...
https://www.aceodds.com/bet365-live-streaming/football.html

[geysir]

Afaiu UEFA’s directives post covid, if a game cannot be rescheduled, the team that were the cause of the cancellation shall forfeit the game. Unless UEFA can order Iceland to concede home advantage and play the game in neutral territory, Iceland should be awarded a 3 nil victory. No way that a rescheduled game could be played in Iceland before March 2021.

[elatedscum]

Bazunu

L O’Connor
Masterson
Collins
Leahy

Coventry
Taylor
Ronan

Smallbone
Elbouzedi

Obafemi

[tommy_c12000]

Good team all things considered

[jbyrne]

this link seems to be working.....

http://www.freeintertv.com/view/id-1802

need to copy the link into your browser

[tommy_c12000]

Caught the second part of first half. Good football being played again by Ireland, really refreshing to watch. Obafemi doing nothing to justify a senior call up. Hard to believe that Elbouzedi isn’t getting game time in League one. Unlucky to be 1-0, defense could have done better I thought, but really well taken goal

Was it Collins or Masterson for the goal? Can’t see it well on my phone with no sound

[Scrufil]

this link seems to be working.....

http://www.freeintertv.com/view/id-1802

need to copy the link into your browser


Thanks jbyrne.

[The Lilywhites]

What's Masterson at looking over at the linesman (twice ffs!) instead of concentrating on the Italian player.

Think it was him too that got in the mix up with Coventry that nearly gifted Italy a goal before that.

We're not doing much going the other way.

[elatedscum]

has the link gone down for anyone else?

[Razors left peg]

Caught the second part of first half. Good football being played again by Ireland, really refreshing to watch. Obafemi doing nothing to justify a senior call up. Hard to believe that Elbouzedi isn’t getting game time in League one. Unlucky to be 1-0, defense could have done better I thought, but really well taken goal

Was it Collins or Masterson for the goal? Can’t see it well on my phone with no sound

Good summation. Italy started better, Ireland grew into it. Can see we are missing some quality from the earlier games. Molumby a big loss.

Obafemi could see himself replaced for Afolabi soon. Totally agree on Elbouzedi, Lincoln must be excellent if he can't get on the pitch there

[DeLorean]

What's Masterson at looking over at the linesman (twice ffs!) instead of concentrating on the Italian player.

Think it was him too that got in the mix up with Coventry that nearly gifted Italy a goal before that.

We're not doing much going the other way.

Coventry made a mess of that one, don't think anybody else should get a share of the blame there. We've had some nice play around their box, especially since around the 25-30 minute mark, but no, nothing clear-cut.

[geysir]

has the link gone down for anyone else?

This one works perfect for me. I like the PIP

http://papahd.live/italy-vs-ireland-republic

[DeLorean]

has the link gone down for anyone else?

Yes, saying it's been blocked at the copyright owner's request. Hopefully it reappears for second half!

[jbyrne]

Yes, saying it's been blocked at the copyright owner's request. Hopefully it reappears for second half!

now here...
https://webserver.one/rai-2-hd-live-stream-online.php

[passinginterest]

Second goal for Italy. Hint of an og? We missed a good chance early second half. A long way back into it now, will be interesting to see if there's a change in tack.

[zero]

not sure o'connor or masterson will ever make it beyond league 1 or 2 level.

[Razors left peg]

6 players missing from this Ireland team is proving to be too much. Not really surprising, we don't have endless supply of players in the pipeline. Collins and Coventry have been very disappointing

[passinginterest]

That's one of the worst yellow cards ever. Italian lad ran into an arm and barely got touched. Shocking decision.

[nigel-harps1954]

Italians being Italian...that yellow for Collins was embarrassing from the ref.

[Razors left peg]

not sure o'connor or masterson will ever make it beyond league 1 or 2 level.
I think Obafemi might join them there

[zero]

surprised we haven't made any changes.

[passinginterest]

Idah probably the most missed in that team. His pace and power gives it something very different. Elbouzedi absolutely skinned his man again a few mins ago. I missed the first half but he seems to be doing well again.

Good to see Conor Ronan has learned the "if you lose the ball just grab your face trick".

Triple substitution incoming.

[nigel-harps1954]

The passing has been largely woeful. So many loose balls and aimless hoofs from this side, which you wouldn't really expect.

Obafemi has been anonymous. Backline has been dodgy at best. It's really unfortunate to be missing so many key players for the biggest game in the group so far.

[passinginterest]

Going for it with the subs;
Afolabi, Grant and Mandroiu replace Obafemi, Taylor and Ronan.

[Fixer82]

Ireland U-21s losing 2-0 to Italy U-21s? jeeeeeeez!

[passinginterest]

Bring back Stephen Kenny!

[Razors left peg]

Usually if you get 2 or 3 players from u21s that step up to seniors its a good return. We've had 9 from this group I believe if Kelliher is included. Some still won't kick on but I'm not sure we will get too many more from the team that played here today, but thats ok. The 21s is only a development squad and it's done its job even if we don't qualify

[passinginterest]

Italy saw it out comfortably enough. The chance at the start of the second half was probably the key, Collins almost on the end of the free kick and then the defender lucky not to put it in his own net. Other than that, didn't see to create a lot and Italy took the second goal well, old school beat the defender and cut it back along the six yard box.

[ger121]

Tight group. 2 wins needed now for 2nd and hoping Sweden don’t beat Italy.

Scrap that. 2 wins does it.

[Fixer82]

To add insult to injury, one of the guys who scored was called Patrick

[DCWA]

Some strength in depth in and around that Italian age group when factoring in lads already playing for the seniors, those not available and today’s squad. Patrick Cutrone would be an incredible addition to our senior squad. Fabrotta has played in Juve’s last few league games, Tonali just signed for Milan who paid serious money just to loan him for the year.

If the day ever comes that we can expect us to beat the Italy u21S or too a group containing them you would think it would have to be our greatest ever batch of u21s.

[CSAD]

I think people need to calm down a little after this result.

For 53 minutes or so it was very even and then Italy got their 2nd goal and I think the Irish heads went down and Italy grew more into the game, no matter how strong an Italy team is they are the masters of closing out matches and once they went 2 up they closed it out.

It was just one of those days and it would be foolish to read too much into it, over the 90 we were just too naive and Italy were much more streetwise and that was the difference.

[elatedscum]

In fairness, a team that had Connolly, Idah, Parrott, Molumby, Knight, O’Shea and Travers/Kelleher might

[Razors left peg]

In fairness, a team that had Connolly, Idah, Parrott, Molumby, Knight, O’Shea and Travers/Kelleher might

Exactly this. The top players from this group are the best prospects we've had since Kerrs underage winning teams, and possibly better. They have all moved on even though most of them are young enough to play at this level for another 2 or 3 years.

If we had the team lined out that we had earlier in the group we could definitely have expected to win today

[elatedscum]

Wasn’t the worst performance. Thought Elbouzedi was good. Few players justified their selection though. Bazunu didn’t do much wrong I guess. Maybe it’s the lack of Kenny, dunno.

L O’Connor and Leahy, it was probably their worst game for the 21s. They weren’t terrible but they weren’t very good either.

Masterson was at fault for the first goal, Collins at fault in other moments.

Coventry was poor in possession, and never really did much to dictate. his worst games for the 21s.

Taylor struggled more than I’d expect.

Ronan was good at times but also poor on occasion

Smallbone largely anonymous. Maybe he’d have done better in the centre.

Obafemi’s touch was dreadful.

Feel like it was all 5/10 and 6/10 except for Zack...

[tetsujin1979]

Sweden go goal crazy against Armenia
https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2026688/

[geysir]

I think the irish team that beat the Swedes both games would have beaten Italy or at worst draw.
It's a tight group and with a postponed game awaiting an outcome from UEFA.
Will that irish team beat a tight Icelandic outfit? I wouldn't count on it. And Sweden presumably after beating Armenia in November will be highly motivated and fancy themselves to beat Italy.

[elatedscum]

I think the irish team that beat the Swedes both games would have beaten Italy or at worst draw.
It's a tight group and with a postponed game awaiting an outcome from UEFA.
Will that irish team beat a tight Icelandic outfit? I wouldn't count on it. And Sweden presumably after beating Armenia in November will be highly motivated and fancy themselves to beat Italy.

I think it’s more likely than less likely some players will be back. We have 35 players called up + Parrott, who was ahead of others called up prior to injury. Not impossible but highly unlikely we’ll need as many players...

[Eirambler]

One thing I just don't understand. Kenny said he didn't call up Obafemi because he couldn't play the lone striker role and he hadn't enough experience of playing right side of a three man forward line. So then we go and pick him as the 9 for the 21s, so he still doesn't get the experience on the right? I'm far from convinced that Obafemi is the top level player some think he is, but regardless that selection at 9 made no sense at all. He needed to play on the right with one of Ronan and Smallbone at 10 and the other not starting.

[ifk101]

Not sure Obafemi is suited to the right side either - lacks that guile/ trickery needed. Probably needs to play off somebody in a front 2 to get the best out of him.

[geysir]

In fairness, a team that had Connolly, Idah, Parrott, Molumby, Knight, O’Shea and Travers/Kelleher might Won’t the first 4 be in the senior squad in the next intl. window?

[ColourfulPeanut]

They should really consider letting them play for the U21s next window. We're so close to qualifying for the first time ever and the experience for the lads at a proper summer finals tournament could be invaluable.

I would play our absolute best hand in the Iceland game.

[Stuttgart88]

And call Obafemi up for the seniors. Keep him happy and keep him as far away as possible from the U21s :)

[Exgrad]

Yeah the senior team should be the U21 B team, good plan.

(I know the Obafemi comment was a joke btw, but definitely seem to be a call to prioritise the U21 over the Senior team and i don't get it).