2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championships

[Charlie Darwin]

Amazing how little impact he seemed to make at wolves when u see how good he was at underage in the Masterson age group and now for bohs . Never got anywhere close to breakthrough at wolves.
I know a couple of people that know him and it seems to be a similar situation to Karl Moore at Man City - went from being around the first team to not needed when the money came in and they started stacking the team with big-money signings. No coincidence Connor Ronan went from being used off the bench under Lambert to going out on loan and not getting a look-in at Molineux.

[liamoo11]

Clarke got 30 mins in league yesterday at rotherham I think he will do really well there. O connor seems to be ever present for gillingham on loan at left back as well.

Iceland 21s lost 5 nil in Sweden yesterday. The 2 days less recovery hopefully will help us

[ifk101]

Iceland lost 5-0 away to Sweden on Saturday. Iceland had a good opportunity to open the scoring with a bit more bravery but Sweden quickly took over and did as they wished for the best part of 80mins. Iceland looked quite light and physically weak, out-muscled on a number of occasions and lost more than their fair share of 50:50 situations. Also seemed to be lacking pace at the back. We should have the ambition to win tomorrow but home advantage, plastic pitch and the absence of Connolly and Parrott might level things up. Pity Connolly isn't playing as he would have a field-day against Iceland's right full.

[Razors left peg]

Is the Iceland game on tv at all, I couldnt see it listed anywhere

[elatedscum]

I think it’s weird that eir or virgin or rte don’t buy the local feed for away games.

There were 7,000 + people in Tallaght plus however many watched it at home, so there should be an audience. It wouldn’t cost much to add commentary to that.

As for the team, I’d expect Obafemi to come in for Parrott and he might also take out Scales and replace him with a player who is more of a “raider” to use Kenny terminology, as you'd expect us to be more on the front foot than we were against Italy and there's probably less dangerous attackers. Haven’t seen McNamara play, so can’t say if he fits that bill better than Ledwidge does...

Mandriou and Kilkenny are probably the closest to the side. Kilkenny is probably a little lightweight compared to Elbouzedi. Mandriou versus Ronan, Mandriou did well against the Swedes but you'd probably have to give Ronan credit for his performances in Toulon and against Luxembourg rather than just looking at his somewhat average display against Italy.

[tetsujin1979]

Thought it was on eir sport, but it's not in their listings

[tetsujin1979]

It will be broadcast on Icelandic channel Stöð 2 Sport - https://stod2.is/dagskra
So there should be streams available

[pineapple stu]

As for the team, I’d expect Obafemi to come in for Parrott and he might also take out Scales and replace him with a player who is more of a “raider” to use Kenny terminology
Scales is very able to get forward FWIW. His assist against St Pat's earlier in the season should convince you of that! Starts at 4:08 in the below.

LGo8eIFG4uE

[jbyrne]

narrow 1 nil win for italy away to armenia. maybe the group is there for us with a bit of luck..

[geysir]

It will be broadcast on Icelandic channel Stöð 2 Sport - https://stod2.is/dagskra
So there should be streams available
There might be a stream but chances are doubtful.

Weather today is just windy and wet, rain not quite horizontal - but getting there in gusts.

[Olé Olé]

Ledwidge for Scales. Mandroiu for Ronan. Obafemi for Parrott. First two are fair changes based on the performance the other night and last one is suspension-forced.

[tetsujin1979]

Really strong looking side.
1184102877658275840

[Razors left peg]

If anyone does come across a stream please share it, I cant find anything so far

[Nesta99]

This game on TV anywhere, streams even?

[Briuk]

Any stream?

It seems to be on in iceland

[elatedscum]

bet365 isn't working either

[lambo123]

skorlive is stating that its showing iceland / ire but when you go into it the match is latvia / bulgaria ???

[Razors left peg]

I think its insane in this day and age that the FAI are not streaming it on their YouTube page when none of the TV networks pick it up. I made the same point the other day about the u19s game and was told it may be bandwidth issue, but I find that hard to believe that they cant do something. There is a big audience for this.

[zero]

Iceland ahead from a pen. They seem to be all over us.

[jbyrne]

1-0 iceland after 30 mins from a pen i believe.
think its on a plastic pitch which is a real leveller

[gally]

one nil down, penalty for handball

[backstothewall]

I read we're playing into a really strong wind in the first half.

And Eidur Gudjohnson's son scored the peno.

[jbyrne]

seems like we had a few decent chances in the last few mins of the first half

[Razors left peg]

Think I found a good stream

https://www.laola1.tv/en-int/livestream/iceland-u21-ireland-u21-len

[backstothewall]

Think I found a good stream

https://www.laola1.tv/en-int/livestream/iceland-u21-ireland-u21-len

Did you register?

[Razors left peg]

That stream was showing HT highlights, looks like a difficult venue. Its like a pitch nightowls games are played in

[Razors left peg]

nope, it just seems to be working for me

[Nesta99]

Think I found a good stream

https://www.laola1.tv/en-int/livestream/iceland-u21-ireland-u21-len

Seems to work grand. Grim looking place for the game.

Small pitch and a hell of a breeze whipping through. Does look to be at our backs if not swirling around but the tight pitch doesnt suit!

[Razors left peg]

Seems to work grand. Grim looking place for the game.

Its actually a shocking venue for that level of football

[Scrufil]

Link works on my PC but not my phone.

[Razors left peg]

Link works on my PC but not my phone.

Is there an option to show desktop view on your phone? Not sure if it'll work, I have it on the laptop

[Razors left peg]

O'Shea just missed great chance at back post

[tetsujin1979]

Link works on my PC but not my phone.

Open the link in Chrome, tap settings, and select "Desktop Site"
works fine for me

[backstothewall]

Link works on my PC but not my phone.

I had the same issue. If you tick the "desktop site" option in the setting in chrome it should work.

[pineapple stu]

I read we're playing into a really strong wind in the first half.

And Eidur Gudjohnson's son scored the peno.
It's Gudjohnsen btw. Because the name is Danish. (Otherwise he'd be Eiđursson)

[/nerd]

[Nesta99]

Doing well in keeping the tempo up, quick recycling of the ball. Struggling to break them down conidering the amount of possession. Hopefully the perststance with the high tempo will reap it rewards as they tire toward the end. Conditions look damn awful and dont suit us though we do keep the ball in the deck. Looks like we are not sure at all on how to weight the pass between the pitch and wind. Maybe a few high balls in the the box and pressing under could be way to keep them guessing otherwise its just playing a lot of nice stuff in front of them with little penetration. Pop a couple of long efforts in too as we have that guile to nick some space. Frustrating stuff and bar the early penalty very few decent chances either way. They dont look like creating much - long throw in to the box had us scampering a bit is all really.

[Razors left peg]

I lost connection to the stream, looks like Masterson missed a good chance

[Nesta99]

It's Gudjohnsen btw. Because the name is Danish. (Otherwise he'd be Eiđursson)

[/nerd]

Eidur way i've lost the stream...

[Razors left peg]

Stream back. Lee O Connor just sent off for 2nd yellow

[Eirambler]

I know Obafemi has played a bit of Premier League but from what I've seen of him he strikes me as the kind of guy who could end up playing non league or be out of the game altogether by his mid 20s.

Very little attacking talent in this team with Connolly, Parrott and Afolabi missing. Conditions weren't great but still a very poor display against a physical but crap Iceland team.

O'Connor sent off now as well

[Razors left peg]

I know Obafemi has played a bit of Premier League but from what I've seen of him he strikes me as the kind of guy who could end up playing non league or be out of the game altogether by his mid 20s.

Very little attacking talent in this team with Connolly, Parrott and Afolabi missing. Conditions weren't great but still a very poor display against a physical but crap Iceland team.

O'Connor sent off now as well

Hard to disagree about Obafemi, especially if his hamstrings continue to be a problem for him.

Coventry on the other hand looks a gem, always looking for the ball and trying to move it forward. The right loan move in January could see him pushing the first team soon.

Poor result in extremely difficult conditions, will dent chances of qualifying big time but I still think there are 4 or 5 from that team that will make the step up

[Nesta99]

Missed the red card but a bit of impetulance at the end that we can put down to inexperience and frustration. Some afters at the ft whistle, never seen players smuggled off the pitch like some of those Iceland players with the ref scampering round with his card out looking to book someone. SK doing plenty of 'calm down' to the ref. Not to sound bitter but the Icelandic lads are not so gracious in victory! Pressure on now to win in Italy to have real hope of qualifying - unless the Italians get a similar set of conditions playing away in Iceland which they wouldnt enjoy at all. It's spot on though, we lacked a bit of quality in the final third. It's hard to remember that this is about building for the senior squad and not necessarily about making waves as a country at U21. The general increase in interest in this age group is something of a success in itself for SK and co!

[tetsujin1979]

Two red cards in successive games, must be a while since that happened?

[geysir]

Such a load of moaning not least from Kenny himself sounding like the archetypal moany dub. It's Iceland in mid october, a nincompoop could tell you that weather matters. The outdoor football season ended over 4 weeks ago. I presume Kenny would have stuck his head out of the hotel at some stage, is acquainted with the vagaries of the plastic pitch, would have had a nr of practice sessions on the pitch beforehand in the inclement weather and spent time in deep preparation for the encounter against a team who were out to prove something to themselves. Kenny had an extra 2 days to prepare with that squad.

Eidur said afterwards that Ireland proved to be a better team than Sweden, but beforehand they (the coaching staff) had studied the Irish play "to bits", had plans to meet the threats and that they were prepared to battle from the opening minutes onward. Iceland had what Ireland did not, a centre midfielder, the 19 years old nr. 6 Alex with 2 seasons top local league experience, he gave an intelligent workmanlike display, motm imo. Obafemi should have been pulled after 20 minutes, Adam Idah impressed.
There were about 450 in attendance, not the 40 that Kenny disparagingly mentioned.
A strange sight, throughout the game the 4 corner flags were flying outstretched in 4 different directions.

[tommy_c12000]

International under 21 players deserved better than the pitch Iceland offered today. 3 open sides on a narrow astro surface with a gale force wind. Disgraceful. No defending that.

I only saw second half, from what I saw Ireland were poor, lacked cutting edge in the final third, something they’ve struggled with. Lost discipline in the end, Molumby in the thick of it. No real standout from Iceland team from that I saw

[Nesta99]

Such a load of moaning not least from Kenny himself sounding like the archetypal moany dub. It's Iceland in mid october, a nincompoop could tell you that weather matters. The outdoor football season ended over 4 weeks ago. I presume Kenny would have stuck his head out of the hotel at some stage, is acquainted with the vagaries of the plastic pitch, would have had a nr of practice sessions on the pitch beforehand in the inclement weather and spent time in deep preparation for the encounter against a team who were out to prove something to themselves. Kenny had an extra 2 days to prepare with that squad.

Eidur said afterwards that Ireland proved to be a better team than Sweden, but beforehand they (the coaching staff) had studied the Irish play "to bits", had plans to meet the threats and that they were prepared to battle from the opening minutes onward. Iceland had what Ireland did not, a centre midfielder, the 19 years old nr. 6 Alex with 2 seasons top local league experience, he gave an intelligent workmanlike display, motm imo. Obafemi should have been pulled after 20 minutes, Adam Idah impressed.
There were about 450 in attendance, not the 40 that Kenny disparagingly mentioned.
A strange sight, throughout the game the 4 corner flags were flying outstretched in 4 different directions.

I noticed that - the large UEFA flags were looking very much like there was a gael blowing in our direction so was wondering why there wasnt a few long shots tried or balls up at the keeper, but then at a corner the corner flags were blowing against us. Strange especially in such an open ground. The narrow pitch seemed to be the main problem of the venue that we didnt adjust to rather than the surface or general surroundings. When it comes to the weather well as they say its the same for both sides and we wouldnt be exactly lacking experience of playing in wet blustery conditions. If the season is over 4 weeks then wouldnt there have been more suitable club grounds available or were Iceland playing to every advantage they could muster?! They were very much in the face of the Irish lads celebrating the FT whistle. There will be plenty of niggle in the return fixture (assuming there is home and away games at this age group?), not that SK will be in the job to see out qualifying.

[liamoo11]

Such a load of moaning not least from Kenny himself sounding like the archetypal moany dub. It's Iceland in mid october, a nincompoop could tell you that weather matters. The outdoor football season ended over 4 weeks ago. I presume Kenny would have stuck his head out of the hotel at some stage, is acquainted with the vagaries of the plastic pitch, would have had a nr of practice sessions on the pitch beforehand in the inclement weather and spent time in deep preparation for the encounter against a team who were out to prove something to themselves. Kenny had an extra 2 days to prepare with that squad.

Eidur said afterwards that Ireland proved to be a better team than Sweden, but beforehand they (the coaching staff) had studied the Irish play "to bits", had plans to meet the threats and that they were prepared to battle from the opening minutes onward. Iceland had what Ireland did not, a centre midfielder, the 19 years old nr. 6 Alex with 2 seasons top local league experience, he gave an intelligent workmanlike display, motm imo. Obafemi should have been pulled after 20 minutes, Adam Idah impressed.
There were about 450 in attendance, not the 40 that Kenny disparagingly mentioned.
A strange sight, throughout the game the 4 corner flags were flying outstretched in 4 different directions.

Yeah the whole excuses and tetchiness is annoying. Just take it on the chin it's a bad result accept it and move on. When he is senior boss a loss to Iceland is not going to get the soft reaction this result has received.

[elatedscum]

Feels like a serious setback for the squad. Not the easiest, playing away to Iceland any time apart from summer.

There was a bunch of factors: the plastic pitch, dunno whether it was wet and heavy or dry and slow but the ball was holding up plenty when players were trying to play – and other times the wind would carry it past players. There was a ball out to Elbouzedi in the first half which literally accelerated out of his path like it was going down a hill. I'd be fairly sure it wouldn't pass the FIFA or UEFA tests in its current condition (Gibraltar's didn't but they were given dispensation). The small size of the pitch probably accentuates the difficulties and if you go behind, makes it easier for a team to get men behind the ball and crowd the space.

Saying all that, it was a pretty poor performance. There's very few if any that I would single out for praise. Overall a totally disjointed display and much less than everyone would have expected. Not being able to call on Connolly, Parrott, Afolabi, Clarke, Leahy and Farrugia made a big difference in that respect.

I thought Ronan would have been brought on at some point. The stream went down for probably our 3 best chances apparently, along with the penalty and the sending off, so i guess we all have a somewhat limited perspective on the game.

You might get more from Obafemi playing him up top. He's got more pace than Connolly, so if you can just get the ball in behind, he'll burn centre-halves.

Anyway, a day and night to forget for Irish football

[ifk101]

We didn't adapt to the pitch and the conditions. Quick feet, fast and short passing, and keeping the ball on the surface were needed and we didn't do that. Kenny and the FAI twitter feed mention dominating the second half - not from what I saw, we perhaps shaded it but didn't do enough to be aggrieved. But evident again from the Italy game that we're lacking width and a threat wide in the absence of Connolly. And from this game, we're lacking invention and guile to play through a compact team.

[passinginterest]

I think something we'll have to get used to under Kenny at this and senior level, is the we’ll lose some games that we’d have normally drawn, the flip side being we’ll also win more of the games we used to draw. The way his teams play means there’s a chance for teams to do to us what we traditionally did to them, crowd players behind the ball, make it an ugly game and nick a goal and hold on.

It’s a totally different philosophy to what we’ve seen for decades. It’ll take down getting used to, and there’s the potential for it to go badly wrong, but on the positive side, there’s a talented generation coming through and the potential for it to go brilliantly.