2023 UEFA Under-21 Championship

[tetsujin1979]

Draw to take place tomorrow for the qualifying groups for the 2023 UEFA Under 21 Championships, to be held in Romania and Georgia at 11:30: https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0265-1140e6c2f1d2-9e5a29437f36-1000--2021-23-under-21-qualifying-draw-28-january/



Pot 1: Spain*, Germany*, France*, England*, Italy*, Denmark*, Portugal*, Netherlands*, Croatia*
Pot 2: Austria, Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic*, Belgium, Russia*, Serbia, Switzerland*, Greece
Pot 3: Slovakia, Iceland*, Ukraine, Slovenia*, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Norway, Bulgaria, Turkey
Pot 4: Scotland, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wales, Northern Ireland, Finland, Hungary*, Belarus, Albania
Pot 5: Montenegro, Kosovo, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Azerbaijan, Latvia
Pot 6: Luxembourg, Armenia, Malta, Andorra, Estonia, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino
*Competing at 2021 Under-21 final tournament (https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0263-10e2dc603f8d-ea5c9c788b64-1000--u21-euro-meet-the-finalists/?iv=true) in Hungary and Slovenia, alongside Romania
All Pot 1 teams are dangerous, but we really want to avoid Belgium and Russia in Pot 2. Having lost twice to them in the last U21 group, I'm glad we can't draw Iceland again.

All players born on or after 1st January 2000 are eligible, including
Jonathan Afolabi(January 2000), Ali Reghba(January 2000), Aaron Connolly(January 2000), Gavin Kilkenny(February 2000), Aaron Bolger(February 2000), Will Smallbone(February 2000), Conor Coventry(March 2000), Michael Obafemi(July 2000), Lee O'Connor(July 2000), Joshua Kayode(December 2000), Mark McGuinness(January 2001), Will Ferry(January 2001), Adam Idah(February 2001), Jason Knight(February 2001), Luca Connell(April 2001), Nathan Collins(April 2001), Adam O'Reilly(May 2001), Jamie Bowden(July 2001), Tyreik Wright(September 2001), Shane Flynn(October 2001), Lewis Richards(October 2001), Troy Parrott(February 2002), Gavin Bazunu(February 2002), Armstrong Okoflex(March 2002), Andrew Omobamidele(June 2002), Joe Hodge(September 2002), Mipo Odubeko(October 2002),

<EDIT>
Fixtures confirmed

Republic of Ireland Group F UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifiers
Friday, 3rd September 2021 | Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Republic of Ireland (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2087029&viewfull=1#post2087029)
Tuesday, 7th September 2021 | Luxembourg vs Republic of Ireland (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2087873&viewfull=1#post2087873)
Friday, 8th October 2021 | Republic of Ireland vs Luxembourg (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2090834&viewfull=1#post2090834)
Tuesday, 12th October 2021 | Montenegro vs Republic of Ireland (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2091279&viewfull=1#post2091279)
Friday, 12th November 2021 | Republic of Ireland vs Italy (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2094782&viewfull=1#post2094782)
Tuesday, 16th November 2021 | Republic of Ireland vs Sweden (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2095395&viewfull=1#post2095395)
Tuesday, 29th March 2022 | Sweden vs Republic of Ireland (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2106503&viewfull=1#post2106503)
Friday, 3rd June 2022 | Republic Ireland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2111800&viewfull=1#post2111800)
Monday, 6th June 2022 | Republic of Ireland vs Montenegro (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2112252&viewfull=1#post2112252)
Tuesday, 14th June 2022 | Italy vs Republic of Ireland (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2113672&viewfull=1#post2113672)

Play Offs
Friday, 23rd September 2022 | Republic of Ireland vs Israel (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2124854&viewfull=1#post2124854)
Tuesday, 27th September 2022 | Israel vs Republic of Ireland (https://foot.ie/threads/263934-2023-UEFA-Under-21-Championships?p=2125320&viewfull=1#post2125320)

uefa.com - Under 21 (https://www.uefa.com/under21/)
2023 UEFA European Under 21 Championship (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship)
2023 UEFA European Under 21 Championship Qualification (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship_qualification)
2023 UEFA European Under 21 Championship Qualification Group F (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship_qualification_Group_F)

[tetsujin1979]

Draw about to start on uefa.com: https://www.uefa.com/under21/draws/

[Eirambler]

Almost the same group as last time!

Italy
Sweden
Ireland
Bosnia
Montenegro
Luxembourg

On paper we probably have our best ever Under 21 team for this campaign. You could in theory have a team of

Bazunu
O'Connor Collins McGuinness Richards
Coventry Knight
Smallbone
Parrott Idah Connolly

But obviously that team will never take the field. Idah, Connolly and Knight will be with the seniors in March and Parrott, Collins and Bazunu probably won't be far behind them in terms of getting promoted.

So I'll predict at this stage that the same thing will happen as happened in the last campaign, our squad will be decimated by senior callups and we won't qualify. I'd be particularly worried about our depth in the goalkeeping position if Bazunu gets injured or called up to the seniors.

To be fair though, this tournament is about more than qualifying for the finals, it's a great chance to see who else we have coming through that could make it at a decent level. I'm hoping to see the likes of Festy Ebosele, Andrew Omobamidele, Mason O'Malley, Lewis Richards, Joe Hodge, Gavin Kilkenny, Luca Connell, Will Ferry and Josh Kayode as well as maybe Mipo Odubeko get a go at some stage during this campaign.

[sadloserkid]

Group F: Italy*, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Luxembourg

[Eirambler]

Just trying to figure out what our goalkeeping options will be for this campaign beyond Bazunu. Bazunu is arguably our fourth choice senior keeper at the moment as Kieran O'Hara's form seems to have fallen off a cliff and Max O'Leary isn't getting a game at Bristol City. So it wouldn't take much for him to be lost to the seniors, in fact I'd be surprised if he's still with the under 21s by the end of this campaign.

Bobby Jones is a 19 year old Irish keeper at Wigan - I believe he is still there despite them letting a lot of young players go due to financial issues.

Harry Halwax is an 18 year old Irish keeper at Derby and there's Jimmy Corcoran who is also 18 but I don't know that he has a club after being let go by Dundalk. Both are also eligible for the under 19s this year also though.

David Odomuso might be a regular in the Premier Division this season with Drogheda. He's 19 so could be an option.

Is there anyone else obvious that I'm forgetting? Kelleher, Travers and Ed McGinty are all overage now.

It seems like there's plenty of decent quality cover in pretty much every other position to allow for injuries and senior callups, other than in goal.

[CraftyToePoke]

Has O'Leary definitely gone green ? I think I remember Mick Mack saying he was off to sort the paperwork after he joined the squad that time, but there hasn't been any news since or call ups.

[Eirambler]

My understanding was that O'Leary was now fully available to us, but I'm open to correction if anyone knows otherwise?

Incidentally I wonder how Ryan Johansson is doing these days and whether his paperwork has gone through to transfer his eligibility to Sweden. If he is in their squad he will have the chance to play against both of his other nations, Ireland and Luxembourg, in this group.

[elatedscum]

Just trying to figure out what our goalkeeping options will be for this campaign beyond Bazunu. Bazunu is arguably our fourth choice senior keeper at the moment as Kieran O'Hara's form seems to have fallen off a cliff and Max O'Leary isn't getting a game at Bristol City. So it wouldn't take much for him to be lost to the seniors, in fact I'd be surprised if he's still with the under 21s by the end of this campaign.

Bobby Jones is a 19 year old Irish keeper at Wigan - I believe he is still there despite them letting a lot of young players go due to financial issues.

Harry Halwax is an 18 year old Irish keeper at Derby and there's Jimmy Corcoran who is also 18 but I don't know that he has a club after being let go by Dundalk. Both are also eligible for the under 19s this year also though.

David Odomuso might be a regular in the Premier Division this season with Drogheda. He's 19 so could be an option.

Is there anyone else obvious that I'm forgetting? Kelleher, Travers and Ed McGinty are all overage now.

It seems like there's plenty of decent quality cover in pretty much every other position to allow for injuries and senior callups, other than in goal.

I’d say:

Bazunu, Maher, Odumosu

Those would be the top 3 in my eyes. Kian Clarke was the first choice keeper for the 2001 U17s till he got injured. Think he went to Bray to compete with Maher. Could be wrong but thought he was getting his game for Rovers II last season.

You’d imagine Danny Rose of Schalke would be the U19s keeper, or could be Corcoran depending on where he ends up... obviously there’s a chance they call a replacement from there

[Demesne Lad]

Young Gavin made a hash of a clearance in stoppage time last night; gave Shodipo a goal and Oxford Utd 3 points. Rochdale have just appointed a new goalkeeping coach, Dave Timmins, and hopefully Gavin will benefit.

[CraftyToePoke]

My understanding was that O'Leary was now fully available to us, but I'm open to correction if anyone knows otherwise


He can't play in competitive games until he receives an Irish passport but the national team coach believes the experience will be good for him in the meantime.

The 22-year-old keeper qualifies for Republic of Ireland through his grandfather's Kerry roots.

McCarthy told the national side's website: "Max is in the process of getting his passport, so that is taking its time. But this is a good opportunity to have a look at him and for him to meet up with the lads.

"He's had a very good season with Bristol City and was very keen to do what he needed to become eligible for us, so we will take a close look at him in training and leave the process of getting its passport up to our International Department.

From this article at the time - https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/oleary-training-with-ireland/

I don't remember seeing anymore on this since, but may well have missed it. He's not in the Bristol side regularly but neither is O'Dowda plenty of the time.

SK speaks specifically about keeper options here in November last year including calling Bazunu up, but didn't mention O'Leary at all - https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/young-goalkeepers-in-the-mix-for-ireland-squad-step-up-1.4403838

O'Learys Wiki page is has him as an Irish international alright.

[geysir]

Group F: Italy*, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Luxembourg

All in all a decent group to finish in the top two and get to the play offs automatically.
The play off seedings are probably based on the placing in the 2nd place table.
Unfortunate to get Bosnia from the 4th pot, a very doubtful 6 pointer.

[Charlie Darwin]

I’d say:

Bazunu, Maher, Odumosu

Those would be the top 3 in my eyes. Kian Clarke was the first choice keeper for the 2001 U17s till he got injured. Think he went to Bray to compete with Maher. Could be wrong but thought he was getting his game for Rovers II last season.

You’d imagine Danny Rose of Schalke would be the U19s keeper, or could be Corcoran depending on where he ends up... obviously there’s a chance they call a replacement from there
Clarke was stuck in a weird position at Rovers last season where he was sharing games with Leon Pohls, the first-team sub keeper playing as an overage player, and I don't think he was happy about it.

[Charlie Darwin]

All in all a decent group to finish in the top two and get to the play offs automatically.
The play off seedings are probably based on the placing in the 2nd place table.
Unfortunate to get Bosnia from the 4th pot, a very doubtful 6 pointer.
I thought the same about Bosnia but according to ET we've beaten them every time we've played them with this age group: https://www.extratime.com/articles/26543/ireland-draw-italy-and-sweden-once-again-in-qualifying-for-2023-european-under-21-championships/

Obviously that was with Idah, Parrott, etc.

[geysir]

I thought the same about Bosnia but according to ET we've beaten them every time we've played them with this age group: https://www.extratime.com/articles/26543/ireland-draw-italy-and-sweden-once-again-in-qualifying-for-2023-european-under-21-championships/

Obviously that was with Idah, Parrott, etc.
I watched them win their last group game impressively v Belgium and Belgium had already beaten Germany twice. But maybe that whole u21 qual campaign was topsy turfy. And in general each U21 qual campaign starts with a newish squad, previous impressive form does not necessarily follow on.

[tetsujin1979]

Bosnia had some bizarre results in the last u21 qualifiers, won all but one game at home, a loss to Germany, beating Belgium and Wales, but lost all but one of their away games, a 2-2 draw with Moldova

[tetsujin1979]

Qualifying fixtures announced, and added to the first post - https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u21-qualifying-fixtures-confirmed
The FAI are trying to organise a friendly in March, and hope to take part in the Toulon tournament in June

Crawford said he will use the upcoming March international window to secure a friendly game in what would be the U21s first non-competitive fixture since June 2019 – that game coming against Mexico in the Toulon tournament.

Crawford added: “A friendly is a great opportunity to introduce new players to the group and get them to understand what we’re looking for in the Under-21s. Although it’s a friendly it’s the start of a journey to build essential relationships in our squad.

“After that friendly we’re very keen on playing in the Toulon Tournament in June. I was involved with it in 2019 and I saw the benefits of it and the growth of players during the competition. There were some players who used that tournament to really kick-on their career at club level and with us playing three qualifying games the following June it’s an excellent chance to prepare for three games in quick succession.”

[Eirambler]

Would be great if they went to Toulon again, it seemed to help a lot with the progression of the last group of under 21s.

[elatedscum]

I’d be surprised if Toulon was going ahead

[tetsujin1979]

Interview with Crawford on th42.ie: https://www.the42.ie/jim-crawford-interview-2-5363948-Mar2021/

[liamoo11]

Interesting to see who might be in the 21s this week. Louie Watson hopefully will be included really strong season from nowhere at derby . Be good to see odubeko included.unlikely I assume that finn would be allowed travel from Spain if he is interested. Flynn from Leicesterand ferry from Southampton have made breakthrough of sorts I suppose this season. Conor grant getting some games at rochdale and ciaran brennan and hunt involved a bit at sheff wed. Will there be home based players due to covid or they will stick with UK based players?

[tetsujin1979]

I'd imagine the majority will be UK-based. It would be tough to convince clubs to release youth players for a friendly in Ireland, which is why I reckon the game is in Wales.

[elatedscum]

Doubt Conor Noss would be allowed to travel

[tetsujin1979]

Welsh squad announced
1371792612982624257

[tetsujin1979]

Squad set to be announced on Friday according to this - https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/international-calls-for-dundalk-stars-will-make-life-more-difficult-40206257.html

Clubs can request a postponement if two or more of their players are called up by the FAI or IFA, which could happen this week as the Republic’s U-21 team boss Jim Crawford names his squad on Friday for a friendly away to Wales next week: Crawford had seven home-based players in the panel for his last game.
Mentions that Ed McGinty could be in the squad

[Eirambler]

Isn't Ed McGinty overage now? Born in 99 I think.

[elatedscum]

Isn't Ed McGinty overage now? Born in 99 I think.

Pretty sure he’s overage but it is a friendly and I guess the FAI can do what they want... Not a lot of keepers available if Bazunu is with the senior squad and Rose is stuck in Germany. Most would be ireland based (Odumosa, Maher, K Clarke, Keeley, Corcoran, H Clarke, Halwax). Only guys I know that are Britain based with prior call ups would be Bobby Jones at Wigan and George McMahon who is without a club since his release from Burnley at the start of the season. The only other UK based keeper is a 17 year old lad at Notts County called Tiernan Brooks who I’ve never heard of before now

[ColourfulPeanut]

Why bother calling an overage player up? Get any eligible keeper in ahead of him.

[elatedscum]

Doesn’t really make any sense to me, unless a) you really don’t rate the alternative eligible keeper or b) you think McGinty is the senior squad’s 4th keeper and you want to bring him into an international camp, where he can be moved to the senior side of there is an injury

[DeLorean]

1372578581407281158

[ColourfulPeanut]

Delighted to see Odubeko there!

Will Rose and Noss be allowed to travel from Germany for this?

[elatedscum]

Hadn’t heard of Mason O’Malley before. Great to see Mipo there.

Is Luca Connell injured? Neither himself nor Okoflex are included

Also interesting that Devoy is included ahead of Tierney, Kavanagh, Bolger and Coffey

[Razors left peg]

Odubeko in the 21s is the best news from either squad announcement.

[Olé Olé]

Odubeko in the 21s is the best news from either squad announcement.

Great to see it. It quietens all of the doubters for another while too.

[tetsujin1979]

Delighted to see Odubeko there!

Will Rose and Noss be allowed to travel from Germany for this?

possibly not, Southgate has admitted Jude Bellingham might not be able to join the England squad for the same reason: https://www.football365.com/news/southgate-covid-restrictions-likely-to-rule-out-bellingham

[Razors left peg]

I must admit Ive never heard of Dawson Devoy and Alex Gilbert

[elatedscum]

Dawson Devoy has been playing a bit for Bohs for the few years, made his debut in 2019 I think when they were resting players for Europe. Him and Ross Tierney came through at the same time. Centre midfielder.

Alex Gilbert was at West Brom and was considered one of their best young players, skilful and creative. He declined a new contract there and signed for Brentford as an easier path to get first team football. He played mostly as a number 10 for West Brom reserves and I think on the wing for Brentford. Slight build, dribbles with the ball clinging his foot. Think Grealish or more likely O’Dowda

[Razors left peg]

Odubeko has withdrawn from squad. Total BS excuse of how an injury is being managed and it was best to keep him at home. He scored twice for West Ham u18s today and is not injured.

https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/squad-update-three-called-up-to-under-21-squad

I think someone has gotten in his ear since he spoke to Crawford last week.

[Eirambler]

Odubeko pulls out for, to put it mildly, unconvincing reasons.

Connell, Varion and a player I'm not at all familiar with - Sam Blair of Norwich called up.

Two ways of looking at the Odubeko thing:

1 - the straight bat/potentially naive viewpoint - he's regularly on the West Ham bench and is not far off their first team, given their lack of striking options they cannot afford to risk him getting injured in a nothing friendly game, so the FAI have agreed to leave him in London.

A couple of problems with that though, that's not exactly what the wording said and also he played in an underage match for West Ham this afternoon, is that really that different to playing with the 21s.

2 - the no interest viewpoint - even if he played for Ireland in this qualifying campaign it wouldn't tie him to us anyway. But he's actually so uninterested in representing us that he won't even show up for a non-committal friendly, never mind a qualifying game that even then wouldn't tie him to us.

If that's the case though, surely it would make more sense for all parties to say this so everyone can move on and he can play for whoever it is that he actually wants to play for. I don't think creating this situation is protecting the player as the FAI and his club might think it is - it's just leaving him open to criticism by leaving his allegiances unresolved.

Either way it's a fairly unsatisfactory situation in my opinion.

[sadloserkid]

Great to see it. It quietens all of the doubters for another while too.

Be honest, you thought "another while" would be more than 4 days, didn't you?

[elatedscum]

Odubeko pulls out for, to put it mildly, unconvincing reasons.

Connell, Varion and a player I'm not at all familiar with - Sam Blair of Norwich called up.

Weird thing was that Dan Rose can't leave Germany cause he's not a german citizen but Conor Noss can...

[Eirambler]

I presume that one is straightforward enough. Noss is essentially German so probably has more freedom to come and go. It would be strange for Rose to declare for us and then get cold feet that soon afterwards.

[seanfhear]

Its becoming Carry-On Comedy Stuff at this stage. International football is becoming a joke especially for the smaller countries !

[tetsujin1979]

Weird thing was that Dan Rose can't leave Germany cause he's not a german citizen but Conor Noss can...

Based in different regions too, different rules for travel

[elatedscum]

I presume that one is straightforward enough. Noss is essentially German so probably has more freedom to come and go. It would be strange for Rose to declare for us and then get cold feet that soon afterwards.

Yep. Basically, Germans are allowed to repatriate but foreigners aren’t allowed to enter the country from what are deemed high risk areas like UK and Ireland.

Different federal states have different rules regarding lockdown but afaik this is a national law.

[elatedscum]

Based in different regions too, different rules for travel

Both in north Rhine west-phalia (spelling?) I’d think

[tetsujin1979]

U21 lineup announced
1375418975711035401

[tetsujin1979]

Live stream of the game on Wales' YouTube channel here
SkhDBPeyle4

[elatedscum]

Thought McGuinness was probably man of the match. His father is from Derry and he's very much in the Shane Duffy win everything in the air mould. Difficult conditions to play football and a bit fortunate to win but were comfortably the better side in the second half. Good for Afolabi to get a goal.

Thought the midfield of Watson, Connell and Noss were pretty good. Maher was impressive in goal, just his presence and command of his area. Wingers didn't really get involved and were a bit disappointing. Meanwhile, Tyriek Wright coming off the bench seems to have gained a yard of pace - definitely positions open there, along with left back. Was disappointing not to see Shane Flynn involved at some point.

Considering you've also got the following lads eligible: Bazunu, Rose, Collins, Coventry, Knight Hodge, Smallbone, Finn, Connolly, Idah, Parrott, Obafemi - it's certainly still a very decent squad going forward...

[gally]

Thought McGuinness was probably man of the match. His father is from Derry and he's very much in the Shane Duffy win everything in the air mould. Difficult conditions to play football and a bit fortunate to win but were comfortably the better side in the second half. Good for Afolabi to get a goal.

Thought the midfield of Watson, Connell and Noss were pretty good. Maher was impressive in goal, just his presence and command of his area. Wingers didn't really get involved and were a bit disappointing. Meanwhile, Tyriek Wright coming off the bench seems to have gained a yard of pace - definitely positions open there, along with left back. Was disappointing not to see Shane Flynn involved at some point.

Considering you've also got the following lads eligible: Bazunu, Rose, Collins, Coventry, Knight Hodge, Smallbone, Finn, Connolly, Idah, Parrott, Obafemi - it's certainly still a very decent squad going forward...



Would agree with a lot of the above, apart from saying McGuinness is similar to Duffy, he is tall, great in the air, but also very good on the ball, he is on loan at Ipswich and doing good by all accounts.

[tetsujin1979]

Live stream of the game on Wales' YouTube channel here
SkhDBPeyle4

Goals are at 1:52:00. Second goal follows on immediately from the equaliser. Looks like the Welsh defender curled the ball around his keeper with a backpass. Pretty impressive actually.
I was told years ago to always aim a pass to your goalkeeper wide of the goals, for pretty much this reason.