2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship

[tetsujin1979]

Qualifying round for next year's championship is being held in Cork this week
Squad was announced earlier
1711396234647286099

UEFA Under 17 (https://www.uefa.com/under17/)
2024 UEFA Under-17 Championship (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_UEFA_European_Under-17_Championship)
2024 UEFA Under-17 Championship Qualification (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_UEFA_European_Under-17_Championship_qualification)
2024 UEFA Under-17 Championship Qualifying Round Group 10
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_UEFA_European_Under-17_Championship_qualification#Group_10)2024 UEFA Under-17 Championship Elite Round Group 5 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_UEFA_European_Under-17_Championship_qualification#Group_5_2)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_UEFA_European_Under-17_Championship_qualification#Group_10)

[elatedscum]

Qualifying round for next year's championship is being held in Cork this week
Squad was announced earlier
1711396234647286099

Decent looking squad. Lots of attacking talent with Orazi and Melia potential stars. Jaden Umeh is playing up an age but he's very talented like his older brother. William Martin is highly thought of, as is Matthew Murray albeit to a lesser extent. Midfield wise, McAndrew and Moore are both exciting. Interesting that Grady McDonnell and Rory Finneran are the two lads who were moved up from the 16s, Ramon Martos is so so talented. To me, he's the best u16, especially in midfield, although that 16s group is just teeming with talent. Defensively, Harnett is really good. And I've heard good things about McGlinchy.

Two names that stand out not being there are Ade Solanke who was the youngest player at the u17 euros last season (age 14). The other is Cathal O'Sullivan who was in the squad last month. Last year, I heard him described as the most talented from that age group, which given Mason Melia is a big shout.

Beyond that, I guess Rokas Katkauskas is with Lithuania? Don't think he has ever played for them competitively but he was someone who was highly considered a year or two ago. Marcus Gill also played a friendly for the 17s as an u16. You'd assume he's still with us rather than Scotland.

Other names include Richie Vodo and Marven Chen who have probably been surpassed by the 16s who have been called up...

[tetsujin1979]

On Solanke's absence, he's in Geneva with the FAI as part of the bid to host Euro 2028
https://www.the42.ie/euro-2028-bid-2-6191006-Oct2023/

Also part of the presentation will be a representative of youth football from each of the five associations, with Shamrock Rovers underage player Ade Solanke – a student on their TY Ashfield College programme – here for the FAI.

[tetsujin1979]

The second group game against Iceland will clash with the rugby world cup quarter final against New Zealand. Attendance will probably be affected.

[liamoo11]

The second group game against Iceland will clash with the rugby world cup quarter final against New Zealand. Attendance will probably be affected.

I think a good lot will still go to the rugby match Tets but your right the rugby attendance will be affected

[elatedscum]

Interesting giving Cork both the 21s and the 17s

[JR89]

Tonight's game has been moved to Fermoy FC after Turner's Cross failed a pitch inspection.

[elatedscum]

Interesting giving Cork both the 21s and the 17s

Tonight's game has been moved to Fermoy FC after Turner's Cross failed a pitch inspection.

Wouldn't have happened in Dublin ;)

[elatedscum]

Wouldn't have happened in Dublin ;)

Possibly means it won't be streamed too. They tend to only announce it on the day - but possibly due to capabilities at Fermoy, it won't be streamed

[tetsujin1979]

Kick off delayed until eight
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[JR89]

Won 4-0 in the end. Mason Melia hat trick and Jaden Umeh scored. Mark McCadden reporting that Benfica are showing interest in Umeh. Doesn't turn 16 till March.

[elatedscum]

Interesting that both Jaden and Franco scored for Ireland on the same day (u17 and u19).

Tets - you might be able to help on this, presumably that’s the first time two brothers have scored for Ireland on the same day (ever?) (or a really long time?)

[elatedscum]

also, as an aside, weird that Kyle Fitzgerald and Luke O'Donnell were listed by the FAI at LOI clubs. My understanding was that both had signed for Wolves in the summer...

[Olé Olé]

Interesting that both Jaden and Franco scored for Ireland on the same day (u17 and u19).

Tets - you might be able to help on this, presumably that’s the first time two brothers have scored for Ireland on the same day (ever?) (or a really long time?)

Melia, the Umeh brothers and O'Mahony are some serious prospects. Umeh and O'Mahony are having a fine time at PL2 level already.

[elatedscum]

Melia, the Umeh brothers and O'Mahony are some serious prospects. Umeh and O'Mahony are having a fine time at PL2 level already.

In terms of the 17s, Ike Orazi is phenomenal. I’m always apprehensive about players moving to France (we just haven’t had any successes yet - Nzingo was really highly rated before his France move, to a lesser extent Sotona too. Jake O’Brien is probably a little different cause he’s older and more established, but at 16-19, I’d be concerned. Orazi is probably very similar to Ebosele at that age but Orazi is probably better. Very likely to be a international i’d think, at a young age too.

Kone Doherty is probably the star u18 (2006), maybe less of a sure thing than Orazi, more likely to be a LOI player but also more likely to be nominated for premier league young player of the year (ala Ferguson).

We’ll see how Zefi turns out in the long run, the most technically impressive kid I’ve seen - but had/has so much work to do on his understanding of the game.

Not sure why I’m talking about three wingers and nothing else.

[tetsujin1979]

Interesting that both Jaden and Franco scored for Ireland on the same day (u17 and u19).

Tets - you might be able to help on this, presumably that’s the first time two brothers have scored for Ireland on the same day (ever?) (or a really long time?)
I was wondering that myself. It probably is the first time. There's not too many brothers that have played at any level for Ireland. Off the top of my head I can only think of Pierce and David O'Leary, Noel and Stephen Hunt, and Sean and Kevin Thornton.

[tetsujin1979]

Last night's game was streamed on YouTube. It's not broadcast quality, but it's watchable
First half below, goals at 29:35 and 54:00. Both goals coming from crosses from the byline on the left
qHjBcg59KqI

I'll post the second half if I can find it.

Switzerland beat Iceland 3-0 in the other game - https://www.uefa.com/under17/match/2036937--iceland-vs-switzerland/ - so Ireland currently top the group on goals scored

[Joxerbrowne]

I was wondering that myself. It probably is the first time. There's not too many brothers that have played at any level for Ireland. Off the top of my head I can only think of Pierce and David O'Leary, Noel and Stephen Hunt, and Sean and Kevin Thornton.
Alan and Stephen Quinn.

[tetsujin1979]

Of course! Wayne and Dave Henderson both played at underage level as well, but only Wayne earned senior caps.

[pineapple stu]

Alan and Gary Kelly (fairly sure Gary was capped at underage)

[elatedscum]

Jason knight and his older brother (but they wouldn’t have overlapped).

John Joe patrick Finn’s little brother was a recent call up - but there was no overlap either

[nigel-harps1954]

Michael Keane and Will Keane..

[tetsujin1979]

All the goals on the FAI's twitter
1712437966306525561

[tetsujin1979]

Switzerland beat Armenia 5-0
Ireland currently drawing 0-0 with Iceland
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[elatedscum]

Switzerland beat Armenia 5-0
Ireland currently drawing 0-0 with Iceland
1713239467232792595

ended 0-0. Melia hit the bar in the 94th minute. Really needed to make more changes. Players were knackered, J Umeh in particular.

[tetsujin1979]

Full game is on YouTube
bi-OcphycbI

[elatedscum]

The veo getting sucked to the ball boy practising headers non-stop was quite something

[geysir]

0-0 suits Ireland more that Iceland. I'd say (considering goal diff) Ireland just have to avoid being tanked by Switzerland in order to finish 2nd. Both players were absolutely knackered over the last 10 minutes as they went all out to find a winner. Is there a case for having 80 minute games at this age level?

I think this draw along with Sunday's defeat means Ireland have not beaten Iceland at any competitive age level, male/female this century.

[tetsujin1979]

They were 80 minutes until recently, weren't they?

[elatedscum]

They were 80 minutes until recently, weren't they?

U15 and u16 80 mins
U17 up 90 mins

Not sure if it’s been different. Don’t remember 17s ever being 80.


. Both players were absolutely knackered over the last 10 minutes as they went all out to find a winner. Is there a case for having 80 minute games at this age level?

I think the heaviness of the pitch really didn’t help, absolutely saps the legs. That’s why I really couldn’t understand Ireland only making three subs. All of Umeh, Moore and Melia were knackered (as was Harnett). I would have kept Melia on because, even thought he’d stopped working, there was always a goal in him (as seen with the last minute chance). But taking off Umeh for Orazi and Moore for either Martin or Ochoa seemed an absolute no brainier. The difference the fresh legs of Luke O’Donnell made were huge - no understanding of why at the 75-80 min mark, we didn’t make those changes.

[ifk101]

Looked like a penalty on Melia around the 75 mins mark?

[Stuttgart88]

Saw it on Twitter. Blatant.

[tetsujin1979]

U15 and u16 80 mins
U17 up 90 mins

Not sure if it’s been different. Don’t remember 17s ever being 80.
I was sure there was a game where the U17s were 2-0 down and scored around the 79th minute, and then the ref blew up at 80 minutes.
Did a search for "80 minutes" on the forum, and there's a few references to it here: https://foot.ie/threads/184298-Under-17-Squad?p=1743771&viewfull=1#post1743771
That was 2014, not sure when the change was made to 90 minutes

[elatedscum]

I was sure there was a game where the U17s were 2-0 down and scored around the 79th minute, and then the ref blew up at 80 minutes.
Did a search for "80 minutes" on the forum, and there's a few references to it here: https://foot.ie/threads/184298-Under-17-Squad?p=1743771&viewfull=1#post1743771
That was 2014, not sure when the change was made to 90 minutes

Yeah you’re right. The games held here in 2019 were the first with 90 mins. I had seen the tv coverage of them at the championships the two years previous but had forgotten it or merged it with u16.

[seanfhear]

Perhaps all mens football should play 45 minutes plus added time in the first half, and 40 minutes plus added time in the second half

Or

40 minutes plus added time for both halves = = Games are getting ridiculously long at this stage = = And don't even get me started at the length of Rugby Matches ! ! ! ! !

[CSAD]

Definetly need to avoid losing now as sadly Armenia are doing everything in their power to screw us being 6-1 down already with 10 minutes or so to play.

[CSAD]

Finishes 0-0 which guarantees Ireland's qualification.

Also f**k you Armenia managing to lose 7-1 and doing you're part in screwing us! Not only are the Armenian players an embarrassment to themselves and their country but they failed to screw us in the end!

[JR89]

Finishing on five points likely sees us as fourth seeds for the Elite Round draw which makes qualification for the Euros look slim.

[CSAD]

Finishing on five points likely sees us as fourth seeds for the Elite Round draw which makes qualification for the Euros look slim.

We were 4th seeds last time and won our group with Italy and Ukraine in there. Tbh it's all about getting 1st seeds and after that its a bit of a crap shoot as with only 3 games plus kids you tend to get inconsistent results across Europe. Getting top seeds with 7 points would have been really tricky anyway so it was important we at least secured Qualification.

[tetsujin1979]

First time keeping not conceding in the qualifying round since the 2007 qualifiers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_UEFA_European_Under-17_Championship_qualifying_round#Group_6

[liamoo11]

Luke o donnell made debut for derry City last night and fitzgerald is playing for Galway are they on.loan back from wolves?

[nigel-harps1954]

Luke o donnell made debut for derry City last night and fitzgerald is playing for Galway are they on.loan back from wolves?

Did Luke O'Donnell actually sign for Wolves in the end? I think he played a few trial games there during the summer without signing.

[JR89]

Believe players under the age of 18 are not allowed to be loaned to clubs abroad. So wouldn't say either player are on loan with Derry or Galway from Wolves. If they're even both actually Wolves players given their age.

[tetsujin1979]

Draw made for the elite round
1732713887202472325
Gulp

[nigel-harps1954]

Easy.

[Eirambler]

Our run of ridiculously difficult draws continues. Doesn't seem to matter the age group or gender at this point. Feels like we're a virtual certainty to get England in the Nations League next year.

[CSAD]

Our run of ridiculously difficult draws continues. Doesn't seem to matter the age group or gender at this point. Feels like we're a virtual certainty to get England in the Nations League next year.

Just like Wales' run of soft draws continues...literally every single team in their group is much easier than the weakest side in our group...

You cant help but laugh, you couldnt have hand picked a more difficult group if you tried yet we manage it every time...

[CSAD]

It must be remembered the reason we are now in this position is because of Israel's withdraw all results against bottom sides were discarded as result. It meant we were relegated to pot 4 from pot 3 and Croatia were relegated prom pot 2 to pot 3...

Granted you know even if this wasnt the case we'd just get Belgium from pot 4 instead of Croatia/Germany.

[seanfhear]

Great experience all the same.

[EalingGreen]

You cant help but laugh, you couldnt have hand picked a more difficult group if you tried yet we manage it every time...Would you swap POR/GER/CRO/IRL for ENG/FRA/HUN/NIR?

Not sure there's anything in it, tbh.