2023 UEFA Under-21 Championship

[DeLorean]

2-1 Ireland. Johansson wins possession, great wing play and cross by Wright and Tierney finishes it with a header.

[CSAD]

Tierney is not the tallest but he does score a lot of headers!

[passinginterest]

It was a lovely goal, great run into the box to meet the cross by Tierney. Kayode just looks like he's short a yard or two of pace for a top level striker. He took a couple of dives looking for pens too, when showing a bit of strength and trying to get a shot away might have served him better.

Johansson has had some lovely touches but also got caught really badly in possession a few times.

Good win for them.

[Dalymountrower]

Tierney has an amazing spring, he is developing into a quality player. Hard as nails around mid field and gets into great positions in the box.

[ifk101]

Nice goal at the end and good result for us. But thought we were second best for most of the game and are carrying a couple of passengers in midfield – Noss and Watson are a bit off at this level. I was skeptical about Johansson but does look like he can play and is capable of taking and turning with the ball (mistake in the lead up to their goal aside) – something we otherwise struggle to do.

[sbgawa]

I would really recommend anyone to go along to watch any of the LOI underage squads at U14 or U15 levels as you would be shocked at the technical skills of these kids, we will eventually see the benefit of years of proper coaching coming through, there is hope.
Pats, Shels, Rovers or St Kevins/Bohs, Bray/St Josephs are all well worth a look in Dublin.

[tetsujin1979]

first goal

[tetsujin1979]

Not much Maher could do about the equaliser

[tetsujin1979]

Tierney scores with his first touch at U21 level!

[Olé Olé]

Tyreik Wright there again. Didn't watch this game but saw the match against Switzerland and this contribution here. Really like the look of him. He's developing nicely having been in the shadows of Connolly, Idah and Parrott.

[Eirambler]

Very decent effort considering that was an Australian Under 23 team, although they looked a limited enough bunch. Crazy how they are allowed to just stroll into the Olympic tournament every four years whereas playing in Europe we haven't a chance of qualifying for that really.

The standouts for me were McGuinness at the back all game and the substitutes mainly - Wright, Kayode and Johansson all improved the team when they came on. Watson worked hard and Maher was good in goal - didn't have many saves to make but commanded his area well. Noss had a few nice moments also. Connell is good with the ball at his feet but is a bit one paced.

From the players we've seen so far I would have a starting team for the qualifiers something like the following:


Maher
Ebosele
McEntee
McGuinness
Ferry
Coventry
Kilkenny
Grant
Johansson
Wright
Kayode

The likes of Watson and Noss would be in the mix in midfield also though, it's very competitive there. Smallbone and Finn Benoa will give other attacking midfield options also and Hodge might put pressure on Coventry for the holding midfield position. Knight would stroll onto this team obviously but I expect he's full time with the seniors now.

O'Connor and Omobamidele might yet drop back down from the seniors to strengthen the defence, maybe even Collins for a game or two, and I'd like to see Flynn get a start against Denmark at the weekend as Ferry leaves a lot of space behind him at left back, he's more of a winger really.

If we could get the likes of Obafemi and Parrott back in up front it would really make a difference to the attack as Afolabi looks miles off it and Kayode can't be expected to do it all on his own. Obviously no chance of Connolly or Idah playing at this level again.

It looks like we are where we are in terms of keepers, they haven't given the two younger lads a minute in the two games so they must be set on Maher as the starter for now at least. He's quick off his line and seems fairly commanding but his passing is a bit suspect and he was easily beaten for one of the Swiss goals the last day. Not much chance of Bazunu dropping down from the seniors however.

[DeLorean]

Full game here-

[Kingdom]

I would really recommend anyone to go along to watch any of the LOI underage squads at U14 or U15 levels as you would be shocked at the technical skills of these kids, we will eventually see the benefit of years of proper coaching coming through, there is hope.
Pats, Shels, Rovers or St Kevins/Bohs, Bray/St Josephs are all well worth a look in Dublin.

I agree, and I don't think we say it enough, and isn't noticed enough.

I've said before that I've experienced elite level football at different stages in 3 different countries - Ireland, England and Belgium. Our kids - at respective ages, are ahead of Belgian kids from what I can see here. the one difference, and I guess it's changing gradually in Ireland through integration, is the different styles and sizes that the different ethnicities bring to clubs in Belgium, that we wouldn't have had 20 years ago in Ireland. But thankfully that is changing.

It would almost make you wonder what happens when the Irish kids leave the set-ups that makes English and Celtic clubs to want to prise them away.

[tetsujin1979]

Friendly against Denmark will be on YouTube at 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2pxUIPGEV4

[CSAD]

Anytime our CBs get the ball Denmark close us down and give us no time whatsoever but when the Danish CBs get it we give them all the time in the world and no Irish player tries closing down the Denmark players. How are we supposed to create chances?