Ireland U21

Jim Crawford's side will seal top spot and Euro qualification if they beat Italy in Ascoli.

The aforementioned Odubeko will be looking to make a big impact when he is called upon. The Irish bench is one that can really make a difference in the latter stages - expect to see the energy of Ross Tierney and Ollie O'Neill at some point. Will Smallbone has been in brilliant goal-scoring form of late and will be looking to continue that against the Italians.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21s head into today's clash with Group F leaders Italy knowing a win will take them to a first ever U21s European Championship ...

We'd love to do it here on Tuesday. That's the aim, we're coming here to win. They have talented players playing in Serie A and Serie B so it's going to be a great challenge for us and something our group of players will learn from. What they saidRepublic of Ireland U21 Manager Jim Crawford: "They (Italy) have real quality.

It was heartbreak for Ireland in the sweltering heat of Ascoli as Jim Crawford's U21 side fell to a devastating 4-1 defeat to Italy.

Unfortunately, he can't quite get his shot away. He nutmeds one and skips past a couple of other Italian defenders. A Conor Coventry penalty gave Ireland some hope with half an hour to go, but Italy reclaimed control soon after. Republic of Ireland 1-3 Italy The second-half started in disastrous fashion. Mark McGuinness gave away a needless penalty on the 20 minute mark, and 28 million euro man Nicolo Rovella made no mistake.

THE Ireland Under-21s lost one must-win game - now they must-win in two.A 4-1 defeat to Italy in Ascoli this evening ensured the Azzurri are goi.

But Ireland were naturally leaving gaps at the back and the Azzurri with a fourth goal on 86 minutes when substitute Giancomo Quagliata tapped home a Samuele Ricci cutback. But Maher got a hand to it and could have kept it out, particularly as he also made two great stops from the same striker in a first half when Ireland’s backline were overworked. But the disappointment for Ireland was that the errors were all avoidable, and at stages in the game when the heat should not have been an issue.

OLLIE O'NEILL scored the goal that set Ireland on their way to the verge of history — but now they must finish the job.The Under-21s are jus.

“Both my mum and dad were born in London but had Irish upbringings. “So it is something in history that should never happen again. It’s a one-innings game, you have to go for it. So it’s all four of my grandparents. “You have to take this chance. But I think that game showed what we were about, we never gave up.

IT was eventual heartbreak for in-form Will Smallbone and Republic of Ireland under-21 as they were defeated 4-1 by Italy in a European Championship…

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THE REPUBLIC of Ireland Under-21s will face a two-legged play-off for a place in the U21 European Championship after a 4-1 defeat to Italy ended their hopes ...

The Republic, to their credit, battled until the end and they grabbed what would ultimately prove to be a consolation just past the hour when captain Conor Coventry drilled his spot kick into the bottom left corner after Smallbone was fouled. THE REPUBLIC of Ireland Under-21s will face a two-legged play-off for a place in the U21 European Championship after a 4-1 defeat to Italy ended their hopes of automatic qualification.Ireland were beaten by the Azzuri at the Cino e Lillo Del Dunca in Ascoli on Tuesday evening. There wasn’t much between the sides inside the opening quarter of an hour and despite having more possession, Italy’s best chance came from a corner but Caleb Okoli could only send his header over the target.