European Qualifier
23.10.2002 at 19:30 - Turner's Cross - Cork
Brian Kerr yesterday suggested the support of the Irish fans might be the spur Ireland need to overcome a fancied French team tonight and battle their way back into contention for qualification from a very competitive group in the European U17 championship.
Ireland play France at Turner’s Cross (7.30 pm) needing a win to compensate for their loss to Germany in the opening match of the round robin series on Monday.
France, who beat Slovenia in their first match, will be encouraged by the knowledge that a win over Ireland will be enough to ensure their qualification for the next phase.
Germany play Slovenia today at Buttevant (2.30pm) in exactly the same position as the French for they are sure to go through if they win. So a mighty effort will be needed from Slovenia and Ireland if the issue of qualification is to be kept in doubt until Friday’s final series of matches.
This said, Kerr yesterday stressed that Ireland needed to approach the contest with France with a degree of caution. “We cannot afford to be reckless,” he said. “We need to win but we cannot throw caution to the wind. Those who saw France play Slovenia will know what a good team they are and they will punish us if we are careless.”
Indeed Germany showed how ruthless the top teams can be even at this early stage of players’ development. Ireland were pushing hard for an equalising goal at St Colman’s Park when Germany twice took advantage of slackness in the Irish defence in the closing five minutes to put the game out of reach and finish 3-0 winners.
Said Kerr: “I thought we might have snatched a draw because we were in control when Germany scored their second goal. We were in control of the ball and enjoying a good spell but we paid the price for a single mistake.
“At times we looked very good but there is little point in painting pretty pictures with nice passing movements in defence and in midfield if you do not get enough people into the box and we didn’t do that often enough.
“I was disappointed with the result, of course, but not too disappointed with the performance. We can do better and be more balanced in our work .”
France, in their 2-1 win over Slovenia in Fermoy, did not appear to be as powerful or as direct as the Germans were against Ireland but, as you would expect with the French, they were always very organised and very skilful.
“You can always expect that when we play against countries who have bigger populations, they will always have players bigger, stronger and technically better than some of our lads,” said Kerr.
“But we have qualities that help compensate and those who were in Cobh will have seen that Ireland have players who are just as technically proficient.”
Ireland have a few individuals nursing injuries after the loss to Germany and Kerr will wait for fitness reports before finalising his team selection.
France are extremely strong in the centre of midfield where team captain Didier Digard (Le Havre) was so influential against Slovenia. Their left wing of full-back Habib Bellaid (Strasbourg) and Jonathan Lacourt (Lens) will present Ireland with a powerful challenge.
Germany will be fancied to build on their good result against Ireland by beating Slovenia.
Today’s fixtures: Germany v Slovenia, Buttevant 2.30 pm.
Ireland v France, Turner’s Cross 7.30 pm.
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