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Preview: Under 21 - Spain
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Friendly
27.03.2009 at 19:45 - RSC Waterford
Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens has announced an 18-man squad for this month's matches against Spain and Turkey.
The Young Boys in Green will face Spain at Waterford's RSC stadium on 27 March in their final friendly match before travelling to Cork to take on Turkey at Turner's Cross on 31 March in the opening fixture of the UEFA Under-21 2011 European Championship qualifiers.
Waterford-native Eddie Nolan(pictured on main page) has been named in the squad, as has Cork-born David Meyler, who impressed in his Under-21 debut against Germany last month. Also included in the panel are Jay O'Shea of Galway United and Seamus Coleman, who recently joined Everton from Sligo Rovers.
With the qualification campaign for the UEFA Under-21 2011 European Championships ready to begin, manager Don Givens is satisfied with the squad he has to call on.
Givens said: 'It is a strong squad and we have good players in every position.
'Our recent results have been very encouraging - in our last three matches we have beaten Lithuania and drawn with both Portugal and Germany - so we go into these matches on good form.
'Spain have qualified for this summer's European Championship having won all eight of their qualification matches, so they are a very strong team.
'I am delighted to be playing a team like Spain because they are the sort of team we want to play to get ourselves ready for the next campaign.
'Turkey will also be strong, but we are happy that we have them at home in the first match of the new campaign.
'The game is in Turners Cross and we're hoping for a big crowd to come along and support us on the night.
'The people of Cork have always been very good at supporting underage football, and that is a big plus for us as we go into this important match.'
Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad v Spain & Turkey on 27 and 31 March: S Redmond (Eastwood Town), S Henderson (Bristol City), B Moloney (Nottingham Forest), M Spillane (Luton Town), E Nolan (Preston North End), S Lowry (Aston Villa), S Coleman (Everton), S Gleeson (Wolverhampton Wanderers), J McCarthy (Hamilton Academicals), O Garvan (Ipswich Town), M Liddle (Carlisle United), A Judge (Plymouth Argyle), D Meyler (Sunderland), JJ O'Toole (Sheffield United), J O'Shea (Galway United), G Carey (Bohemians), C Sheridan (Motherwell), S Scannell (Crystal Palace).
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Nolan to captain Ireland in his home town
Eddie Nolan will captain the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side in his
native Waterford on Friday night. The Preston North End defender will
wear the captain's armband when the Irish team face Spain in front of a
capacity crowd at the RSC stadium.
Nolan will start in the centre of defence alongside Darren Dennehy, who
was called into the squad to replace the injured Shane Lowry. With
Michael Spillane also set to miss the match through injury, Dennehy has
a chance to impress ahead of next Tuesday night's Under-21 UEFA 2011
European Championship qualifier against Turkey at Turner's Cross.
Everton's Seamus Coleman will play at right back, with Brendan Moloney
filling in for the injured Michael Liddle at left back.
The Irish will take to the field with the same midfield trio that
performed so well against Germany last month, with Owen Garvan, Stephen
Gleeson and David Meyler all starting in the middle of the park. Alan
Judge and Jay O'Shea will provide the width, with Cillian Sheridan up
front.
Manager Don Givens is confident that the team can get off to a good
start when they begin their European Championship qualifying campaign.
"We start our 2011 UEFA Championship qualifying campaign next Tuesday
with a match against the top seeds, Turkey, at Turner's Cross so it will
important to get a good performance against Spain first," he said.
"This group of lads showed they are determined and disciplined against
Germany, aspects which are important when they step up to this level.
"I think this is the Under-21 squad that I've managed in which most lads
are playing competitive football and that makes a huge difference in
terms of coping with the pace.
"Reserve team football can be like testimonial matches sometimes and
it's vital that the players experience competitive football with clubs,
even if it means going on loan.
"It's unfortunate that the lads [Michael Liddle, Michael Spillane and
Shane Lowry] are injured but it gives others the opportunity of coming
in and impressing.
"Eddie Nolan is back in the squad and will captain the team while Jay
O'Shea and Seamus Coleman - both of whom weren't considered for the
Germany game because they were out of season - come into the side."
Republic of Ireland U21 team v Spain:
Shane Redmond (Eastwood Town)
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
Eddie Nolan (Preston North End) - captain
Darren Dennehy (Hereford United)
Brendan Moloney (Notts Forest)
Stephen Gleeson (MK Dons)
Owen Garvan (Ipswich Town)
David Meyler (Sunderland)
Alan Judge (Plymouth Argyle)
Jay O'Shea (Galway United)
Cillian Sheridan (Motherwell)
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H / A / N
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Matches
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W
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D
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L
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Goals
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+ / -
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H
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2
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1
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0
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1
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2 - 3
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-1
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A
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1
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0
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0
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1
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1 - 2
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-1
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N
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0 - 0
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+0
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Total
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3
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1
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0
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2
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3 - 5
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-2
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Date&time
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Comp.
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H / A / N
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Final score
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27.03.2009 at 19:45
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Friendly
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H
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2 - 1 |
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12.10.1993 at 21:00
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European Qualifier
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H
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0 - 2 |
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17.11.1992 at 15:00
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European Qualifier
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A
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1 - 2 |
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