European Qualifier
31.08.1999 at 19:00 - Tolka Park
Irish boss Ian Evans has opted for rotation after he announced his team to face Yugoslavia in tonight’s key U-21 European Championship qualifier at Tolka Park (k.o. 7.30).
Evans has changed his entire defence since the Macedonia game in Galway, which Ireland won 3-0 after an appeal to UEFA, the European governing body and while the four-man midfield remains intact there are changes too in attack.Daryl Clare of Grimsby Town comes back in to lead the attack after injury and Alan Lee of Burnley returns after suspension in what will be a 4-4-2 formation under team skipper Alan Mahon who will be winning his 17th cap at this level.“I made changes defensively and in attack because I was not happy with the performance against Macedonia in Galway. I have opted for another group of players whom I know are confident and well capable of doing a job for me tonight,” said Evans in what is the Republic’s first U-21 tie of the season to be played in the capital.
Ireland drew 2-2 with Croatia in their opening qualifier in Kilkenny with goals from York City’s Barry Conlon and Middlesbrough’s Stephen Baker who is suspended for tonight’s clash.
He was sent off during the 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia in Belgrade where Ireland had to rely on a last minute penalty from West Brom’s Kevin Kilbane to salvage a point.
Ireland beat Malta 2-1 in Arklow where Daryl Clare and Dundee United’s Dave Worrell scored.
The Macedonia game in early June ended in a goalless draw at Terryland Park but after the visitors’ admitted to fielding an illegal amateur player, Ireland were awarded the match and the points on a 3-0 scoreline after they appealed to the highest level at UEFA headquarters.
In recent matches, Ireland have had to rely on late goals to collect vital points but they have to win tonight’s qualifying tie with the Yugoslavs in Dublin and get something out of the away game against Croatia in Zagreb on Friday afternoon to have any chance of catching the Croats who are running away with the group with 16 points from six games played.Ireland are second at the moment with eight points from four matches with Yugoslavia a point behind from the same number of games.“I am operating from a panel of 30 players at this level and we have a good, strong and experienced bunch of players here in Dublin. Because of that, all of them are getting little snippets of experience when we make changes to the team,” he added.
IRELAND: Alex O’Reilly (Northampton Town); Alan Maybury (Leeds United), Richard Dunne (Everton), Andy O’Brien (Bradford City), Robbie Ryan (Millwall); Martin Rowlands (Brentford), Barry Quinn (Coventry City), Stephen McPhail (Leeds United), Alan Mahon (Tranmere Rovers) capt; Daryl Clare (Grimsby Town) & Alan Lee (Burnley).
The substitutes are: Dave Worrell (Dundee United), Colin Hawkins (St. Pat’s Ath), Danny Boxall (Brentford), Barry Conlon (York City), Derek O’Connor (Bradford Park Avenue), Anthony Folan (Brentford) and Brian Barry-Murphy (Preston North End).
|
