Givens confident of finishing the job

Soccer Under-21 previewRepublic of Ireland under-21 manager Don Givens will take his side into tonight's Uefa Championship qualifier against Belgium knowing they have already created a bit of history.

A win at Terryland Park will send the Irish through to a two-legged play-off for a place in next year's finals in Holland.

Ireland have never qualified for a major tournament at this level, and there is a steely resolve in this group of players to take that step closer to a breakthrough moment for Irish football.

Givens has named the same 11 in successive competitive games for the first time in his six-year reign.

The 2-0 victory over Greece on August 16th was arguably the best result the country has achieved at that level.

He admitted: "The games are usually so far apart that it's been practically impossible to keep any real consistency on that front.

"It's a boost to be able to go with the same team that did so well in Athens two weeks ago.

"I can sense with this group of lads that they are a quiet bunch who are just determined to complete the job at hand. I feel confident we can do it."

Givens will be particularly keen to see a strong local support come out to support the Irish in a clash with the group's top-ranked side.

He said: "A good crowd could make all the difference for us. The Greece win was probably as good as we've had from my time involved.

"Everything we asked them to do they carried out and they played so well that it was a comfortable two-nil in the end.

"That's set this game up to be a real chance for us. I've looked at a DVD of the Belgians and they'll be better than Greece. They won in France two weeks ago.

"At home, with the confidence in the lads with six straight victories behind us, then I think we can do it."

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND UNDER-21: Doyle (Birmingham City); Foley (Luton Town), Painter (Birmingham City), Bruce (Ipswich Town), McShane (West Bromwich Albion), Flood (Cardiff City), Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday), Deery (Derry City), Keegan (Drogheda Utd), Timlin (Fulham), Ward (Bohemians).