UNDER-19 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Republic of Ireland 1 Czech Republic 2:THOUGH THE Greece victory over host-nation Romania in Saturday's later group game has brought with it more permutation, Republic of Ireland manager Paul Doolin remains convinced victory in tomorrow's last fixture in the pool will seal them a European Championship semi-final spot.
A second and final opportunity to reach the last-four confronts Ireland when bottom side Romania provide the opposition in Bercini, after their first chance to progress was blown on Saturday as they allowed an interval lead slip against the top seeds Czech Republic in Mogosoaia.
Ireland should have had more to show for their first-half dominance than just John O’Sullivan’s 10th-minute opener and they succumbed midway through the second period to a pair of Czech goals scored two minutes apart.
Greece, beaten 2-1 by Ireland in Tuesday’s first set of group fixtures, moved back into contention for one of the two qualifying berths into the knock out stages by overcoming Romania 1-0.
The Czechs look sure of fourth semi-final spot in the space of eight years following a maximum six-point haul from their games. Ireland are deadlocked with Greece on three points, though it would appear Doolin’s side have the easier task to negotiate as they tackle the host nation low on confidence after back-to-back defeats.
All of which means various possibilities remain going into tomorrow’s last round but based on the head-to-head criteria used by Uefa, an Ireland win coupled with a draw or win for the Czechs over Greece would see Doolin’s side progress. Only a surprise Greece victory against the leaders would mean goal-difference enters the equation.
“We’re still in with a great chance going into the last group game and that’s all I could have asked for coming out here,” said Doolin yesterday in Bucharest.
“The players were disappointed but we had a meeting just before we left training today and I want everybody to be exactly the way as they were before the Czech game. I’d be more disappointed if I see anybody moping around. It’s still the same situation. We could have lost the first game and won on Saturday and we’d be in the same position . . . If we win we go through.”
Doolin has just one injury concern, as O’Sullivan was forced off in the second half, but indicated he will freshen the side up for tomorrow. Kane Ferdinand, Eoin Wearen and Kevin Knight could make their first starts of the finals.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: McCarey (Wolves); Doherty (Wolves), Egan (Sunderland), O'Connor (Blackburn Rovers), Williams (Aston Villa); Murray (Watford), Carruthers (Aston Villa), O'Sullivan (Blackburn Rovers), Hendrick (Derby County), Forde (Wolves); Smith (Watford). Subs: Ferdinand (Southend Utd) for O'Sullivan (57 mins), Murphy (Bray Wanderers) for Smith (64 mins), Knight (unattached) for Murray (76 mins).
