Brian Kerr celebrates exactly two years in charge of Irish underage teams today quietly confident his under-17s can beat Egypt, as they must do to qualify for the semi-finals of this competition.
Team news is not encouraging for Ireland however, with both Jim Goodwin and Dessie Byrne, who picked up a second yellow card on Saturday, suspended, while Andy Reid (hamstring), Gary Dempsey (dead leg) and John Thompson (knee) all have knocks, with Dempsey, influential in both games so far, the main concern.
Leeds United's Brian McCrystal will start in central defence alongside John O'Shea, while Thomas Butler will replace Demspey if he isn't fit to start with Dwayne Mattis on stand-by for Reid.
"From what I've seen of Egypt their games were quite open and I don't think they will be as well organised as Spain were," said Kerr.
"They also need something to secure their semi-final place and I think they will come at us as well. We won't change the way we play. We've created lots of chances in the other two games and I'm sure we'll get some today."
Kerr remains concerned about the heat which he believes was hotter than the official 32 degrees for the Spain match on Saturday.
"The players were very disappointed to lose as they aren't very used to it. They have a bit of a swagger about them as a team. But we had a good night after the game and that should have acted as a healing process."
Probable Team: Murphy (Tranmere Rovers); Thompson (Nottingham Forest), McCrystal (Leeds United), O'Shea (Manchester United), Foy (Nottingham Forest); Dempsey (Everton), Miller (Celtic), S Byrne (West Ham United); McGill (Sunderland), McMahon (Newcastle United), Reid (Nottingham Forest).
Referee: P Mathabela (South Africa).
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