It’s a new campaign for the Ireland under-21s.
Jim Crawford’s u21’s kick off their 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying campaign away to Moldova tomorrow before facing Andorra in Tallaght next Tuesday.
They have often been the shining light of optimism in the wake of the Irish senior team’s struggles to compete for qualification and will be looking to finally stop the drought and reach a maiden u21 finals come the end of the campaign.
Their first opponents, Moldova, defeated Andorra 3-0 in their opening game in the group and sit top of the table.
In the previous u21’s qualification campaign, the Eastern European side finished 5th in their group, amassing seven points (one of which came against Sweden) compared to an Irish side who finished on 19 points, narrowly missing out on a top two finish.
New Ireland Under-21 Squad.
The Irish squad named sees a new generation of players with some old reminents of the previous cycle.
Watford duo James Abankwah and Rocco Vata along with Doncaster Rovers’ Sean Grehan were all key parts of the last campaign, with Newcastle United’s Alex Murphy, Swindon Town loanee Adam Murphy and Reading loanee Mark O’Mahony among the others who were involved.
There is plently of excitement with regards to the forward positions, with Liverpool’s Trent Kone-Doherty and LOI starboys Michael Noonan and Mason Melia all receving call ups, Doherty and Noonan for the first time.
There is also first call ups for Southampton’s Romeo Akachukwu, Derby County’s Freddie Turley and Hull’s Cathal McCarthy.
With both games this break against weaker opposition, I would expect Crawford to go with a more aggressive 4-2-3-1, which we have seen him play with in all games against the so called inferior sides during his tenure.
In terms of ones to watch, Jamie Mullins was extremely impressive in the friendlies against Sweden last November, and after departing Brighton to join Wycombe Wanderers permanently, he has started the club season well, starting every game in League One scoring once.
Given it is a new campaign with a new cycle of players, it is difficult to predict a starting eleven but I will attempt to do so anyway. Hopefully it’s the team to get the job done.
Ireland U21s (4-2-3-1): Andrew Wogan, David Okagbue, James Abankwah, Sean Grehan, Alex Murphy, Cathal McCarthy, Darius Lipsiuc, Rocco Vata, Jamie Mullins, Trent Kone-Doherty, Mason Melia.
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