PREVIEW | U17 EURO QUARTER FINALS SPAIN V IRELAND
COLIN O’BRIEN: FAI under 17 head coach
Ireland head into their UEFA European Under-17 Championship Quarter-Final clash with Spain following back-to-back wins in Group A.
The 4-2 win over Hungary on Tuesday confirmed their spot in the last eight and set-up the tie with a Spanish side that topped their group with two wins and a draw.
But for Ireland should they navigate a way past the nine-time winners of the competition they will secure not only a spot in the Semi-Finals but a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup.
Each of Ireland’s scorers in the competition currently play in the EA SPORTS LOI Academy with three players tied on two goals each; Luke Kehir (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Mason Melia (St. Patrick’s Athletic) and Ike Orazi (Shamrock Rovers).
Orazi currently has five goal involvements in the competition (2 goals, 3 assists) followed by Melia with four (2 goals, 2 assists) with Razi (1 goal, 2 assists) and Kehir (2 goals and 1 assist) both on three.
Should the game end in a draw after 90 minutes it will go straight to penalties.
Match Details
Competition: UEFA European Under-17 Championship Quarter-Finals
Fixture: Spain MU17 v Ireland MU17
Date: Saturday, May 26
Venue: Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium, Budapest
Kick-off: 7pm (Irish time)
Where to watch: RTÉ News Channel & RTÉPlayer
Tickets: Tickets for the game and the remaining tournament fixtures can be purchased here TICKETS
Latest team news: Ireland have no serious injury concerns ahead of the match.
Ireland Men's Under-17s Head Coach Colin O'Brien said: "The players have shown tremendous quality to come back from defeat in the opening game against Poland. We were determined we weren't going to let that result define us. It was one game and when the stakes were at their highest in the next two games, by God they produced.
"We treated those two games like cup games and we have another tomorrow against Spain. I'm very proud of the players and they're a credit to all their coaches and their families."
Ireland Men's Under-17s Forward Mason Melia said: "Getting Spain is amazing. People may look at it like 'oh, it's Ireland v Spain' but anything can happen in tournament football. I think we have a good chance, a great team, but it's an amazing opportunity to play against the likes of Spain."
Ireland Under-17 Squad
Goalkeepers: Joe Collins (Bohemians), Jason Healy (Waterford)
Defenders: Stanley Ashbee (Hull City), Daniel Babb (UCD), Jake Grante (Crystal Palace), Kaylem Harnett (Wexford FC), Cory O’Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), Ade Solanke (Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Romeo Akachukwu (Waterford), Rhys Bartley (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Luke Kehir (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Matthew Moore (Cork City), Danny McGrath (Bohemians), Taylor Mooney (Bohemians), Freddie Turley (Shamrock Rovers)
Forwards: Mason Melia (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Matthew Murray (Cork City), Ike Orazi (Shamrock Rovers), Nickson Oksoun (Bohemians), Naj Razi (Shamrock Rovers)
