Republic of Ireland Under-21s kick-off their UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign in Bosnia & Herzegovina this evening.
Ireland will be looking to get off to a positive start at the FF BH Football Training Centre in Zenica with the game kicking-off at 3.30pm (Irish time).
They are joined in Group F by Luxembourg (who they face on Tuesday, September 7), Italy, Sweden and Montenegro.
Match Details
Fixture: Bosnia & Herzegovina U21 v Republic of Ireland U21
KO Time: 3.30pm (Irish time)
Stadium: FF BH Football Training Centre, Zenica
Match Officials
Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes (NOR)
Assistant Referee: Anders Olav Dale (NOR)
Assistant Referee: ChristerJorgensen (NOR)
Fourth Official: Mohammad Usman Aslam (NOR)
Team News
Derry City’s Ronan Boyce was called-up to the Under-21s to replace Cardiff City’s Mark McGuinness.
Manager Jim Crawford said: “Bosnia are well organised with really good individuals but they’re physical. We’ve seen them in numerous games and in some games they’ve pushed on and pressed and other games they’ve dropped off so it will be interesting to see what they do. It will be a great challenge but one the players are up for.”
Conor Coventry said: “We’ve got another really good Under-21s team here and we sat down and it is absolutely clear that we want to get to the European Championship Finals. We’re capable and when you see the quality in the squad it goes to show that the future is in good hands.”
Republic of Ireland Under-21 Squad
Goalkeepers: Sam Blair (Bury Town, on loan from Norwich City), Brian Maher (Bray Wanderers), Daniel Rose (Schalke 04).
Defenders: Ronan Boyce (Derry City), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Andy Lyons (Bohemians), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (Wolfsburg), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United), Jake O’Brien (Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Celtic).
Midfielders: Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Ryan Johansson (Fortuna Sittard, on loan from Sevilla), Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth), Andrew Moran (Brighton and Hove Albion), Conor Noss (Borussia Möchengladbach), Ross Tierney (Bohemians), Louie Watson (Derby County).
Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Ferry (Crawley Town, on loan from Southampton), Joshua ‘JJ’ Kayode (Rotherham United), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Colm Whelan (UCD), Tyreik Wright (Salford City, on loan from Aston Villa).
Fixtures - UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers (all times are Irish times)
Friday, September 3 | Bosnia & Herzegovina U21 v Republic of Ireland U21, FF BH Football Training Centre, Zenica, Bosnia & Herzegovina, KO: 3.30pm
Tuesday, September 7 | Luxembourg U21 v Republic of Ireland U21, Stade Jos Nosbaum, Dudelange, Luxembourg, KO: 3pm
