Ireland Under 21 head coach Jim Crawford believes that the future of Irish football is very bright, despite the crushing disappointment of narrowly missing out on qualification for next year’s European Championships.
Despite an excellent performance in Italy on Tuesday night, when Crawford’s side drew 1-1 with the five-time Euro under-21 champions, Ireland finished third in the group with 19 points – the same as second-placed Norway – and the highest total of any side that finished outside the play-off spots.
The Ireland manager accepts that it was draws in the home games against Latvia, Norway and Italy, and the concession of last-minute goals in the latter two matches, which ultimately cost his team.
However, he feels that the number of players capped his year, who are still eligible for the next campaign, leaves the U21s in a much stronger position.
‘For any Ireland team, at any age group, to go to Italy and put in the performance we did, where an Italian team is hanging on at home, with the players they have, who have played in Serie A and the Premier League, that’s impressive. We had them on the back foot and they struggled to deal with us,’ said Crawford.
‘Only getting the point there isn’t the reason we didn’t qualify, it’s games against Latvia, it’s not holding out against Italy at Turner’s Cross and it’s a decision going against us against Norway where they ultimately score – they’re tough to take.
‘We’re better set with regards to players for the next qualifiers. We brought in 15 players, since our first game together against Iceland, who can play in the next campaign and of those, nine have been capped, which is remarkable.
‘The likes of James Abankwah, Sam Curtis, Rocco Vata and Mark O’Mahony have got a lot of competitive minutes already, before we go into the next campaign.
‘A high bar has been set by this group in terms of professionalism and that’s the standard we expect at this level.’