Republic of Ireland
Greece
Gibraltar
Netherlands 2
France 2
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Iceland 2 - 1 Republic of Ireland
Ireland WU17: Late goal sees Iceland win Elite Round opener
Iceland led at 1-0 at half-time. Their captain Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir scored from the penalty spot midway through the first half, after Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir was fouled by Tyler Toland.
Ireland equalised five minutes after the break with striker Emily Whelan finding the back of the net. Colin Bell's side fell behind with 11 minutes to go, as Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir scored what proved to be the decisive goal.
Speaking after the game, Head Coach Colin Bell said his side should have gotten at least a point from their opening match.
"We conceded a penalty which we felt wasn't one. We studied it at half-time, and felt it wasn't a penalty.
"Iceland had the physical advantage. We conceded the decisive goal from a header, and didn't defend it well enough.
"I felt we lost the game through physicality. I'd rather lose by playing football instead of kick and rush."
Depsite the loss, Bell took plenty of positives ahead of the second game.
"I felt we were the better team today. You cannot define Under-17 football just through results.
"Today we had four or five players in the starting 11 that could still play Under-16s and we have eight in total in the squad.
"The girls are very disappointed with the loss. They knew we should have got something out of the game."
The side return to action on Sunday morning. They play Azerbaijan in Greifswald's Volksstadion at 10am Irish time.
Iceland: Auður Sveinbjörnsdóttir Scheving; Barbára Sól Gísladóttir, Katla María Thórdardóttir, Hildur Thóra Hákonardóttir, Íris Una Thórdardóttir; Karólína Jack, Clara Sigurðardóttir (Ída Marín Hermannsdóttir 66), Eva Rut Ásþórsdóttir, Áslaug Munda Gunnlaugsdóttir (Diljá Ýr Zomers 48); Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir (capt), Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir.
Republic of Ireland: Rachael Kelly, Zara Foley, Aoife Slattery, Tyler Toland, Doireann Fahey, Eabha O’Mahony (Roisin McGovern 79); Rachel O’Regan (Andrea Trill 72), Jessica Ziu, Amy Boyle Carr, Isibeal Atkinson (capt) (Louise Masterson 79): Emily Whelan.
Referee: Meitar Shemesh (ISR)
Ireland WU17: Kelly ready to grab "once in a lifetime" chance
After wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and Greece in the Qualifying Round, Ireland have been drawn in Iceland, Azerbaijan and hosts Germany.
With only one qualification space for May's 2018 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship in Lithuania up for grabs from Group 7, the team will need a positive start against Iceland on Thursday.
Shelbourne Ladies goalkeeper Rachael Kelly kept three clean sheets in the Qualifying Round, and she knows the team have a tough task in reaching the Finals.
Speaking to FAI TV as part of the Club & Country Series, Kelly said the chance to play in the European Championships is a "once in a lifetime opportunity".
"With the talent and the hard work we have all put in throughout the year and over the last few weeks, it's just going to be great [in Germany]. I think we're going to get through it."
The team begin their Elite Round campaign against Iceland on Thursday afternoon, in Greifswald's Volsstadion.
2018 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship Elite Round
Iceland v Republic of Ireland, Volksstadion Greifswald, Greifswald, 3pm (2pm Irish time)
Tactical Lineups
Iceland
Substitutes
- 12 Cecilía Rúnarsdóttir (G)
- 4 Inga Laufey Ágústsdóttir
- 6 Arna Eiríksdóttir
- 9 Úlfa Dís Kreye Úlfarsdóttir
- 13 Kristín Erla Johnson
- 14 Ída Marín Hermannsdóttir
- 16 Dilja Zomers
Coach
Jorundur Aki Sveinsson
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
Coach
Colin Bell
Officials
- Referee Meitar Shemesh
- Assistant Referees May Moalem
- UEFA Delegate Katarzyna Wierzbowska
- Assistant Referee Two Anja Klimm
- Fourth Official Miriam Schwermer
- Referee Observer Katarzyna Wierzbowska
Match Statistics
- Iceland
- Republic of Ireland
Minute by Minute Commentary