Republic of Ireland
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Finland
Slovakia
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Germany 3
Republic of Ireland 1 - 1 Greece
U17 EURO: Ireland earn point on opening night
Colin O'Brien's turned on the style in the first half with chances falling to Charlie McCann, Timi Sobowale, and Joe Hodge, but they could not find the breakthrough that their positive play deserved.
Ireland relented and continued to push Greece back inside their own penalty area. And on 58 minutes, Matt Everitt broke the deadlock bu firing in from close range following an inswinging corner kick from James Furlong.
The home side moved the ball well, connected their passes, and unloaded eight attempts at a goal in a game that they largely dominated. The work done on the training ground by O'Brien and his staff - which includes Ian Hill, Kevin Doyle, and Josh Moran - is clearly having on impact on this squad.
In the opening 35 minutes, it was all one-way traffic with Ireland pressing high and creating some eye-catching passages of play. Greece struggled to deal with the directness of Festy Ebosele and the trickery of Everitt, while Hodge and Seamas Keogh were excellent in the middle of the pitch.
The backline looked rarely troubled, while goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was not really called on to contribute. Still, it took time for Ireland to get the first goal and when it arrived there was a feeling that the three points were secured.
It certainly looked to be that way as the clock ticked into the fifth minute of added time, but substitute Dimitris Arsenidis took advantage of a loose ball to fire into the back of the net.
It was cruel blow for O'Brien's team who deserved to celebrate a victory in front of a large crowd, although they can take many positives into their next game against Czech Republic in Waterford on Monday, May 6.
After one game played each it is all square in Group A as Czech Republic drew 1-1 with Belgium in an earlier game. So it's all to play for!
Republic of Ireland: Bazunu; McEvoy, Omobamidele, Sobowale (Garcia McNulty 66), Furlong; Hodge, Keogh; Everitt (Kennedy 90), McCann (McKinley 80), Ebosele; McCarty.
Greece: Tzolakis; Tsavos, Panagiotou (Aslanidis 84), Pavlidis, Aventisian; Karamperis, Siatounis (Liatsos 66); Sourlis (Belevonis 85), Grosdis (Arsendis 84), Karakoutis (Kotopoulos 73); Tzolis.
Referee: Jorgen Burchardt (Denmark).
U17 EURO: Ireland set for opener with Greece
The first game in this year's tournament will actually take place at 12:00 with Czech Republic facing Belgium in Tolka Park, although the official opening ceremony will be in Tallaght Stadium ahead of Ireland's fixture at 19:00.
There has been a lot of promotion for the tournament over the last number of months, but Ireland simply want to focus on the football having spent a week fine-tuning their preparations at the FAI National Training Centre.
This is the third straight year that Ireland Head Coach Colin O'Brien has led a team into this tournament and his record to date is impressive with two quarter-final finishes. But the Cork native will be hoping that his players can make the most of their home advantage.
Sixteen teams will compete in this year's tournament, which switches to a 90-minute format having previously been played over 80 minutes. Five substitutions will be permitted per team and the top five teams will qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.
TEAM NEWS
There are no injury concerns for Ireland but goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran is suspended after being sent off in their last competitive game - in the 2018 EURO quarter-final loss to Netherlands.
QUOTES
Republic of Ireland Head Coach Colin O'Brien
"We are excited about this challenge. It has been on our minds for two years ever since we knew that Ireland would be hosting this tournament and now it is here we want to embrace it.
"The squad has been training and preparing well for our game against Greece. It is important that we begin as we mean to go on with a positive approach and a belief that we can go far in this tournament once we trust in our ability and bond as a team.
"Even though we didn't go through the qualifying rounds, we have used the last year to prepare as best as possible for this tournament and our staff has remained consistent, which is an important part of keeping the players focused on what they need to do."
SQUAD LISTS
Republic of Ireland
Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Manchester City), Jimmy Corcoran (Preston North End), Harry Halwax (Derby County)
Defenders: Sean McEvoy (Ballinmallard United), Luke Turner (Aberdeen), Anselmo Garcia McNulty (Real Betis), Andrew Omobamidele (Norwich City), Timi Sobowale (Manchester City), James Furlong (Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Charlie McCann (Manchester United), Joe Hodge (Manchester City), Brandon Holt (St Patrick's Athletic), Seamas Keogh (Southampton), Ronan McKinley (Derry City), Sean Kennedy (Sunderland), Festy Ebsoele (Derby County), Roland Idowu (Southampton)
Forwards: Matt Everitt (Brighton & Hove Albion), Conor Carty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Joshua Giurgi (Norwich City)
Greece
Goalkeepers: Tzolakis Konstantinos (Olympiacos), Balomenos Konstantinos (PAOK)
Defenders: Aventisian Aventis (PAOK), Lazaridis Konstantinos (Panathinaikos), Manisoglou Georgios (Xanti AO), Tsavos Angelos (Olympiacos), Aslanidis Kyriakos (Olympiacos), Panagiotou Panagiotis (PAOK)
Midfielders: Grosdanis Pavlos (Pas Giannina), Grosdis Vasileios (PAOK), Karamperis Thomas (PAOK), Karakoutis Ioannis (PAOK), Pavlidis Vasileios (Schalke 04), Siatounis Antonios (Sampdoria), Arsenidis Dimitrios (Olympiacos), Liatsos Christos (Olympiacos)
Forwards: Tzolis Christos (PAOK), Belevonis Christos (Panetolikos), Sourlis Vasileios (Olympiacos), Kotopoulos Nektarios (Xanthi AO)
KEY STATS
- Ireland and Greece have met seven times in qualifiers at Under-17 level, with Greece winning three, Ireland winning twice, and two draws
- Ireland qualified automatically as host nation, but have played international friendly games against Turkey, Czech Republic, Germany, England, Belgium, Poland, and Finland over the last year
- Greece finished second behind Belgium in their Qualifying Round with one win, one loss, and one draw. In the Elite Round, they lost to Spain but beat both Ukraine and Kosovo
- This is Ireland's 12th appearance in this finals tournament with their best finish coming as champions in 1998 (when it was graded at Under-16 level)
- This is Greece's 13th appearance in this finals tournament with their best finish coming as runners-up in 1985 (when it was graded at Under-16 level)
MATCH DETAILS
Republic of Ireland v Greece
Friday, May 3
Group A
Tallaght Stadium
Kick-Off: 19:00
Live on TV: RTÉ2
Referee: Jorgen Burchardt (Denmark)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Game Hashtag: #IRLGRE
Tournament Hashtag: #U17EURO
Ireland Team Hashtag: #IRLU17
TICKET NEWS
- Tickets will be available at Tallaght Stadium from 17:00, priced at €5 for adults and free for Under-16s
- Tickets are still available online via Ticketmaster.ie
Tactical Lineups
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 23 Harry Halwax (G)
- 12 Brandon Holt
- 14 Anselmo Garcia MacNulty
- 15 Luke Turner
- 17 Sean Kennedy
- 18 Ronan McKinley
- 19 Roland Idowu
- 20 Joshua Giurgi
Coach
Colin O'Brien
Greece
Substitutes
- 12 Konstantinos Balomenos (G)
- 3 Kostas Lazaridis
- 4 Kyriakos Aslanidis
- 7 Nektarios Kotopoulos
- 15 Pavlos Grosdanis
- 18 Christos Belevonis
- 20 Giorgos Manisoglou
- 21 Christos Liatsos
- 22 Dimitris Arsenidis
Coach
Nikolaos Kechagias
Officials
- Referee Jørgen Burchardt
- Assistant Referees Ilir Tartaraj
- UEFA Delegate Rudolf Zavrl
- Assistant Referee Two Deniz Sokolov
- Fourth Official Petri Viljanen
Match Statistics
- Republic of Ireland
- Greece
Minute by Minute Commentary