A new generation of Ireland Under-21s kick off their 2027 UEFA European Championship Qualifiers in the Moldovan town of Nisperoni on Thursday.

In their first competitive action for 11 months, Jim Crawford’s team take on Moldova in their campaign opener at the Nisperoni Central Stadium (kick-off 5pm Irish time).

Ireland have trained in the capital Chisnau all week with temperatures reaching 32C. Crawford’s squad features 10 teenagers but also six players who were capped in the last campaign.

Two of those involved in the last campaign, James Abankwah and Rocco Vata, were named in Heimir Hallgrímsson's senior team in March, and the Under-21s are boosted by their return with the Watford pair set to be involved.

Match Details

Moldova U21 v Ireland U21
UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier
Thursday, September 4
Nisperoni Central Stadium, Nisporeni
Kick-off: 5pm (Irish time) 7pm (local time)

Quotes

Ireland Under-21 defender James Abankwah said: “We were very close to qualifying in the last campaign. The learnings from there are to finish off games early, be more clinical in the final third. It’s something that we need to do better than the last campaign and hopefully that starts against Moldova.”

Ireland Under-21 Head Coach Jim Crawford said: “We’ve spoken about what our identity is and what it means to play for your country – we’re a privileged group to play for Ireland. Everybody here is here on merit, they’re here because they’re playing well with their clubs. But with that right there is a duty and that duty is to show people that you’ve got the courage, you’ve got that Irish pride of putting on the jersey and giving everything you can for the Irish Under-21s team.”

Where to watch

The match is being broadcast on RTÉ News Channel/Player with coverage starting at 4.55pm Irish time.

Match Officials

Referee: Klym Zabroda (Ukraine)
Assistant Referee: Valentyna Kutsev (Ukraine), Oleksandr Korniyko (Ukraine)
Fourth Official: Dmytro Kubriak (Ukraine)
 

Match notes

Rocco Vata has the opportunity to equal the Under-21s goalscoring record (7) should he find the net against Moldova or Andorra

Michael Noonan also has an opportunity to break a record of his own. A goal from the Shamrock Rovers forward would see him become the youngest ever Under-21s scorer. A record set by Mason Melia only in March

Republic of Ireland Under-21s Squad

Goalkeepers: Noah Jauny (Stade Brestois), Aaron Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur), Andrew Wogan (Chester FC, on loan from Stockport County).

Defenders: James Abankwah (Watford), Jacob Devaney (Manchester United), Sean Grehan (Doncaster Rovers), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United), David Okagbue (Peterborough United), Jacob Slater (Brighton & Hove Albion),  Freddie Turley (Derby County).

Midfielders: Romeo Akachukwu (Southampton), Jad Hakiki (Sligo Rovers), Darius Lipsiuc (Solihull Moors, on loan from Stoke City), Cathal McCarthy (Hull City), Jamie Mullins (Wycombe Wanderers), Adam Murphy (Bristol City), Harry Vaughan (Hull City).

Forwards: Cian Dillon (Queens Park Rangers), Trent Kone-Doherty (Liverpool), Mason Melia (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Mark O’Mahony (Reading, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Rocco Vata (Watford).