Ireland Under-17s face Spain in crucial Quarter-Final with place in FIFA U17 World Cup at stake
The Republic of Ireland team before the UEFA European Under-17 Championship Finals 2023 Group A match between Republic of Ireland and Hungary in the Pancho Arena on May 23, 2023 in Felcsút, Hungary. Credit: Ben McShane - Sportsfile/UEFA via Getty Images
The UEFA Under-17 Championship is poised for an intense showdown this Saturday, 27th May, at 7pm Irish time, as Spain and Ireland face off in the quarter-finals. With stakes higher than ever, the victorious team will not only secure a spot in the tournament's semi-finals but also book their ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, set to commence on 10 November and run until 2 December 2023.
Other notable fixtures see Poland, who led Ireland's group, clash with Serbia, while Germany squares off against Switzerland. Adding further intrigue, England is set to face their cross-channel rivals, France.
Ireland's World Cup ambitions hang in the balance, as a loss against Spain could still leave the door ajar, albeit slightly. The two most successful quarter-final losers will have a shot at redemption in a World Cup qualifying play-off match.
For this contingency to materialize for Colin O’Brien’s squad, they would need the tournament to unfold in a particular way. Victories by Poland, Spain, and England would pave the way for a potential play-off for the Irish side against the losing team in the Germany vs. Switzerland match.
To keep up with the competition, fans can visit the Championship Tables here, view the Championship Results here, and enjoy the Ireland Video Highlights here. Stay tuned for further updates on Ireland's journey in the European Championships.
Journey to the Quarter-Finals
SPAIN
Spain has shown impressive form in the tournament so far. They had a bye in the qualifying round and were the victors of Group 4 in the elite round, played in Türkiye. Their journey has been highlighted by victories against Finland and Germany and a draw against Türkiye.
In the group stage, they topped Group B, winning against Italy and Slovenia, while drawing against Serbia. Their top scorer, Marc Guiu, has a commendable total of six goals, three of them netted in the final stage.
This is Spain's 15th appearance in the U17 final tournament, their previous best being the champions in 2007, 2008, and 2017.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Ireland, on the other hand, has shown resilience in their path to the Quarter-Finals. They emerged as the runners-up in Group 10 in the qualifying round played in Norway and then topped Group 6 in the elite round played in Cyprus.
Despite a loss against Poland in the group stage, they bounced back with decisive wins against Wales and Hungary, landing them as runners-up in Group A. Their scoring has been a team effort, with Luke Kehir, Mason Melia, and Ikechukwu Orazi each netting two goals in the final stage. Melia leads the overall scoring with six goals, including the qualifying phase.
This marks Ireland's 6th appearance in the U17 final tournament, with their previous best result being the quarterfinals in 2017 and 2018.
