CRAWFORD PILOTS HIS YOUNG GUNS
JIM CRAWFORD’S insistence on a professional approach to the Euro Under-21s play-off against Israel has been recognised by FAI chiefs. After the first leg in Tallaght Stadium tonight (7.0), Crawford and his squad will fly direct from Dublin to Tel Aviv on a charter. The Irish U21 manager revealed he asked for the special flight to be provided. ‘In fairness to the Association they delivered. Again, it’s the significance of the game, how important it is. Everything has to be right in preparation for the game,’ he said. ‘The flight is at 4.30 on Sunday. We’ll get there around midnight.’ Crawford is wary of Israel’s physical strength. ‘They challenge every secondphase ball, try to win one-to-one duels. One game that caught us off guard was Montenegro away. They played a bit like that and sort of overpowered us at certain times. ‘That match was a learning curve
for us,’ he recalled. ‘All the team said after that match that we lost too many individual battles that day. We know it can’t happen in the play-off.’ For Irish captain Conor Coventry, this will be his 27th appearance at U21 level and there could be more if Ireland advance to the finals in Romania and Georgia next summer. ‘I’d rather be away with Ireland than on holiday, that’s the truth,’ said the West Ham midfielder. ‘It’s a journey I loved and every camp I’ve come on, It could be the last one, so I’m trying extra hard to make sure it is not.’ Coventry has played four first team games for the Hammers this season, including a brief run against Manchester City. Contributions from Coventry, Will Smallbone, Evan Ferguson and the highly motivated Aaron Connolly will be crucial for Crawford’s colts tonight as they seek to establish an advantage in their bid to reach their first Euro finals at the 18th attempt. Republic of Ireland U21s v Israel, Tallaght. KO 7.0, Live on RTÉ 2.