Joe way I can suffer that again
Ireland U-21 v Iceland U-21 Today, Turner’s Cross, 4pm BY MIRROR REPORTER JOE HODGE will use the pain of missing out on the European Under-21 Championship finals to fuel the Republic of Ireland’s latest qualification mission.
Wolves midfielder Hodge was part of the team which went out on penalties to Israel in a two-legged play-off in September as their bid to become the first Irish side to make it to the tournament ended in heartache.
The 20-year-old will captain his country as they start preparations for the new under-21 qualifying campaign in earnest with today’s friendly against Iceland in Cork, and he admits the pain of that day provides added motivation for what lies ahead.
Hodge said: “Yes, massively. There are quite a few of us here who were playing in Israel and even more who were involved over the campaign. It was so painful for us to fall at that final hurdle.
“But that might give us that extra bit to go and qualify in this campaign because none of us want to end up feeling like we did in Israel. It’s something we have learned from.”
Hodge will lead his side out at Turner’s Cross having made his Premier League debut this season and honing his craft every day among a pool of midfielders at Wolves – among which, Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves in particular have opened his eyes.
He said: “They have all been great, just to watch them and train with them every day.
“Joao is one of the best midfield players in the world for the past however many years. Ruben is exactly the same, probably the best passer of the ball in the world at the moment.”