Complacency is the watch word as Brian Kerr's current under-18s begin the defence of the UEFA title they won two years ago against Liechtenstein at the Tedesco Stadium here this morning (kick-off 10.0).
As under-16 European champions, Ireland go into this triangular qualifying group - they meet Malta on Wednesday - as hot favourites to make the play-off stage where France will pose the last obstacle to next summer's finals in Germany. Everything has gone to plan for Kerr with goalkeeper Joe Murphy teaming up with them yesterday lunchtime after keeping his fourth clean sheet in a row in Tranmere's 3-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
However, in keeping with his 18 squad-mates, level-headed Graham Barrett, who leads Ireland's attack alongside Ben Burgess, is taking nothing for granted. "I don't think there are any easy games any more at international level," he says.
Manager Kerr says that his squad is probably the best he has had in his two-and-a-half years as youths' mentor. "Player for player, in natural ability, they are possibly the best group I've had and their prospects are very good if they all keep their heads on the game and their feet on the ground." There were few surprises when Kerr told his players the starting 11 last night.
Left-footed St Patrick's Athletic defender Dessie Byrne's versatility sees him slotting in at right-back ahead of Jonathan Douglas, who is 18 today, and John Thompson.
With Liam Miller suspended, Kerr adjusts his midfield. Thomas Butler, who made his debut for Sunderland in a Worthington Cup game recently, anchors the side there with Gary Dempsey and skipper Shaun Byrne being encouraged to get forward in support of strikers Barrett and Burgess with Brendan McGill the one winger.
"Depite what people's perception of them may be, Liechtenstein will be well organised and will make it difficult for us," said Kerr. "We have to be confident and hope that we click. If we do, we should win the game."
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Murphy (Tranmere Rovers); D Byrne (St Patrick's Athletic), Goodwin (Celtic), O'Shea (Man United), Foy (Nottingham Forest); McGill (Sunderland), Dempsey (Everton), Butler (Sunderland), S Byrne (West Ham); Barrett (Arsenal), Burgess (Blackburn).
