Republic of Ireland face fierce Finland test in U21s Euro playoff
NOW TO FINNISH THE JOB: The Republic of Ireland will meet Finland in the U21 European Championship playoffs with the winners progressing to the finals in Albania and Serbia in 2027. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
The Republic of Ireland will meet Finland in the U21 European Championship playoffs with the winners progressing to the finals in Albania and Serbia in 2027.
Ireland earned their place in the playoffs after ending the group stages with four wins in a row, culminating in that memorable come-from-behind victory over Lee Carsley’s England in front of a sold-out Turner’s Cross on Tuesday.
Jim Crawford’s men will now take on Finland in their bid to reach their first ever U21 Euros with the two legs taking place between the 11th and 17th of November.
Ireland will travel to Finland for the first leg before hosting the second leg in either Dublin or Cork.
Official dates, kick-off times and venues will be confirmed in due course with a deadline to finalise those details set for Tuesday October 20.
The Republic of Ireland seniors travel to Austria on November 14 before hosting Kosovo at the Aviva Stadium on November 17, which could potentially clash with the U21s' home fixture.
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Finland come into the playoffs having finished runners-up to Spain, whom they beat 2-1 three weeks ago.
The team managed by former Finland international Mika Lehkosuo, known colloquially as ‘Bana’, collected 23 points from their 10 games, finishing seven points ahead of third-placed Romania and eight in front of Kosovo.
Marius Söderbäck of Swedish club Kalmar was their highest scorer of the campaign with five.
Fellow midfielder Luka Hyryläinen was part of their squad that reached the last Euro finals in 2025 and TSG Hoffenheim retained a buy-back option in the deal that saw him drop down a division in Germany to FC Magdeburg last summer.
For Ireland, their squad should be bolstered by the return of senior international Mason Melia. The 19-year-old last month sustained a thigh injury that was estimated to sideline him for six weeks, a timeline that has him back in action before the international window.
He’ll still face competition to occupy the attacking slots after Waterford’s Tommy Lonergan bagged four goals during a three-goal blitz that culminated with his brace in Tuesday’s epic 3-1 win over England.
Michael Noonan, due to join Nottingham Forest from Shamrock Rovers on January 1, is also competing for a berth leading the line for Jim Crawford’s outfit.
The closest Ireland came to reaching a major tournament was in 2022 when Crawford’s team that included Evan Ferguson and Finn Azaz reached the playoffs, eliminated by Israel in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in Tel Aviv.
Three saves by Daniel Peretz, the Southampton goalkeeper who recently conceded three goals in the senior meeting of the seniors, proved decisive.
Israel were not part of today’s draw, having been edged out by Netherlands for the runners-up spot behind Norway.
Denmark v Netherlands
Finland v Republic of Ireland
Iceland v Greece
Turkey v Czechia
Albania (co-hosts), Belgium, Croatia, England (holders), France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia (co-hosts), Spain.
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