U21s aim for slice of Madeira cake

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21 manager Don Givens has called on his new-look team to out-Portugal Portugal when the two teams meet in the opening game of the Madeira International tournament this morning (11am).

The new year heralded the end of the Under-21 careers of players like Liam Miller and Andy Reid and the introduction of a new hungry side made up largely of last year’s World Youth Championship squad.

And despite at least 12 first choice players missing from the tournament because of club commitments or injury, Givens believes that there is still the ability within the side to outclass one of the traditional purveyors of possession football, Portugal.