Nolan out to wrap up U21 campaign on high

IRELAND U21 star Eddie Nolan is expecting another massive test from Portugal when the two sides clash in Madeira this evening [kick-off 6pm] but the Blackburn defender is hoping Don Givens’ young side can end their European Championships qualifying campaign on a high.

With England having wrapped-up first place in Group 3, Portugal need to defeat Ireland and hope that results elsewhere go their way in order to clinch one of the four ‘best runners-up’ places to bag a spot in Sweden next June.

Portugal looked a different class when defeating Ireland 2-0 at Turner’s Cross earlier in the campaign but only three players in the current Ireland squad — Nolan, Stephen Gleeson and Owen Garvan — were involved in Cork last September. Nolan is expecting another masterclass from the hosts.

“The game we played against Portugal in Cork was the hardest game we played in the campaign,” said Nolan. “They are a very good side and their two midfielders, [Manuel] Fernandes and [Miguel] Veloso, really controlled that game.

“Our problem in the group has been that we have struggled to score,” he says.

“We have controlled a lot of the games, even the two against England. The only game we didn’t deserve anything out of was the match against Portugal.”

Nolan, a regular in the starting 11 throughout the campaign, captained the young Irish side for the first time last Friday in the 2-0 loss to Bulgaria.

“That was a really big honour for me, so it was just so disappointing that we didn’t perform,” he says. “We just didn’t turn up on the night. A lot of the lads are just getting used to playing U-21. It’s a big step up from playing U-19 but hopefully we’ll be ready for the next qualifying campaign.

“We know we are going to have to put in a really good performance [tonight].”