Bullish Givens seeks good start

Republic of Ireland Under-21 boss Don Givens is confident there will be no hangover from the last dismal European Championship qualifying campaign.

After opening up with a convincing 3-0 victory over Cyprus, a run of nine straight matches without a win followed, much to Givens’ bitter disappointment.

But going into a truncated qualifying programme ahead of next year’s finals in Holland, Ireland appear to have again got their act together.

Givens’ side have won their last five games, including home and away pre-qualifying wins over Azerbaijan to reach the mini-group stage.

Ahead of tonight’s Group 4 game with Greece in the Panionios Stadium in Nea Smryni, and the September 1 clash against Belgium in Galway’s Terryland Park, confidence is again high.

With only the winners of the three-team group going forward to the play-offs in October, Givens told PA Sport: “What happened last time in qualifying is out of our system.

“We’ve since won the Madeira Tournament, beaten Sweden in a friendly and Azerbaijan twice, so we’ve a little bit of a run going.

“I’m feeling confident going into what is a big two weeks for us. We have a solid group of players and I feel we will put in a decent performance.

“But we have to get something out of this game first. You cannot be top of the group if you lose a match.”

Ahead of the clash with the Greeks, Givens has been forced to slap a sun block on his players over the last couple of days.

In searing heat pushing 40 degrees centigrade, the players have been banned from going out during the day to avoid the sunshine sapping energy levels.

It has meant Givens organising two short training sessions per day, with one in the morning and another in the evening around the 8pm local kick-off time.

“It’s very oppressive,” added Givens. “It has been completely out of the question for the boys to go out in the sun because it does tire you out.

“I know it’s been hard on them, but that’s the way it has had to be because tonight’s game is vital for us.

“We have had to do what is necessary to prepare in the best way. We’re here for the game and that's it.”

Unlike the senior side which has been decimated by injury withdrawals ahead of tonight’s friendly with Holland at Lansdowne Road, Givens was forced into just two changes.

After receiving his first call-up, Manchester United’s 18-year-old midfielder Darron Gibson pulled out, with UCD’s Gary Dicker in as his replacement.

Coventry’s Jay Tabb was ruled out yesterday after sustaining a stomach muscle strain in training.