Jim Crawford hopeful Ireland U21s learn from Norway mistakes for Italy clash in Cork

“The players involved in those instances were disappointed but we're here to help them and hopefully they learn from that. That is, in essence, the 21s. You help them grow as players and as individuals.”

LESSONS LEARNED: Ireland head coach Jim Crawford. Photo by Marius Simensen/Sportsfile

The bigger picture surrounding selection for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s is like the Mona Lisa. It has two faces to it and Jim Crawford sees both of them.

Didi Hamann slammed Stephen Kenny’s “inexcusable” decision to call up rising star Andy Moran only to leave him sat on the bench for the dead-rubber defeat to the Netherlands on Saturday.