'It's just unacceptable'- Jim Crawford issues warning as Ireland begin U21 Euro qualification campaign

A 2-2 draw at home to Latvia, after they had just secured a significant 1-0 victory away to Turkey, ultimately proved costly in Ireland's bid to reach Euro 2025.

WARNING: Head Coach Jim Crawford looks ahead to Ireland's clash in Moldova. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

The Republic of Ireland are in Moldova to begin their latest attempt at qualifying for the U21 European Championship for the first time ever and while the mood in the camp is positive and optimistic, there is one concern.

“I think the pitch will be ok at best. Will they water it? I don’t know, we’ll find out tomorrow.

“You just don't know what advantages teams think they'll have against you by keeping a dry pitch.

“We got some of the staff to drive up on the Monday to look at the pitch. They said it's ok.

“So, it'll be interesting to see now, will they cut the grass and water it now before the game tomorrow?

“But it's no excuse. We've just got to get on with it. We're prepared,” admitted manager Jim Crawford, sitting in the 32-degree heat at their base in Nisporeni on the eve of Ireland’s opening clash in Group D (kick-off 5pm Irish time).

Fortunately for Crawford, and the young Boys in Green, he has plenty of experience when it comes to such tactics as he prepares to embark on his third qualification campaign in charge and fourth overall in the coaching setup.

But unfortunately for Crawford though, he has also experienced some heart-breaking near misses at leading Ireland to a major tournament, none more so than their most recent effort where a 2-2 draw at home to Latvia, after they had just secured a significant 1-0 victory away to Turkey, ultimately proved costly in their bid to reach Euro 2025.

“The big lessons are there's ten games, so it's a sprint. It really is,” added Crawford, who knows the problems Moldova, who already opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over Andorra in June, can cause.

“You've got to get out of the traps and get points on the board. It's hugely important.

“Concentration levels have got to be high because previous campaigns were those injury time mistakes and simple errors. That would have cost us.

“Latvia last year was a real kick in the teeth. Why? Because after an unbelievable performance against Turkey, I think three or four players thought, ‘ok, it's Latvia at home, we can take our foot off the pedal and get another three points’.

“But these smaller nations are far more organised, they do their homework on us as much as we're doing on them.

“In fairness to Latvia, they came and took two points away from us, which I think was a real twist to our campaign last year.

“We hammered home that message straight after that game against Latvia that it's just unacceptable.

“You can't come in thinking that all you have to do is arrive. It's not like years ago where these minnows, so to speak, were easy pickings for points. It's not like that anymore.

“We certainly won't be taking our eyes off the ball here.”