'They're one of 21' - Ireland under-17s boss O'Brien highlights importance of collective mentality
Republic of Ireland head coach Colin O'Brien at Dublin Airport ahead of the Republic of Ireland under-17s flight to Qatar. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Colin O'Brien and his 21-strong Republic of Ireland under-17 squad have been getting accustomed to life in Qatar over the last few days.
It'll be Ireland's first time competing on the world stage at this age group, and O'Brien and Co. have witnessed the professional nature of such since they first touched down for the expanded 48-team tournament.
"It has just been so professional," O'Brien said. "When we stepped off the plane, there was a welcoming group, local media, and live TV.... the organisation and the preparations around it would be on a par with a senior World Cup, the amount of resources, the people around the hotel, the training ground.
"You just see a high level of professionalism and organisation, and the players have seen it and know they are at something special."
O'Brien confirmed he will have a full deck to pick from - including Arsenal-bound Shamrock Rovers youngster Victor Ozhianvuna - for the group opener against Panama on Wednesday afternoon (kick-off, 12.30pm, Irish time).
The hectic schedule of group-stage tournament football means the above luxury is almost paramount. Panama on Wednesday will be quickly followed by Uzbekistan on Saturday and Paraguay on Tuesday.
Momentum will need to be garnered against Panama. Thus we can expect starts for each of Ozhianvuna, Benfica's ex-Cork City winger Jaden Umeh, captain Rory Finneran and striker Michael Noonan, but the importance of the squad, especially in the Doha heat, will be evident before the end of the group stage.
"This is tournament football," O'Brien said. "The players are coming from their clubs, a lot of their schedule and their habits and their whole schedule is basically one game a week, training maybe four or five days a week.
"Once we start, the intensity will go up because we have the three games in seven days. It's about the squad and the importance of having a squad, to have tactical adaptations, individual changes, and everyone understanding their role.
"That's a big message we've been speaking to the players about, they're one of 21."
The Cork native stressed that the only tournament target they've spoken about is matchday one against Panama, and on to the next thereafter.
"(Against Panama), as well as the expectations, it's still the first game. It's a group of four countries that feel they have an opportunity to progress. But there are qualities within these countries. They all have strengths. They all have areas we feel we can exploit.
"I wouldn't at all make up your mind on any of these countries because of where you might think their senior teams are at. Some of these countries have exceptional youth teams.
"You just can't get caught up in your preparation. We've been very diligent with that and always are."
On what it means on a personal level to manage Ireland on the world stage, O'Brien noted it was an "absolute honour", but was keen to shift focus to his and his staff's duty to the players.
"The fantastic staff we have here, we just have to focus on the players, we really do, and just make sure everything is right for them. Because these tournaments are all about the players.
"To propel their careers, representing Ireland, we don't always get to many World Cups.
Hopefully, they will be a source of inspiration for those younger players that are coming underneath this group. There are going to be lots of people watching this game. As a young player, there could be nine or ten-year-olds who watch it."
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