U21 boss Jim Crawford warns against complacency as Ireland head for San Marino
The Republic of Ireland U21s face the mother of all no-win scenarios when they take on San Marino in Group A of the Euro 2025 qualifiers on Friday evening.
The minnows have lost all five games so far, conceding 24 goals in the process. Norway and Italy have already mined the Seravelle stadium for seven goals each and Ireland filed a more standard 3-0 when this reverse fixture was held in Cork last September.
There is nothing in the wind to suggest ill tidings in the tiny enclave today and maybe that is reason enough for Ireland manager Jim Crawford to do all he can to ward off any talk of complacency long before kick-off.
“I’ve got beaten in numerous FAI Cup games against lower-league teams and it’s not nice. It’s a tough one to get over,” said Crawford who has reported a fit and ready full complement of 24 players ahead of the game.
“If you were to ask me to put my finger on what went wrong then all it takes is for one or two players to think this is an easy ride. Straight away you’re down to nine against 11. You can’t let that seep into your camp and we will make sure it doesn’t.”
Crawford pointed to 2013, when a Welsh U21 side lost 1-0 in San Marino in a qualifier, by way of example. The visitors had all the possession that day but they still succumbed to a 22nd-minute Juri Biordi goal.
The fact that he had to stretch back 11 years is probably more apposite here. Everyone remembers Ireland’s senior side stealing a win there under Steve Staunton back in the day but this Ireland team is in a better place than that one ever was.
The 21s have been ultra competitive in recent years but a penalty shootout playoff loss to Israel last time around means the country has yet to have any representation at a major tournament at
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