Ireland Under-21s get set to take on Norway in Drammen on Friday in their toughest challenge yet in Group A.

The young Boys in Green head to the Norwegian city with three wins out of three and top of the group. But they face a talented Norway team whose only defeat came at the hands of Italy away.

Ireland know a positive result in Drammen will set them up for their home tie against Italy in Turner’s Cross on Tuesday. Tickets available here


What they said?

Ireland Under-21s Head Coach Jim Crawford: “Norway are a very technical team that are full of outstanding technical players. Speaking to the locals around the hotel they have Norway as the strong favourites. We’ll see how that develops, because we have a very talented team and this will make for a really exciting contest.”

Ireland Under-21s midfielder Matt Healy said: “A factor behind me moving to Belgium was for me to break into the Under-21s squad. I feel I’ve done that now, it’s the place you want to be when you’re at this age and playing football in Belgium has certainly contributed to that.”

Match Details

Fixture: Norway U21 v Ireland U21
Date: Friday, November 17
KO time: 5pm (Irish Standard Time)
Stadium: Marienlyst Stadion, Drammen, Norway
Match Coverage: RTÉ2 / RTÉ News Channel
Match Stat: The last time the sides met in Drammen, St. Patrick’s Athletic’s Jake Mulraney and Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard were on the scoresheet.

Match officials
Referee: Walter Altmann (Austria)
Assistant Referees: Roland Brandnet (Austria), Robert Steinacher (Austria)
Fourth Official: Daniel Pfister (Austria)

Republic of Ireland Under-21s

Goalkeepers: Tiernan Brooks (Cork City, on loan from Notts County), Killian Cahill (Brighton & Hove Albion), Josh Keeley (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: James Abankwah (Charlton Athletic, on loan from Udinese), Tayo Adaramola (Crystal Palace), Sam Curtis (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (PEC Zwolle), Sean Grehan (Crystal Palace), Bosun Lawal (Fleetwood Town, on loan from Celtic), Connor O’Riordan (Crewe Alexandra), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)

Midfielders: Baba Adeeko (Wigan Athletic), Zak Gilsenan (Blackburn Rovers), Matt Healy (Royal Francs Borains), Kian Leavy (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Adam Murphy (St. Patrick's Athletic), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Killian Phillips (Wycombe Wanderers, on-loan from Crystal Palace)

Forward: Sinclair Armstrong (QPR), Conor Carty (St. Patrick’s Athletic, on loan from Bolton Wanderers), Aidomo Emakhu (Millwall), Johnny Kenny (Shamrock Rovers, on loan from Celtic), Armstrong Oko-Flex (FC Zurich), Tony Springett (Norwich City)