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Mason Melia takes on Javier Fernandez. Nikola Kristic/INPHO
Disappointment
Ireland bow out of U17 Euros after defeat to Spain
Colin O’Brien’s side denied a World Cup play-off after France beat England.
IRELAND’S IMPRESSIVE RUN in the U17 Euros has ended at the quarter-final stage with a 3-0 defeat to Spain.
Colin O’Brien’s side reached the last eight despite an opening-match 5-1 loss to Poland due to subsequent wins against Wales and Hungary.
Yet Spain, with players in their ranks such as Lamine Yamal, who has appeared for the Barcelona first team, proved a level too high for Ireland.
They did us proud 💚
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) May 27, 2023
Our Ireland MU17s 👏🇮🇪#IRLU17 | #COYBIG | #U17EURO pic.twitter.com/11JvYz7hqw
Spain had the better of the first half and went ahead on 22 minutes through Alejandro Grandos’s effort from range.
Ireland grew into the game after the break and their intelligence and industry meant Spain were not comfortable until two goals in quick succession.
The first came from Marc Guiu on 68 minutes, and then Yamal found the corner of the net three minutes later to effectively end the contest.
France beat England 1-0 in a quarter-final thanks to a late penalty by Mathis Lambourde. This means Ireland are denied the valuable consolation prize of a World Cup play-off against Switzerland.
Written by The 42 Team and posted on the42.ie
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