Ireland’s Under-21 friendly against Gabon in Austria has been called off with just over a day’s notice - after their opponents decided not to travel!
The Boys in Green were due to face the African side on Tuesday evening, ahead of games against Ukraine on Friday and Kuwait next Monday.
Ukraine and Kuwait have made the trip to Austria and will take on Jim Crawford’s side.
However, the Ireland boss had prepared for a three-game programme and was left frustrated when plans for Tuesday’s game were abruptly shelved.
“Hugely disappointed,” said Crawford, reacting to the news.
“Finding out so late in the day about it does not help because we had been planning everything, team meetings, training sessions to play this particular game.
“To be told so late in the day is a real mess.
“For me in this window, I wanted three games, I wanted to bring 26 players over to give them an opportunity of playing for the Ireland Under-21s
“And now, two games with 26 players, there is a lot of thinking to do.
“Players are disappointed, the whole staff are disappointed. Match contracts were signed, stamped, and to find out this morning is very disappointing.”
Crawford wanted the three games so that he could look at as many options as possible ahead of this autumn’s resumption of competitive action.
Ireland’s failure - at the hands of Israel in an agonising penalty shootout play-off defeat - to qualify for this month’s European Championships is still fresh in the mind of the manager.
So he wants the strongest possible squad available when the 2025 qualification campaign kicks off in September, with Ireland in a tricky group that includes Italy, Norway and Turkey.
“I wanted three games, I made it an objective of the June window to have three games, to bring in 26 players,” Crawford said.
“If I knew there were two games, you’d probably bring less and the balance of your squad might change.
“But look, we only have two games and we have to deal with it. We’ll still play the best we can.
“It’s far from ideal, but we just need to train differently. We had a MD-1 (matchday minus-one) routine which is a little bit lighter, that has to change, now the focus is on Ukraine for Friday.
“After my meeting here with you, I have to go down and reschedule today and tomorrow to prepare ourselves and the players for the game against Ukraine.
“Ukraine plays Kuwait in Austria tomorrow so there's an opportunity to go to that and analyse both teams.”
Asked if Gabon had offered an explanation for their no-show, Crawford replied: “No. They had not turned up, they had hotel booked and were meant to get a chartered flight.
“There were constant phone calls yesterday with them to touch base and find out where they are and there was radio silence from the match agents to the Gabon officials.
“It was confirmed this morning that there was no game. It’s hugely disappointing.
“I was looking forward to a different challenge, playing against a team who are preparing themselves for AFCON.
“All we can do is look after ourselves. We’ll train today again, and tomorrow will change. And the focus now becomes Ukraine on Friday.”
He added: “When I played I certainly never experienced anything like it and now as a coach too.
“I just think, right now, all the work you have done, analysing Gabon and preparing sessions to create goal scoring opportunities, you are sort of saying ‘right, it’s now a waste of time’.
“We have got to get on with it. The players here, since they came in have been positive, training was excellent yesterday.
“I was really excited for this game tomorrow, but I let the players know, and yes they are disappointed. They want to play the games, get caps and play for Ireland.
“It’s not going to happen and now we only have two games against Ukraine and Kuwait where we’ll have a bit of work to do.”
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