Ireland U21s' Italian showdown live on RTÉ as part of huge double-header

The Republic of Ireland Under-21s' huge European Championship qualifier against Italy on Tuesday afternoon (4.30pm kick-off) will be screened live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player as part of a bumper double-header of international football.

Jim Crawford's men are already guaranteed a place in the play-offs but they can seal qualification for the tournament with a win in Ascoli.

The Italians drew with Sweden on Thursday night meaning Ireland cannot be displaced from second spot in Group F.

They are two points off group leaders Italy heading for the final game, so if they pull off a famous win, they are going to the finals.

A draw or a defeat means Crawford's team can start preparing for September's play-offs. Romania and Georgia will co-host the tournament next year.

Joanne Cantwell will be joined in studio by Richie Sadlier for the match - and once that's done and dusted we will immediately turn our attentions to the senior side's UEFA Nations League clash with Ukraine in Lodz, Poland (7.45pm kick-off). Ukraine's home matches have been moved because of Russia's ongoing invasion of the country.

Stephen Kenny's men lost their first two games of the Nations League campaign against Armenia and Ukraine. They will be desperate to end their four-game block on a high but are facing a tough ask against slick opponents.

"The atmosphere in the team is always good," Kenny said on Friday. "There's a good attitude, but we are disappointed we haven’t got any points.

"We have lost two games without hardly conceding a chance in the two games and I think the back three were really on top of their opponents. We have fresh legs and we have other players who are willing to come in and make their mark, and that is the nature of it."

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