Jim Crawford: Ireland U21s in a 'nice place' after taking big step towards European Championship qualification aim

The Republic of Ireland Under-21s are in "a nice place" according to head coach Jim Crawford after taking a big step towards European Championship qualification with a 3-1 victory over Montenegro at Tallaght Stadium.

The Boys in Green are up to second in Group F in the race to reach the 2023 finals tournament, two points above Sweden and one behind Italy who occupy the automatic qualification place.

Should Sweden fail to beat Italy on Thursday, Ireland will be assured of a play-off place at least. If Italy were to slip up in Helsingborg, Crawford's team will go to Ascoli next Tuesday knowing a victory against the Azzurri would seal a historic passage to a first major tournament for an Irish side at Under-21 level.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport in Tallaght after seeing off the Montenegrins, Crawford acknowledged the promising position his squad have put themselves in.

"We've never put up the group table in team meetings, we never spoke about it. We just took each game for its own merits," he said.

"So it will be nice now to sit back and see what happens between Sweden and Italy on the Thursday which will change a lot of things for ourselves.

"Because if it's a draw, we can go on and win the group and if Sweden win, we've got to go to Italy and win and if we win, there's every chance we'll win the group. We're in a nice place that's for sure."

Crawford added that his team had proved doubters wrong after setbacks earlier in the campaign.

"The lads have been getting better and better every window we've come in," he said.

"There was a time where people were asking questions when we went away to Montenegro and got beaten, went over to Luxembourg and we drew.

"But we missed penalties that would have changed the game and we would have accumulated