Kenny Cunningham: Ireland Under-21 team can upset Azzurri

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 team head into today's clash against their Italian counterparts with a play-off spot for the European Under-21 Championship already assured, but Kenny Cunningham believes all the ingredients are in place for Jim Crawford's young charges to pull of an upset win that would see them top the group and qualify outright.

Ireland are the team with momentum in Group F, and while Italy could only draw 1-1 with Sweden in their recent outing in Helsingborg, the Boys in Green are on a four-game winning streak.

Montenegro were put to the sword in a 3-1 victory at Tallaght Stadium eight days ago, and the squad travel to Ascoli brimming with confidence that Cunningham believes is well founded.

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"We've got a really strong spine to the team, Jake O'Brien, Mark McGuinness - Jake in particular, he's an outstanding young talent," the Dubliner told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.

"We've a goalkeeper in top form in Brian Maher. Central midfield, Conor Coventry and Gavin Kilkenny have been great working in tandem throughout the whole qualifying campaign. The manger has kind of dovetailed a little bit in terms of further up the pitch. Will Smallbone has been prominent in the last couple of games.

"They're playing well and in a good frame of mind going into the game.

"They're reasonably consistent in terms of team selection. It's all in place."

The former Ireland defender believes a patient approach could pay dividends in Ascoli against a much-vaunted Azzurri outfit that could become