Republic of Ireland to face Spain in European Under-17 Championship quarter-finals

The Republic of Ireland will take on Spain in the quarter-finals of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship on Saturday, kick-off 7pm (Irish time).

Colin O'Brien’s team booked their place on the last eight with a brilliant 4-2 win over hosts Hungary on Tuesday evening. The Boys in Green went into that final Group A match knowing they had to win to advance.

On Wednesday, a 78th-minute Lamine Yasal equaliser against Serbia saw Spain snatch top spot in Group B and set up a clash with the Irish. The game will be broadcast live on the RTÉ News Channel

The winners will play either France or England in the semi-finals.

The Spaniards, as always, provide a massive challenge. One of the jewels in their crown is the prodigiously gifted 15-yard-old Yamal, who has already made his first-team debut at Barcelona.

"I’m not really bothered who we play," O’Brien said after Ireland’s victory over Hungary. "If it is Spain, brilliant for the boys to experience that.

"We are in the last eight in Europe now. If you look at our metrics compared to every other country in developing football, we shouldn’t be here.

"There is a lot of knowledge in our country, and knowledge is power."

Watch the Republic of Ireland v Spain in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Under-17 European Championship on Saturday, from 7pm, on the RTÉ News channel

Watch Bohemians v Shelbourne in the SSE Airtricity League on Friday from 7.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport

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