Ireland to kick-off 2011 U21 Euro qualifiers against Turkey
The Republic of Ireland will kick-off their UEFA 2011 Under-21 European Championship qualifying campaign with a home fixture against Turkey in March.
The young 'Boys in Green' were drawn in Group Two, against Turkey, Estonia, Georgia, Switzerland and Armenia in the draw made this evening in Denmark.
Ireland will begin the qualifying campaign in eight weeks time when Turkey travel to Ireland.
This match will be followed by a trip to Estonia in September and double-header home fixtures against Georgia and Switzerland in October.
Manager Don Givens said: "We were looking for a draw that was kinder to us than the last campaign, when we were drawn against Portugal and England, and I think we got that. There are some good teams in the group, particularly Turkey and Switzerland, and there will be a lot of long trips but we have a good chance.
"Ideally, we would have liked to avoid being drawn in a six-team group, but we are in one so we will have the early fixture.
"Turkey will come over to us in March just four days after our friendly against Spain, so that makes that friendly match even more important.
"That game, as well as next Tuesday’s friendly against Germany in Cork, are both warm-up matches for the Turkey game.”
