Paulo Ferreira: Portugal Can Do 'Something Beautiful' At The 2010 World Cup

Chelsea right back Paulo Ferreira has declared that Portugal can go all the way at the upcoming World Cup if they negotiate their so-called 'group of death'.

Carlos Quieroz's side has been drawn against Brazil, the Ivory Coast and North Korea in one of the toughest groups at the tournament. After struggling to qualify for the trip to South Africa, Portugal will receive a boost if they make it to the knockout stages.

Speaking to Chelsea's official website, Ferreira believed his nation can get to at least the semi-final stage at the competition if they concentrate on progressing beyond the opening round.

"People in Portugal are always asking what do you think when we reach the quarter-finals, can we reach the semi-finals?" Ferreira said.

"We have a good team, we have top players and we can do something beautiful in this competition but we have first to think about the group stage because sometimes when you put the expectation too high, the worst can happen.

"We need first to think about the group stage and then anything can happen."

Terry Big On Joe

John Terry is hoping club team-mate Joe Cole will be joining him on the plane to South Africa as Fabio Capello prepares to name his 23-man England squad for the World Cup.

Terry, along with fellow Chelsea men Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard are sure to start England's first game of the finals against USA on June 12, but playmaker Joe is less assured of his place, despite an impressive second-half showing against Japan on Sunday.

Speaking after the game, Terry was full of praise for the 28-year-old, who missed the start of the 2009/10 campaign through injury.

'On a personal level with Joe he's been great for Chelsea towards the end of the season as well so I'm delighted to see him given the chance,' he said.

'He causes defenders all sorts of problems when he floats in between the midfield and the front men and can pick the passes - you've seen with the ball through to Ash as well, so he's made a big impact and we'll have to wait and see.'

Terry suffered a knock on his calf during the game in Austria, England's last friendly before heading out to South Africa.

Other Chelsea men still have plenty of action before the tournament kicks off however, with no fewer than eight friendlies still to come involving Stamford Bridge-based players. You will, of course, be able to keep up with their progress here on our special dedicated World Cup page.

Ballack: Nobody From Chelsea Has Talked To Me About A New Contract

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has rejected reports he is in contract talks with the club and is uncertain where he will be playing next season.

The injured German international midfielder's deal with the Blues runs out this summer and he has yet to be offered fresh terms. Despite being eager to extend his four-year stay, he has accepted Chelsea's decision to leave negotiations on hold.

Speaking to the News of the World, Ballack said: "I am not having talks with Chelsea right now. We spoke in February and March but they put everything on ice with every player and that is still the situation.

"It's not easy but I am just a player so I accept this. I respect the club and I want to carry on at this club.

"But at the moment nobody has talked to me."

Ballack made 32 Premier League appearances last season, proving an important cog as the club won the first league and cup double in its history.

Asian Star: Two More Impress

Two more winners were announced in our Asian Soccer Star search on Monday, completing the Cobham-based competition for another year.

Ahsanuallah Nawazi in the Under 12s and Yusuf Ali in the Under 13s both received an invitation to return to our Surrey training ground later in the summer for a week-long trial in the Chelsea Academy, and are pictured with Brendan Batson MBE and musician Jaz Dhami, who have both supported the campaign.

Also pictured is last year's Under 12 winner A'ameer Kstantin Murphy, who has earned a place in Leyton Orient's Academy as a result of his endeavours at Chelsea.

Ahsanuallah, a striker, likens himself to Wayne Rooney due to his fast play and lack of height. He attributed today's success to a pair of borrowed socks, which will now become his lucky pair.

Yusuf, a midfielder, was delighted to emerge victorious on a day when a number approaching 200 hopefuls took part in the trials.

'I am shocked, I didn't know I was going to win it,' he said. 'There were some other really good players but people were telling me I was going to win.

'I'm a skilful player and good at dribbling and passing,' he said , before admitting to being an Arsenal fan.

Former Arsenal, Cambridge and West Brom defender Brendan Batson was taking in the action in his role as an ambassador for the FA, for whom he is aiming to help raise the numbers of ethnic minorities involved in football, particularly the coaching side. He believes Chelsea's campaign is a superb idea.

'This is a really good initiative, and I know other clubs are looking at doing the same. I think it sends out a great message to the Asian community that football wants to invite them into the game.

'Talent is a limited resource and clubs are scouting worldwide looking for talent, so there should be no reason why if lads start playing young enough that they can't break through. It is a real mystery why we haven't seen in the Asian community what has happened before with black players.

'I came to England as a nine-year-old and had never played it, it just so happened I fell in with a group of lads who played football and was lucky enough to have a half-decent career in the professional game.'

He identified the importance of starting to play young enough as a potential barrier.

'I do a lot of stuff with the FA to find the barriers preventing Asian youth from getting through. There are some issues to address and football has to be mindful of that,' he said.

'One of the big problems is maybe not starting to play young enough, they say you need 10,000 hours to reach the top of any profession, whether it's sport or the arts or anything, so unless you start at a young age, you are falling behind your peers.

'At a club like Chelsea the standard is very high, and these sorts of things can only help. It is good to see so many parents here because at a young age kids need parental support.'

So after a long weekend of footballing tests and matches, the competition draws to a close for another year, but has hopefully once again created a pathway for Asian youngsters to get into the game.

The six lucky winners from the three days will return over the summer, and we will have news when it arrives of how they fare.

Internationals: Clifford Nets Again

Conor Clifford scored the winner for the second time in as many games for Republic of Ireland's Under 19s on Monday.

The Chelsea youth team captain, who also netted the winning goal in the FA Youth Cup at the beginning of the month, ended it with a penalty against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Ukraine this afternoon.

The midfielder, who also skippers his international side, scored the game's only goal against the hosts of this Uefa European Under-19 Championship qualifier on Saturday, and this penalty also proved decisive, though Ireland did not qualify for the finals in France.

That was because England earned a 1-1 draw against Ukraine to claim top spot in the group, thanks to a late equalizer from Tottenham's Dean Parrett. Chelsea man Jacob Mellis was an unused sub.

England Players Can Be Proud Thanks To Fabio Capello - Frank Lampard

England midfielder Frank Lampard has maintained that manager Fabio Capello is the cause behind the Three Lions' renewed self-belief.

The confidence among players in the national team had hit a new low following the failure to qualify for the European Championships in 2008 under Steve McClaren.

However, the former Real Madrid boss' appointment has galvanised the Three Lions squad and after a stellar World Cup qualifying campaign, confidence is now sky-high going to South Africa.

A more solid looking team recently registered a 3-1 victory over Mexico at Wembley and now the Chelsea goal-ace believes they are heading to football's biggest event with their heads held high.

"We are going into this World Cup with a very good mindset, especially when you compare where we are to where we were," Lampard told the Daily Mirror.

"There was a time when we played for England when we didn't believe we could beat anybody, almost. Now there is a real belief when we run out on to the pitch.

"We were a group of individuals who were not doing what we were capable of doing but he [Fabio Capello] brought us into line from the start."

England are in Group C, and will play USA, Algeria and Slovenia in the hope of booking a place in the knockout stage of the showpiece event in South Africa.

No Tension Between England Pair Rio Ferdinand And John Terry

England captain Rio Ferdinand has revealed there will be no hard feelings from his defensive partner John Terry should he lift the World Cup this summer.

Former Three Lions striker Ian Wright indicated in his column for The Sun that there would be tension between ex-skipper Terry and Ferdinand, if the Manchester United man steered England to glory in South Africa.

Yet Ferdinand is adamant being part of the side to win football’s biggest prize for 44-years would make up for any disappointment the Chelsea captain may harbour.

"That is not a source of tension. When you win the World Cup, I don't care who actually lifts the World Cup," Ferdinand told reporters at a press conference ahead of Sunday's match with Japan.

"As long as I get to say I've got a medal around my neck that says I've lifted the World Cup, then great.

"If Wrighty [Ian Wright] feels he'd feel like that, which is down to him. I am sure JT [John Terry] wouldn't care who lifted the World Cup.

“I wouldn't care because you would go down in history as one of the best teams, one of the best players who has played for your country.

"The players who won it [the World Cup] in 1966 are still being wheeled out to do appearances because it is such a big thing and means so much to this country."

Terry was stripped of the captain's armband by manager Fabio Capello when news of his off-field antics were revealed.

Manchester United centre-back Ferdinand was handed the responsibility, although he confessed it was a burden he was happy to shoulder.

"I feel comfortable as captain. I'm one of the experienced lads, I've been in the squad for years," he added.

"All the young lads know me and all the senior lads have grown up with me.

"If there is something to be said in the changing room I've never been afraid to speak my mind on anything, anywhere. It is the same as being captain.

"I don't really behave differently. You get more people coming to you saying 'Can you ask about this?' or 'What you think about this?', but I don't look upon it as a pressure.

"It is part of the job and you've got to deal with it.

"I do like the responsibility. It is nice. Everyone wants to grow up wanting to be the captain of their club.

"This is England and there is no prouder accolade than to be captain of your country. But it won't mean as much if we weren't to win anything."

Manchester United And Chelsea Monitoring Atletico Madrid Stopper David De Gea

Manchester United and Chelsea are both tracking the development of Atletico Madrid’s emerging shot-stopper David de Gea, according to reports from the English press.

The Daily Mirror comments that the 19-year old, who was an integral figure in Los Colchoneros’ Europa League triumph, is being watched by the Premier League giants, who are preparing an offer to prise him from the Vicente Calderon.

It is understood that the La Liga side would command a fee in the region of €30m for De Gea, who was selected for Spain coach Vicente del Bosque’s provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

Both English sides have received glowing scouting reports on the young goalkeeper, who burst onto the scene this season, displacing Sergio Asenjo as Atletico Madrid’s first choice midway through the campaign.

However, a stumbling block may be the excessive transfer fee, which may prompt both sides to search for alternative targets as they build for next season.

Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar recently signed a one-year contract extension, while Petr Cech remains Chelsea’s number one.

Buck - No Real Deal For Lampard

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck insists there is 'no chance' Jose Mourinho will take Frank Lampard to Real Madrid.

Former Blues boss Mourinho is reportedly targeting 31-year-old Lampard as a potential signing when he takes over at the Bernabeu next week.

Star midfielder Lampard enjoyed a good relationship with the Portuguese boss during his time at Stamford Bridge, but Buck is adamant the England international is 'going nowhere'.

"Lampard is a great player," Buck told the Daily Star Sunday.

"But you can't possibly imagine Frank Lampard wearing anything other than the Chelsea shirt."

Jose Mourinho May Offer Kaka In Exchange For Frank Lampard And Ashley Cole

Chelsea face a fight to keep their Double-winning team together this week as former manager Jose Mourinho intensifies his efforts to recruit Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole for Real Madrid.

Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes, who is negotiating transfers for the Spanish club, is planning to visit London in a bid to persuade Chelsea to allow the England pair to leave.

Chelsea will do their utmost to retain Lampard and Cole, who signed four-year contracts in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

Real Madrid will raise the possibility of a player-exchange, with Brazil superstar Kaka, who worked with Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti at AC Milan, and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain in the frame.

Ancelotti is consulting his bosses over the make-up of his team for next season and while he is understood to be considering changes to his backroom staff, with Ray Wilkins' future as assistant coach under review, he would be reluctant to lose two such crucial players.

Mourinho, who left Chelsea in 2007, is to be installed as Real Madrid manager tomorrow following last Saturday's triumph in the Champions League with Inter Milan. He will want a number of his former players around him at what promises to be his most testing role to date in transforming Real after two years without a trophy.

He is already negotiating to take Inter Milan right-back Maicon to the club but wants to add a left-back and a midfielder. Cole is understood to be ready to consider a move after his pop star wife Cheryl filed for divorce last week, although Real may baulk at improving his wages of £120,000 a week and are tracking Lazio's Aleksander Kolovov as a contingency.

Lampard would find it difficult to resist the lure of rejoining former mentor Mourinho.

However, neither Ancelotti nor Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich would want to lose such an iconic player, who signed his current four-year deal when Mourinho attempted to recruit him for Inter Milan.

Lampard is 32 next month and Mourinho's interest represents his final chance to make the move abroad which he has always said he would like to experience before his career ends.

Asian Star Search On The Way

The first day of Chelsea's groundbreaking search for an Asian Soccer Star kicked off on Saturday with two winners in the Under 8 and Under 9 age groups.

Local boy Adam Aziz was the overall winner of the U9s whilst Kai Bhullar from Norwich was victorious in the U8s

Both boys will join the club's Academy for their summer trials and will hope to repeat last year's winners who have gone on to play for professional academies

Aziz was overjoyed with his result.

'I've been paying for four years, the trials were quite hard but I'm really happy,' he saud.

His mother Shamim said, 'I'm really proud of my son and all the effort he's put in. I've been out in different weathers all through the season and parents should be getting their boys out there.'

Bhullar's father Rajpreet was delighted with the result.

'I'm extremely proud - football is his [Kai's] life and we're really happy that all the hard work has paid off.'

Internationals: Stoch Selected In Warm Up

Miroslav Stoch was the one Chelsea player in World Cup warm-up action on Saturday.

He played for the first half of a 1-1 draw for Slovakia against Cameroon in Austria and had a big part in Kamil Kopunek's fifth-minute opener, receiving a pass, turning well inside the area and laying the ball back for a 25-yard finish.

Slovakia, who will be the only team appearing for a first time in the World Cup Finals, conceded the equalizer on 82 minutes.

Serbia were in action on the same day in the same stadium in a match affected by crowd trouble, however Branislav Ivanovic was not involved. Serbia went down to World Cup outsiders New Zealand by a single goal following a mistake from Nemanja Vidic.

On Sunday, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard started for England against Japan in Austria, while Joe Cole was on the bench.

Also in action are France against Tunisia, Ivory Coast against Paraguay and Nigeria versus Colombia at Milton Keynes.

The Nigerian FA have reported: 'John Mikel Obi arrived at the camp Friday morning after completing his rehabilitation exercises with medics of Chelsea.'

Also on Sunday England Under-17s aim to become European champions by beating Spain in Liechtenstein. Chelsea Academy products Josh McEachran and Nathaniel Chalobah have played a big part in the team reaching the final.

Troubled Ashley Cole Could Be Lifted By Landon Donovan Lesson

Ashley Cole may be struggling to come to terms with preparing for the World Cup while wife Cheryl files for divorce, but he can take encouragement from an unlikely source.

The man Cole will be facing in England’s opening Group C game against the United States – and who nearly ended his World Cup – has already come through the other side.

Landon Donovan, who spent 10 weeks on loan at Everton this season and was responsible for the tackle that broke Cole’s ankle, finalised his own high-profile divorce late last year.

His split from the star of US television sitcom Rules of Engagement, Bianca Kajlich, after three years of marriage, led to Donovan seeking therapy and the advice of friends and colleagues.

Cheryl filed for divorce on Tuesday. Some claim the timing was made to give Cole the chance to get over it before the World Cup kicks off, but he is thought to be shocked at the way it has been handled.

Because of his ankle injury, Cole has played only four games in the past four months and could be offered a new start in Spain next season by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.

Donovan believes divorce can be used as a catalyst for positive change both on and off the pitch and that Cole will become a better man and possibly an even better footballer if he meets his demons head on and deals with them.

“Every comment I got when I told people I was getting divorced was, ‘I’m so sorry’,” said Donovan. “But it is not always the case that it has to be sorry.

“Sometimes you learn more from those moments than anything. For me that was certainly the case. It doesn’t have to be ugly or nasty. It can be helpful and you can grow from it.

“Bianca taught me a lot more about myself than I knew. She is an actress and if you know that kind of life it is a struggle. When you realize you can’t take things for granted, it is hard. To hear it from your wife and best friend helps.

“Different things helped. Coaches, family, therapy and spending time looking at myself in an honest way. When you combine all that you don’t have a choice but to learn about yourself. You get to a point where you find your way again.”

Like Cole, Donovan was perceived as being cocky and arrogant by the American public in his younger days but has eventually grown into the role of being one of the leaders of the national side.

USA coach Bob Bradley has seen the change in Donovan over the past 12 months and believes it is for the benefit of the individual and his team.

“Landon has shown a great level of maturity, confidence and motivation,” said Bradley. “He has talked about how he has changed. It is easy to see he feels good inside about some of the challenges he has faced and the way he has improved – grown is maybe a better word.”

Donovan is the poster boy of football in the United States and his successful spell at Goodison Park, together with his good form for LA Galaxy, means he will be expected to perform well in South Africa.

“There are expectations and that’s good, but what is most important is what I expect from myself,” said Donovan. “As I have grown older, I’ve learnt what I can and can’t do and to keep things realistic.”

A dose of realism might just be the making of Cole.

Michael Essien Struggling To Be Fit For Start Of Chelsea's Season

Michael Essien faces a battle to be fully fit for next season after Chelsea admitted that the midfielder, who has been ruled out of Ghana's World Cup campaign, had suffered complications arising from the surgery" on his knee.

Essien damaged ligaments on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations in January and his rehabilitation has been hampered by the knee repeatedly swelling up and having to undergo procedures to have the fluid drained.

The 27-year-old has not appeared for Chelsea since he tore his hamstring in the Champions League tie against Apoel Nicosia last December and the manager Carlo Ancelotti's hope that Essien could be welcomed back for the final two weeks of the season was dashed.

Essien has worked tirelessly at Chelsea's training ground to build his fitness but he has not yet returned to contact sessions. The Ghana Football Association assessed him in London and has been forced to digest the bitter pill that he lacked the required fitness to lead the team in South Africa. England could face Ghana in the last 16.

The GFA issued a statement, endorsed by Chelsea, who carried it on their website, which said that Essien would not make a full recovery until the end of July, just before the start of the new season.

"Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien has been ruled out of the 2010 Fifa World Cup," read the GFA statement. "An evaluation by a combined team of medical experts from the Ghana Football Association and Chelsea Football Club revealed that Essien will not make full recovery until the end of July.

"The Ghana Football Association wishes him full recovery and a quick return to football action."

Chelsea added: "Complications arising from the surgery have meant Michael's recovery has been slower than expected."

Manchester United In Pole Position To Sign Joe Cole

Manchester United are reportedly frontrunners in the race to sign Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole.

The creative playmaker has had trouble coming to an agreement with the Blues over a new contract, with his current deal set to run out on July 1. This has prompted the 28-year-old to be linked with moves to a clutch of clubs.

Now the Daily Mail reports that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has offered Cole a contract to ply his trade at Old Trafford next term, amidst interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus.

The former West Ham United player has in the past maintained that he is entirely focused on making the final 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup and then giving his best shot for the Three Lions in South Africa.

Tottenham On Alert As Joe Cole And Chelsea Wrangle Over A New Deal

Joe Cole's contract talks with Chelsea are believed have broken down and the midfielder is resigned to leaving Stamford Bridge, placing a host of rival clubs on alert for one of the most attractive Bosman free transfers of the summer.

The 28-year-old, whose deal is set to expire next month, had been hopeful of the offer of fresh terms and an increase in his weekly wage to £100,000. But the Chelsea hierarchy is determined to restructure financially and resolved not even to offer him a rise on his current £80,000-a-week earnings.

Just as significantly, Cole has received no assurances from Carlo Ancelotti over his chances of becoming a regular in the manager's starting XI. Cole has endured a stop-start season, in which he has been supplanted in the team by Florent Malouda and has struggled to regain his best form after a serious knee injury.

He spoke before the FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth, in which he appeared as a 71st-minute substitute, of it being "difficult playing 20 or 30 minutes here and there and, when you are starting, you are looking over your shoulder".

Cole signed from West Ham for £6.6m in July 2003 and the manager at his first club, Harry Redknapp, now in charge at Tottenham, will be among the front-runners for his signature on a free transfer.

Cole is expected to feature in England's last warm-up match against Japan in Graz on Sunday, when he will hope to show Fabio Capello he is worth a place in the final 23-man World Cup squad. But his club situation rumbles on with John Terry, Chelsea's captain, on record stating the importance of keeping Cole at Stamford Bridge.

Burnley Boss Brian Laws Eyeing Second Loan Move For Chelsea Kid Jack Cork

Burnley manager Brian Laws has asked Chelsea to let him take Jack Cork on loan for a second spell after snapping up Dean Marney for £500,000.

Laws is also hopeful of bringing in Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and striker Chris Iwelumo as part of the £6.5million deal that takes Steven Fletcher to Molineux - although Birmingham and Blackburn remain keen on Fletcher.

Marney, 26, signed a three-year deal last night after agreeing to switch from relegated Hull City.

And Laws wants Cork to return to Turf Moor where he played 11 times but failed to stop Burnley dropping out of the Premier League last season.

Scotland international Fletcher, 23, is to hold talks with Wolves and Mick McCarthy is willing to let Burnley have Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey on season-long loan deals.

Chelsea Scout £8 Million Midfield Maestro

In recognition of any talented youngster beginning to make an impact within the game, many are quick to tag them with players past and present. The German youngster Mesut Ozil, discussed in an earlier article, has been dubbed ‘the new Diego’, quite a tag to burden the youngster with at this early stage. Many do live up to their billing however. Remember Gerard Houllier, declaring Bruno Cheyrou as the ‘new Zinedine Zidane’….he didn’t disappoint did he…

Next to receive such approval is Sylvain Marveaux, dubbed ‘the new Florent Malouda’, no Zinedine Zidane but a quality player nonetheless. If Marveaux can indeed reach such heights then he will have certainly made his mark.

Born in 1986 in Vannes, Marveaux joined Stade Rennes when he turned 16 years old and has spent his entire career thus far at the Stade de la Route de Lorient. He certainly comes from a football family as his older brother Joris Steve Marveaux plays for Montpellier.

The young Marveaux made his debut in the 2006/07 season, eventually ending the season with five goals. Up until last season Marveaux had encountered some difficulties in continuing his progression as a result of injury and time spent warming the bench.

The 2009/10 season saw many starts to take note of his ability as Marveaux excelled for his club, making 33 appearances, scoring 10 goals, and making 5 assists. As an attacking midfielder, Marveaux is blessed with great pace as well as the technical ability to allow him to make goals for himself as well as assist his teammates. A regular at under-21 level for the French national team, Marveaux’s progress to the senior team may only be a matter of time.

At 24 years of age, the time is now if he is to make the next step in his career. Chelsea are being linked with the Frenchman, and will have to pay a rumoured £8 million to take him to the Premier League. Chelsea may be in the market for some new attacking players with the likely departures of Joe Cole, Deco, Juliano Belletti and others. With the average age of the Chelsea squad being discussed also, it may be a good time to inject some new, young talent into the side. What better way for Marveaux to try and become the new Florent Malouda than to play alongside the man himself at Stamford Bridge…

If Sylvain Marveaux is to meet such expectations and make an impact in the bigger leagues of Europe however, time really is of the essence.

England Players Can Be Proud Thanks To Fabio Capello - Frank Lampard

England midfielder Frank Lampard has maintained that manager Fabio Capello is the cause behind the Three Lions' renewed self-belief.

The confidence among players in the national team had hit a new low following the failure to qualify for the European Championships in 2008 under Steve McClaren.

However, the former Real Madrid boss' appointment has galvanised the Three Lions squad and after a stellar World Cup qualifying campaign, confidence is now sky-high going to South Africa.

A more solid looking team recently registered a 3-1 victory over Mexico at Wembley and now the Chelsea goal-ace believes they are heading to football's biggest event with their heads held high.

"We are going into this World Cup with a very good mindset, especially when you compare where we are to where we were," Lampard told the Daily Mirror.

"There was a time when we played for England when we didn't believe we could beat anybody, almost. Now there is a real belief when we run out on to the pitch.

"We were a group of individuals who were not doing what we were capable of doing but he [Fabio Capello] brought us into line from the start."

England are in Group C, and will play USA, Algeria and Slovenia in the hope of booking a place in the knockout stage of the showpiece event in South Africa.

Clifford Winner For Young Ireland

Conor Clifford, who scored the winner in the FA Youth Cup Final, netted another important goal on Friday night, this time for Republic of Ireland Under 19s.

The midfielder's penalty on the hour following a handball was enough to beat home side Ukraine, despite Ireland losing a man to a red card just after half-time.

The 1-0 win in a four-team tournament keeps Ireland in with a chance of qualifying for the European Championship Finals in July.

Ireland lost to England in their first game and the England Under-19 side made it two wins out of two with a 4-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Kiev. Jacob Mellis played 65 minutes and supplied the pass for the third goal.