Conor Coventry insists Ireland can cause an upset against Brazil in today’s Toulon Tournament.
Stephen Kenny’s Under-21’s have gone further than six previous Ireland squads in France by reaching the semi-finals.
West Ham midfielder Coventry doesn’t see their uphill task Samba Boys today as reason to for the history-making to stop.
Brazil’s squad – comprised of older players than Kenny’s – is estimated to worth upwards of €50m.
They are using the fortnight in Provence to build up for next year’s Olympics. Brazil claimed gold medal at the Rio games in 2016.
In Toulon, they didn’t concede a goal in winning their group, sinking 13 goals with none conceded.
Matheus Cunha, RB Leipzig’s €16m capture from Swiss outfit Sion, is top scorer at the showpiece.
Then there’s Sporting Lisbon attacker Wendel and Paulinho of Bayer Leverkusen.
None of this daunts Coventry, a 19-year-old with first-team experience at the Premier League club.
Ireland, according to the holding midfielder, have performed to an extent that lazy stereotypes cannot be foisted upon them.
They remain unbeaten after four games of the Kenny era and like to keep the ball on the deck. That much has been visible to the Irish public back home watching their games live on television.
Coventry is adamant that the Boys in Green will stick to their principles in the heat of southern France today.
“Stephen has got us playing a different way to traditional Irish teams,” said Coventry of the boss due for promotion to the senior role next year.
“Our group of players are very keen to break the mould. We want to do it our own way and sometimes we’ve played teams off the park.
“As a kid, I had dreamt about playing against Brazil. It doesn’t get any bigger than them. I still think we can reach the final. Our squad is one of the youngest at this tournament but we feel there’s no team that we can’t beat.”
Coventry wants to end his season on a high. Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini is unlikely to allow him play for Ireland are at the U19 Euro finals in Armenia next month due to his involvement on the club’s first-team pre-season tour.
Unlike his fellow Londoner and clubmate Declan Rice, Coventry is second-generation Irish, and remains intent on sticking with the Boys in Green.
“My Mom, Liz Kane, was born in Cabra,” he said.
“Her parents came from the Liberties and Ringend. We all live on the same road in Woodford, London and there’s a real Irish family feel in my area.
“Hopefully one day I can step up. Stephen knows our team well at this stage and it’s great to have a manager who believes in me.”
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