James Furlong believes team spirit can get the Republic of Ireland over the line against Belgium tonight.
The Young Boys in Green face the group leaders in their final pool game knowing victory will secure an Under-17 European Championship quarter-final.
A draw at Tallaght Stadium could even be enough, although it would depend on the outcome of the Czech Republic-Greece game which kicks-off at the same time.
But Ireland’s 88th-minute equaliser against the Czechs in Waterford on Monday means that Colin O’Brien’s young guns have their fate in their own hands.
Full-back Furlong, 16, is riding high after making his Shamrock Rovers first-team debut in the Hoops recent league defeat to Dundalk.
He started in Oriel Park because Trevor Clarke was suspended and tonight he will be pitted against one of the tournament favourites in Belgium.
But the Foxrock lad insists confidence won’t be a problem and said: “That's down to our team spirit.
“As we showed, you can go behind but even if that happens you've got to keep your head and stick to the game plan.
“Obviously that worked out in Waterford and we came back strongly and stuck to the set piece that we had worked on and got a goal from it.
“It shows in football that you've got to keep your head and keep going, there's always going to be ups and downs.”
Furlong - a transition year student at CBC Monkstown - continued: “Belgium are known for being good, but we’re good enough as well.
“We’ll see where we can exploit them and take it from there - so bring on Belgium, get three points and get through to the quarters.
“The crowds have been great. For the first game against Greece, the support was unbelievable with 4,000 people there.
“It’ll be like a 12th man with all of the friends and family in the crowd and hopefully we get a win.”
Between his club and country fortunes, Furlong has had to pinch himself these last few weeks - but feels he has taken it in his stride.
“Before the Dundalk game, they (Shamrock Rovers management team) were just telling me that I’m good enough and were giving me confidence,” he said.
“I already had confidence but they just kept pushing me on and then after the game they were very happy with my performance.
“They were very positive about me and that's good to have. It's going very well for me with club and country so it's just about pushing on and keep going.”
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