Ireland's u18 team go into their game against Moldova today in the Czech Republic knowing that they have to win if they are to keep the pressure on the Czechs for qualification from the European Championship qualifier mini-tournament.

After losing 1-0 to the Czechs on Sunday the Irish now have to rely on others if they are to progress from the group. Saying that, they still have to win their last two games against the Moldovans and the Bulgarians if they are to have any chance.

Manager Brian Kerr knows the task ahead. He said: "Sunday was disappointing. But the disappointment centred on the result rather than the performance.

"As a team, I felt we played quite well against the Czechs. We might not have had the ability to pull it off but overall it was a decent effort."

Today's game against the Moldovans won't be any pushover. They earned a creditable 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in their first match and deserved even more from a game that they dominated for long periods.

"From my reports, there were the better team as well," said Kerr. "I'm told that they have one excellent player up front but that they have a poor goalkeeper."