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Celtic youths

Young Celts take on Japan and PSV Eindhoven

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Glasgow Cup Final 2014Celtic’s u-17 squad complete their season this weekend in Holland at the prestigious Het Ten Brinke Bouw Tournament hosted by Varsseveld, east of Arnhem close to the German border.

Tommy McIntyre’s side will open the tournament against the Japanese national side at 6pm on Friday before playing PSV Eindhoven and a Varsseveld select side on Saturday.

The other group consists of Desportivo from Brazil, Vitsesse Arnhem, AZ Alkmaar and Anderlecht with the top two from each group going forward to Sunday’s semi-finals and final.

Celtic are in regular demand to play in these sort of competitions and defeated Liverpool and Benfica at last month’s Aegon Tournament hosted by Ajax.

Having picked up the SPFL u-19 League Cup last Sunday, by defeating Ayr United 2-1 at Somerset Park, to go alongside the league and Glasgow Cup it’s been a highly successful season for the club’s Academy side.

Seven Celtic players were in the Scotland u-17 side that reached the semi-final’s of the European Championships in Malta with McIntyre looking to finish the season with a flourish.

“We’re looking forward to this tournament and we’re going there to win it,” the hoops coach said. “It’s great to be involved in these sort of tournaments, it gets the players away for a few days and gives them the chance to play against different styles of play.

“Opening up against the Japanese national side will be a big challenge but it’s one that we are looking forward to.

“We’ve given the players a few days off to rest after their recent schedule and will take over a few of the boys that were away with Scotland.

“We’re very proud to have seven players in a squad that reached the last four in the European Championships. Germany were strongly fancied for the tournament but Scotland beat them and Switzerland to reach the last four. Five or six of our players were involved in each game which is pleasing.

“We have a vibrant youth academy at the club, while those players were away we called up a number of players from the u-16 squad to join the u-17’s in the League Cup.

“Beating a good Ayr United team with a good few first team players was a great achievement for this group of players. They are giving away a few years and getting tested at a high level.

“They responded well to the challenges and we’re looking for the same this weekend in Holland.”

You can follow the tournament on TWITTER and FACEBOOK.

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