2023 World Cup qualifiers: Republic of Ireland v Slovakia, Thursday November twenty fifth, Tallaght Stadium (kick-off 7pm, RTÉ 2)
Katie McCabe, of all individuals, is expected to shake off a foot harm sustained in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United final Sunday, when she scored from the penalty spot and created the opposite purpose, as Ireland stare down their newest ‘must-win’ recreation if they’re to stay on course to qualify for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
“Or not less than ‘not lose’,” advised Vera Pauw, who’s discovering it more and more troublesome to dampen expectations.
“The medics have been improbable with Katie,” defined the Ireland coach.
“She has cleared each precaution we needed to take with them, so she is cleared to coach and to play however you will note a distinct format from her [at training].
“But she is match.”
There actually isn’t any margin for error tonight. Ireland have a probably insurmountable drawback if the slickest model of McCabe goes lacking. The 26-year-old has been so influential this 12 months, connecting all of the dots, with the likes of Savannah McCarthy and Jamie Finn elevating their video games to an entire new stage consequently.
After the groundbreaking win in Helsinki final month, when McCabe’s counter attacking menace was way more prevalent than her defending, a reliable Slovakia facet have to be picked aside, on the similar time Sweden host Finland in two matches that ought to streamline Group A.
“We are life like in the place we stand and what our chances are high,” mentioned Pauw in Wednesday night press convention that was switched from Tallaght to FAI headquarters in Abbotstown as a result of M50 visitors disruption attributable to truckers protesting gas costs. “The ladies are additionally life like, realizing we’ve to have the identical stage we confirmed in opposition to Finland to have any probability to win. If we can’t put that on the pitch then we’ve a difficulty. We aren’t but that good that we will do it routinely.”
The Helsinki efficiency felt like a everlasting confidence enhance for the group because it required the athleticism of Heather Payne as a lot because the doggedness of Áine O’Gorman.
6,000 followers are expected in Tallaght to see Vera Pauw’s Ireland in opposition to Slovakia. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
With the benchmark now set, sure people should proceed to ship, from New Jersey-born goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan’s renewed solidity to Louise Quinn’s tactical nous to Denise O’Sullivan being technically mild years forward of all people. Maintaining the present momentum additionally means one other set-piece particular from Megan Connolly or Lucy Quinn.
Slovakia, ranked forty fifth by Fifa to Ireland’s thirty third, can’t be taken evenly after slim losses to Sweden and Finland had been adopted by a 2-0 win over Georgia final month.
The Ireland setting more and more appears like a spot the place participant growth and well-being is paramount even whereas Pauw spoke on Wednesday about abuse allegations leveled at former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley.
Ireland’s NC Courage gamers Diane Caldwell and O’Sullivan got here into camp final month simply after particulars of the scandal had been revealed by The Athletic however Pauw revealed on Second Captains that the squad didn’t talk about what occurred as each gamers had been receiving “psychological assist,” through the membership, and needed to focus solely on match preparation.
“So that’s what we did,” mentioned Pauw.
The former Dutch worldwide, who coached the Houston Dash in 2018 after stints with the Russian, Scottish, South African, Thai and Dutch nationwide groups, beforehand acknowledged that she has skilled abuse at each juncture of her profession earlier than arriving in Ireland. She wouldn’t go into particulars about “preventing on the barricades” to guard feminine gamers however acknowledged that such actions have harm her profession financially.
“And what we have to handle is that if a participant will get coached by a person in a agency means that that’s not abuse,” Pauw careworn. “Abuse is once you use your energy to intimidate, to isolate, to minimise or to violate the borders of girls and kids.
“In that sense I believe we’re rising as a society, issues are popping out, girls are believed – that could be a essential half. And from there I actually imagine we are going to get to a wholesome state of affairs.”
A report attendance of virtually 6,500 is about to descend upon Tallaght.
“I hope that Covid is not going to be spoiling it,” added Pauw, “as a result of there are already colleges that would not come, they needed to cancel due to the Covid rules, however [the attendance] is wonderful whereas earlier than we needed to hand out a load of tickets to colleges whereas now we’re promoting them.”
Ireland (potential): Brosnan; Fahey, Louise Quinn, McCarthy; O’Gorman, Connolly, O’Sullivan, Finn, McCabe; Lucy Quinn, Payne.
Slovakia (potential): Korenciova; Horvathova, Bartovicova, Fischerova, Vojtekova; Mikolajova, Biroova, Skorvankova; Hmirova, Surnovska; Zemberyova.
Referee: Jelena Cvetkovic (Serbia).