Ireland face into a world cup play-off game with Scotland on Tuesday evening.
A record crowd is expected for a Scottish women’s competitive home fixture at Hampden with a place at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at stake.
Vera Pauw’s team are the third-ranked team in the Second Round of the Play-offs. Behind both Switzerland and Iceland, who face Wales and Portugal respectively.
The two best ranked winners; based on qualification record will proceed directly to the World Cup. The third winner qualifies for the FIFA Women’s Inter-Confederation Play-Off in February 2023.
“The target when we started this campaign was to qualify for the World Cup and we remain in a position to achieve that” explained Ireland manager Vera Pauw.
“We expected Sweden to top our group. We knew that going through the route of the Play-Offs was a possibility and therefore is not daunting to us. It is another massive challenge and we must play the game of our lives to win it” added Pauw.
“We have full respect for Scotland” declared Pauw. “Who are a very direct team with a lot of excellent players and they fully deserved to beat Austria in the first round of this Play-Off series”. We have watched them closely and know that we will be facing a very difficult opponent”. They “will also have a home crowd behind them”.
“We believe in ourselves and trust in each other players and staff” declared Pauw. We know that we have to be at our very best if we are to win this game. Making it to the World Cup has always been the dream.”
Ireland have a full squad to choose from with 27 players having travelled to Glasgow. Goalkeeper Eve Badana did not travel with the squad.
Injuries prevented Savannah McCarthy (knee), Ruesha Littlejohn (foot), Megan Connolly (ribs), Ellen Molloy (knee), Jess Ziu (knee), Leanne Kiernan (ankle) and Aoife Colvill (knee) from being called up to the initial squad.
Roscommon’s Heather Payne made her Ireland debut against Scotland, in the last meeting between the teams. An International Friendly in Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy on July 7th, 2017.
Seven players in the Ireland squad either play or have played for Scottish clubs. These are; (Celtic: Claire O’Riordan, Keeva Keenan, Isibeal Atkinson. Glasgow City: Katie McCabe, Denise O’Sullivan, Niamh Farrelly. Hearts: Ciara Grant. Rangers: Ciara Grant)
Scotland v Republic of Ireland
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Play-Off
Tuesday, October 11
Hampden Park, Kick-off 20:00
Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)
Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Keeva Keenan (Shelbourne), Claire O’Riordan (Celtic), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Niamh Farrelly (Parma), Roma McLaughlin (Central Connecticut University), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham United)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Amber Barrett (FFC Turbine Potsdam), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge)
