The Republic of Ireland’s women’s game against Finland at Tallaght Stadium this evening (2 p.m. U.S. Eastern) promises to be one of the biggest in the history of Irish women’s soccer. (The Irish won 1-0. An update will follow.) This is what the World Cup qualification campaign, Vera Pauw’s managerial reign and everything good that has happened since the players’ strike a few years back, has been leading up to. Victory could begin the Irish sporting odyssey to end them all. The task in Tallaght is simple, beat Finland and “girls in green” are into the play-offs. A draw would keep us one point ahead of the visitors, but Vera Pauw’s team would then need to win away to Slovakia next Tuesday to ensure a play-off spot. And it doesn’t end there because if we do get into the play-offs it’s a drawn out process that could go on until next February. The World Cup finals will be played in Australia and New Zealand in July 2023.
