Republic of Ireland Women’s Head Coach Carla Ward has selected a 23-player squad for the upcoming Women’s World Cup European Qualifiers against France and the Netherlands, two of the world’s top teams. The team will begin their League A campaign against France at Tallaght Stadium on next Tuesday, March 3, before traveling to Utrecht to take on the Netherlands on March 7.
The Girls in Green go into these high-profile fixtures full of confidence following their dramatic play-off win over Belgium at the end of last year. Young Dubliner Abbie Larkin scored the stoppage-time goal that secured an aggregate win over Belgium and promotion to the top tier.
Ward welcomes back goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, midfielder Megan Connolly and attacker Leanne Kiernan, all of whom missed the two games against Belgium through injury. The squad is once again led by captain Katie McCabe and also includes experienced midfielder Denise O’Sullivan, who recently secured a move to Liverpool FC. It’s going to be a tough campaign and Ireland will be hoping for a play-off where we could, depending on result elsewhere, meet Israel in the Autumn. That promotion to League A means the Irish are guaranteed a play-off and Ward admits that third place in the group is the realistic target. If Ireland secure third place ahead of Poland that could possibly mean a weaker play-off opponent. Coach Ward opted for the tighter pitch in Tallaght for the French game, but our game against Poland on April 18 will be played at more spacious Aviva.
Meanwhile Northern Ireland’s Women start their World Cup campaign with a trip to Switzerland on March 3 and their first home against Turkey on March 7 will be played at Mourneview Park in Lurgan. Malta are the other team in the North’s group. Former Dungannon Swifts manager Kris Lindsay will be in charge of Northern Ireland first two games as the Irish Football Association continue their search to find Tanya Oxtoby's permanent successor after the Australian-born coach left the role last November to take over at Newcastle United.
