Wales are heading into an international break that could end in them reaching their first ever major tournament but standing in their way are the Republic of Ireland.
While all the talk on this side of the Irish Sea is about reaching the big dance for the first time, the Girls in Green are looking to create their own bit of history.
In the summer of 2023, they themselves reached their first ever major tournament, and since their World Cup adventure in Australia, Ireland have gone from strength to strength. One half of Girls on the Ball, Rachel O’Sullivan, explained what the Irish have done since their return from Down Under.
“What’s been quite exciting is that we’ve seen a sustained growth after the World Cup. Maybe there was a bit of a worry that we’d just see a spike after reaching a first major tournament, one where we overperformed in my opinion given the group we had, and I was concerned about what things would look like when we got home.
“Vera Pauw’s contract wasn’t extended, we didn’t know who was going to come in next, and all those questions were circling around us. The way the Nations League was set up benefitted Ireland, because it allowed them to come into it in a group in League B that they were expected to win and experience being the favourites.
“It allowed us to go out and express ourselves a little bit and give players opportunities to play and build confidence, and then when we got promoted, we were handed the Group of Death in League A.”
Pauw’s contract came to an end after the World Cup, with the FAI opting to not renew her contract. Eileen Gleeson was made interim manager for their Nations League B campaign, in which Ireland won every game, before being appointed permanently in December.
Seeing Gleeson getting the role on a full-time basis came as a surprise to O’Sullivan, but she has hailed the calmness and togetherness that she’s brought back to Ireland.
“I was surprised they went with Eileen for the permanent role. I think the FAI had been looking outwards and maybe looking to bring in someone with a bit more experience at that international level, which I can understand.
“But Eileen did a very good job as an interim. She knew the setup extremely well, and she’s brought in that calmness that maybe the team needed, and it took away some of that disconnect from the top down to the team.
“Bringing a group back together isn’t easy, and that disconnect between the previous manager is something the players talked about. I’ve spoken to Aoife Mannion and Kyra Carusa, players who have come in under Eileen and said this is one of the best environments they’ve ever experienced, and that says a lot.”
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Nations League nightmare
As the Red Wall faithful know, League A of the Nations League can be a very unforgiving place.
While Wales thought their group was difficult, Irish fans could state a strong case that their group was beyond ridiculous. France, England, and Sweden. Three teams in the top ten of the FIFA rankings, and three teams who reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2023.
Ireland would finish bottom of their group, but their performances provided a lot of hope for the future.
Their biggest loss came at home to Sweden (3-0), but they more than held their own against England, while in their last game, they recorded a famous win over France in Cork.
O’Sullivan was more than impressed with how Ireland held their own against some of the world’s best teams and believes it will serve them will for months to come.
“What those games showed the team was that they can perform on the big stage, they can make games difficult for top teams, and I also felt we weren’t overly reliant on Katie McCabe like we have been in the past.
“A number of players have stepped up like Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes have come in and made a difference, and they’ve added a lot of experience. A lot of the younger players have stepped up too. We’ve had injuries and games have been difficult, but these young players have thrived under those circumstances, and I’ve been really impressed.
“The shift that we’ve seen with Ireland over the past couple of years is that they’re beating teams that they’re expected to beat. It’s a similar thing with Wales. More often than not, the opportunity to qualify for something has been in their own hands, but they end up going against a team where they expect to do well, and things pan out differently.
“Ireland are now turning up in those games, and that has given them confidence against higher ranked teams, as well as ones in and around them.”
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Wales worry?
Those Nations League games are a thing of the past, and Ireland’s sights are firmly set on Wales.
It’s very rare in international football that we get to analyse a very recent game between opponents, but of course, Wales defeated Ireland in Tallaght 2-0 in a February friendly.
Gleeson put out a very strong side for the fixture, with Denise O’Sullivan the only real starter absent from the fixture, but Wales ran out comfortable victors.
That win will boost confidence among Wales fans, but as far as O’Sullivan and Ireland are concerned, they say that they have learned a lot from that defeat.
“That game showed what Wales can do. They’ve beaten us before and that will be in the back of their minds, and that is certainly one of the reasons we don’t want to be called favourites. It wasn’t ideal, but at least it was a friendly, and Ireland have had good performances since then, and they will focus on that.
“But Ireland will also have learned a lot from that defeat to Wales. I’m sure it’s the way they’re going to spin it is that they’ll look back and think we won’t do this or that, because we got caught out. I like to think you learn more from a defeat, so I’ll take the positive spin from that game!”
Despite Wales winning the latest fixture, Ireland are still touted by many as the favourites over the two legs.
As with any Celtic nation, the label of favourites isn’t something that’s embraced, and if anything, is something that sends a small shiver down the spine.
O’Sullivan isn’t thrilled about the fact Ireland are favoured in the fixture, but says they have to accept it.
“I can understand why people put Ireland as favourites. We as well as Wales are probably two nations that don’t have a cocky attitude when it comes to fixtures and are always very reluctant to call ourselves favourites in things, because we’re both so used to being underdogs.
“It will be a weird one for Ireland to go into this fixture and most people having them down as the favourites. A lot of that is down to how they qualified as well, with an easier route to this final. They handled that route better than Wales, but Irish people won’t jump to say things like they should win this game.”
But the one big positive in Ireland’s favour is the fact that they play the second leg at home in Dublin’s iconic Aviva Stadium.
The ground does hold fond memories for those on the Emerald Isle, and O’Sullivan cannot wait for next Tuesday night.
“Ireland have had a few games there and have put in good showings against the likes of England, and were unlucky not score in that game. We beat Northern Ireland there and beat them well.
“It’s always an interesting one where we can say we have the home advantage, but it’s a pitch they’re not used to playing on, it’s a big pitch, but the opportunities to play in stadiums like that is so valuable to the team.
“The drive into the ground is iconic, people know the route the bus takes, and Ireland have done well to rise to these big occasions and thrive.”
One thing is for certain however, and that is both sides of the Irish Sea know how close and nervy the game will be.
Even when it came to predictions, O’Sullivan was coy and didn’t spring to a conclusion, but she believes Ireland will get the job done, just.
“It’s going to be tight. Having that second game at home is big, and I’m glad it’s not the other way around. Wales are doing so well selling tickets and the atmosphere on that Friday night is going to be incredible, and the Irish need to have the same attitude in the second leg.
“I want to say Ireland will win it, but I think it’s going to be a cagey game, and I hope it doesn’t go to extra time!”
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