The Republic of Ireland Women’s Team face England tonight in the latest instalment of reality biting at the elevation to the top tier of the Nations League.
It’s not only that but the draw against England, France, who we play in Cork next Tuesday, and Sweden was at the extreme end even of that.
There have been no points or goals from the first four games, but there have also been no heavy defeats. You have to compete with better teams in order to improve. So onwards.
This week has been overshadowed by the weekend revelations about abuse of players in the past and the repercussions of that for all concerned.
In the other camp it has been all about England’s march to the Final of Euro 2024. References to the Women’s team have been in the context of playing Spain on Sunday, as they did in the Women’s World Cup last summer. The hope across the water is that the result will be different.
The game at Carrow Road in Norwich is a sell out and the atmosphere will be crackling.
Ireland go into the game without the suspended Katie McCabe but that might allow for a different style of play and a more expansive performance from Eileen Gleeson’s side.
But that risks a lot against an England side that could have been three-nil up in the Aviva Stadium within 20 minutes earlier in the year, before settling for what they had as a win.
Ireland’s relegation to League B next time around has been confirmed but England are still not assured of direct qualification for Switzerland and Euro 2025 next summer so their motivation is clear.
They are currently third in the group behind France and Sweden who they play next Tuesday. Qualification will come down to that game regardless of how they do against France tonight and what happens in Norwich.
Tonight’s game will be televised live on RTÉ2 with an 8 PM kick-off.
Ireland play France in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, then next Tuesday.
Northern Ireland are away in Malta tonight with the game being streamed live on BBC Northern Ireland’s website.
A win will be enough to secure qualification for the Play-Offs for next summer’s Euro’s where they could meet the Republic of Ireland in the Second Round.
So far they have four points from their four matches, having beaten Bosnia away in April and held Portugal to a single goal win at home in June.
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