The Republic of Ireland need to be almost perfect tomorrow night if they’re to beat a strong Slovenia side by four clear goals at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and win their Nations League group, but boss Carla Ward is keeping the faith.
Ireland were run ragged when the teams met in Koper back in February, deservedly losing 4-0 to give Ward a serious reality check in what was just her second game at the helm.
The Girls in Green have reeled off three wins on the bounce since that loss, and can still top Group 2 to earn promotion back to League A.
However they know this will not be easy.
“There’s so many different permutations,” Ward told the media in Cork on Monday. “But, yeah, we’ve whittled it down. We need to win by four clear goals, which sets it up for an exciting game, an exciting evening.
“We know where we need to tidy up. We’ve got an ambitious group of players, players that constantly want to be better, so those conversations become easy because they answer the questions for you.”
Slovenia manager Sasa Kolman had Ward’s number three months ago. His team destroyed Ireland on the break, and comfortably snuffed out attacks that were too slow, too predictable.
Ward bristled when reminded that Kolman had claimed he knew how she’d set her team up and even anticipated the changes she’d make mid-game.
“I mean, it’s not hard to look at a Carla Ward team over the last eight years and work out how I like to play the game,” she said.
“It just shows that he’s probably had a look at my career, which I can take a little bit of confidence from.”
The squad is relatively fit and healthy. Lucy Quinn has a bug and is being monitored, while Aoife Mannion is a slight doubt after being withdrawn at half-time against Turkey on Friday. Mannion – so unlucky with injuries over the years – has to manage her work load carfefully.
Katie McCabe is most certainly good to go. The indefatigable skipper has enjoyed a remarkable week. Having helped Arsenal to win the Champions League, she arrived into international camp in Istanbul just two days before the Turkish clash and delivered a player-of-the-match performance. Now she’s targeting one more big push before heading for a well-earned summer holiday.
“That would be nice, wouldn’t it? To end the season like that,” smiled the 29-year-old. “(The loss in Slovenia) was tough for us to take. We were coming off the back of the Wales defeat. It was our first camp under Carla and the new management. So there was lots of learnings to be took from the game, as bad as it was, and the result obviously reflected that.
“I think over the last couple of games we’ve grown and we’ve gotten better. We’re not where we want to be but it’s a process that we have to kind of go through and I know, everyone knows, the calibre of players who’ve retired as well. That’s not easy. It is a little bit of a transition, but it’s more opportunity for players to step up and really stake their claim in the team.”
Ireland have fond memories of Cork. It’s almost a year since they swept past France 3-1 on Leeside. Over 18,000 turned up for that one, and while it’s unlikely we’ll see that attendance tomorrow, McCabe insisted that home support can play a big part.
“For us as players that France game will stick with us for a long time,” McCabe added.
“It was an amazing crowd, a fantastic day and a remarkable result against one of the best teams in the world. I’ve taken a walk into town over the last day or two and I can feel the support already, when you’re walking by shops and pubs on the Bank Holiday weekend and everyone’s kind of cheering us on. We feel that support already.
“We hope the fans come in in their numbers tomorrow evening and really help us get us over the line.”
Ward echoed those sentiments as she sent out a rallying cry: “I’ve heard an awful lot about the crowd here. I’ve heard an awful lot about the good times that last year of being here.
