"We're really going for it…"
"Our performances have put us in this position…"
"It’s in our hands…."
"Hopefully there will be no hard luck stories because we’re ready…"
"The pressure is on and we’re ready for it…"
"That’s why we play, we want to be there on the big days, to get the big results…"
Some of the words of the Republic of Ireland senior women’s national team as they head into the game billed as the biggest of their careers.
Today, Vera Pauw’s charges will take on Ukraine in Kyiv, in a crucial Euro 2022 qualifier, knowing that just a point will guarantee at least a play-off place.
Ireland are second in the group to Germany, knowing a draw will secure the runners-up spot.
However, with the nine group winners and the three best second-placed teams going through automatically, Ireland have the incentive of the possibility to advance to the finals in England without needing a play-off.
It’s a massive opportunity and Ireland are there on merit.
Twelve months ago, Vera Pauw took charge of the Irish team for the first time, and led the girls in green to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Ukraine in Tallaght Stadium. Ireland went 2-0 up on the night through goals from Katie McCabe and Rianna Jarrett before the visitors clawed it back to 2-2 by the interval.
Ireland 2-0 Ukraine : Two goals in two minutes as Rianna Jarrett heads home from close range to double Ireland's lead pic.twitter.com/13tVpdvvCO
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 8, 2019
A tactical adjustment at half-time saw the home side settle back into the game before taking the lead again after a quick throw-in led to Denise O’Sullivan’s shot ricocheting off Ukraine centre-back, Pantsulaya.
The new manager described her players as "a bunch of tigers" due to their fighting spirit and sheer tenacity. Here in Ireland, we know these qualities are basic trademarks of our international teams.
Irish teams will always go to the well for their country but this team, Pauw’s team, is much more than that. They can play.
The team convened in Germany last Sunday and Monday for their training camp, just as they did before last month’s clash with the group leaders. Logistically, and after colossal planning around the current coronavirus situation, it was agreed that it made good sense for the team to gather again in Duisburg.
From there, the team departed on a charter flight to Kyiv on Thursday morning. It’s the first time the women’s team has been flown to a game by charter. It may seem small to some, but it is significant.
Just 42 months ago, in April 2017, the women of the Irish football team stood together in Liberty Hall (below), with the support of the PFAI, to defend their rights to have the chance to realise their potential in the green jersey.
Stories of changing into tracksuits in airport toilets, that later had to be returned to the FAI for the underage boys’ teams, stole the headlines but this was about so much more than that.
It was about setting standards and getting just the basics right so that a group of highly talented and committed football players could have what was needed to allow them to achieve for their country. It was only the women’s team though that faced such a battle.
And here they are 42 months later, standing among, and on the shoulders, of those that took one for the team. They are on the brink of creating a new history.
The pressure doesn’t inhibit them. They see it as a privilege.
Pauw has close to a full-strength squad at her disposal for this game, the notable exception being the absence of regular starting goalkeeper, Marie Hourihan, who dislocated a finger on club duty in the run up to this game.
But Ireland have an able and trustworthy back-up. West Ham’s Courtney Brosnan has been pushing Hourihan for the number one berth for some time now and made her international debut in Ireland’s 3-0 qualifier victory over Montenegro in March.
And whilst Hourihane was reinstated for last month’s 3-0 defeat to runaway group leaders Germany, Brosnan will be a solid pair of hands should she get the nod to start.
And it will be a nod, as she too is being pushed by Reading’s Grace Maloney, who has been a standout performer in the WSL so far this season. Last week, and for the third time this campaign, Maloney was named in England’s top tier Team of the Week.
She was joined in that team by two other key Irish performers. Arsenal’s Katie McCabe continues to star as one of the best players in the division while Cork’s Denise O’Sullivan also made the cut for her contribution to Brighton’s commendable draw against high-flying Everton.
O’Sullivan’s dynamism and work ethic has seen her establish herself quickly after making the move to England, on a short-term loan, from her parent club in the States, North Carolina Courage.
Whilst a draw in Kyiv will suffice against Ukraine to secure that play-off place, Ireland are very much set on winning the game. But so too are their hosts as nothing less than a win will suffice for the home team and they too harbour ambitions of qualifying.
Ukraine are a well-structured, organised and committed team. They will compete for second balls and scored two goals in Dublin as a result of Ireland not clearing their lines effectively from set-pieces. Pauw’s charges will need to be sharp in this area.
And despite conceding 20 goals in their five qualifying games so far, it is worth noting Ukraine have scored seven and conceded just one in their two matches against Greece and Montenegro last month.
Ireland will need a big performance, but they are prepared and ready for the challenge. With genuine leaders like Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn and Niamh Fahey marshalling the defensive responsibilities, this team has pace, flair and creativity in attack.
O’Sullivan, Jarrett, McCabe, Ruesha Littlejohn and Amber Barrett all have goals in them from general play whilst Ireland are also lethal from attacking set pieces so can find goals in all the moments of the game.
They will also be meticulously prepared. Pauw and Eileen Gleeson are outstanding coaches and mentors for this group of players, and they command a no-excuses culture.
The squad even had time this week to support causes that mean a lot to them. They wore T-shirts sporting the 20x20 campaign, which highlights women in sport, and wore pink face masks in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
They are a remarkable and humble group of women who have their destiny in their own hands, and they wouldn’t want it any other way.
As they say themselves, the pressure is on and they are ready for it.
Watch Friday's crucial UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifier between Ukraine and the Republic of Ireland live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 4.30pm, with live updates on rte.ie/sport.
