The Republic of Ireland's demolition of Georgia was a boost for World Cup 2023 qualification, but once again raises questions over the development of women’s football as a whole.
Denise O'Sullivan's hat-trick and captain’s Katie McCabe outstanding display entertained the Irish public, but it was yet another facile victory in the international window.
Northern Ireland beat North Macedonia 9-0, Switzerland put seven past Lithuania 7-0, Spain romped to an 8-0 victory over Scotland and Luxembourg defeated 9-0 by Austria.
Pauw was naturally pleased that her team boosted its goal difference and will now head into the second half of the campaign one point clear of main rivals Finland in the battle for runners-up to Sweden and a play-off place, she is concerned at the bigger picture facing the game given the lopsided results.
"I have been talking before that this has been coming because of a few decisions that have been taken to create more and more opportunities for the best teams – and it is fantastic that the game is growing at the top level – but nobody to care for the second tier and lower teams," she told RTÉ Sport.
"You see already the results of it. UEFA really needs to think about.
"I have offered my help because I have been thinking about these things for many years. Together we really need to think about how to solve this problem."
England head coach Sarina Wiegman echoed these concerns after her team's extraordinarily lopsided win over Latvia in Doncaster.
After the 20-0 victory, England have a perfect tally of 18 points from six games. They have scored 53 goals and conceded none.
"Of course you want competitive games and these are not competitive games," Wiegman told a news conference.
"We want to develop well-developed countries and the countries that are not that far, so in every country you want to develop the women's game.
"But I don't think it's good that the scores are so high. I know that has the attention of the federations - UEFA and FIFA. I think that's good because I don't think 20-0 is good for the development of anyone."
RTÉ soccer analyst Lisa Fallon, and now a member of FIFA’s high performance department, says the growing gap is down largely to resources.
"You look at some of the results across this international window and I think what you are starting to see is a two-strand approach to women’s football development across the globe," she told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne.
The gap widens when nations who are less developed come up against stronger nations
"You see the real difference in how the game evolves when countries, leagues, associations really invest in the women’s game and give female players the resources to really push on and develop their careers.
"The gap widens when nations who are less developed come up against stronger nations, and that’s probably what we are seeing more of.
"It’s very difficult for the developing nations, a real challenge for governing bodies."
Fallon believes the upward trajectory of the women’s senior team is down to both increased investment and a mindset change, and the fruits of this are beginning to show in both in international team and the domestic game.
"The women’s team now get the same reimbursement of expense for their international team as their male counterparts.
"It’s really positive to see this, but you have to understand that if you unlock the potential in half the population of the country, you should get 100% more success and results.
"It’s really important that that continues."
