The Republic of Ireland will need to get used to operating outside of their comfort zone if they're to make their mark at the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as new-girl Kyra Carusa declared it’s time "to get comfortable being uncomfortable" after the 3-0 loss to France in the team’s final warm-up game at Tallaght Stadium.
Ireland produced a fine display in the opening half before a brief lapse in concentration saw them concede two quick-fire goals just before the break, undoing a lot of good work in that first period.
"The World Cup is going to be a challenge. We have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable," American-born Carusa told RTÉ’s Tony O’Donoghue after the game.
The Republic of Ireland lose 3-0 to France in their final outing before departing for the World Cup
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 6, 2023
📱 Updates 👉 https://t.co/cjFYtsqGA9 pic.twitter.com/ra5CSETu0v
"That’s what it’s like to play a top-five team in the world. France are highly competitive, an incredible midfield, very well-classed players and I think this is an opportunity for us to understand that we have to be a 90-minute team and that five minutes at the end of the first half, we cannot let that be our demise."
Carusa had the ball in the net earlier in that first half when she raced on to a flick on from fellow new arrival, Sinead Farrelly, to slide past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in the visiting goal.
However, the lineswoman’s flag went up and, with no eye in the sky to call on, the strike was chalked off. Replays showed that Carusa was onside when Farrelly headed into her path.
"The important thing was that I finished it because in the World Cup there’s going to be VAR and that’s a goal," the Irish Player of the Match said.
"It's unfortunate that it wasn’t there today, but the more important thing is, as a striker, you put that in the back of the net because you never know…
"We’re very successful with [the formation] and we’re really fine-tuning it. The last two [training] camps are the first time we’re actually playing this formation and really getting used to it is quite a testament to us as players and as a team so I cannot applaud this team enough for that and I do believe that first 45 absolutely reflects what we can do for 90 minutes, we are more than capable of it.
"[The World Cup] is around the corner. We have to have challenging games like this to test ourselves."
Veteran Farrelly put in a fine shift before coming off late on with cramp. The 32-year-old assured Vera Pauw and fans afterwards that her withdrawal was nothing to worry about.
"Just cramp. Not cool, very embarrassing but I'll be fine for the next game," Farrelly said after the game. "We're not at the World Cup just yet so we just have to take the positives and learn from our mistakes and be ready for the bext game."
"We know the role that we all have to play. We all have a certain task and we all have to try and stay in our shape. France are so good, they're able to pull you apart. The moment's where we go scored on were the moments when we did get pulled apart.
"It was a great opponent to play to learn to be better."
'It's surreal’ – Sinead Farrelly on her first home game in a green jersey as Ireland depart for the World Cup on the back of a 3-0 defeat to France pic.twitter.com/Iy5N2nSli9
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 6, 2023
