skip to main content

Classy England prevail but Julie-Ann Russell goal lifts belief

Updated / Friday, 12 Jul 2024 22:47
Georgia Stanway slots home a penalty
Georgia Stanway slots home a penalty

The Republic of Ireland fell to a 2-1 Euro 2025 qualifier loss against England at Carrow Road, but Julie-Ann Russell's late consolation goal may be the grain of rice that tips the scales in their favour when the play-offs come around in the autumn.

The Lionesses were a class apart for most of this contest at Carrow Road.

Alessia Russo's brilliantly made fifth-minute opener did not satisfy their appetite to attack Ireland with a relentless ferocity.

Ireland eventually settled down and were looking much more comfortable until Niamh Fahey's error led to a penalty that Georgia Stanway converted three minutes before the hour mark.

Game over. And yet a 92nd-minute volley from the excellent Russell was a shot in the arm that could lead Ireland to the promised land. Finally they have a goal to their name in this campaign. More importantly, it helps their overall ranking points, which determine who will be seeded for the play-offs in the autumn/winter time.

The draw for those play-offs takes place next week, but before that Ireland take on France at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh where they will look to pinch something off a team that's already booked their ticket to next year's tournament in Switzerland.

Missing the suspended Katie McCabe, plus the injured Heather Payne and Kyra Carusa, this was always going to be a big ask.

England started like a rocket, their tenacity soundtracked by a partisan crowd belting out 'Football's coming home'.

The natives expected a win to set the tone for the men's Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday, and the first 20 minutes provided ample evidence that they were in for a good night.

Right from the off Ireland's 3-5-2 approach looked ill equipped to nullify an elite team so capable of playing around a press. It took just five minutes for England to break the deadlock.

A three-player Irish midfield was left chasing shadows by razor-sharp build-up. One and two-touch passing had the Girls in Green seeing stars before the sucker-punch came: Georgia Stanway found Beth Mead, who laid off a sublime first-time reverse pass that allowed Russo to skate around Brosnan and fire it home.

Elite play by an elite side.

Sarina Wiegman's charges looked hellbent on wrapping up victory quickly as they bombarded their opponents' goal. Amber Barrett did fizz a decent effort into Hannah Hampton's midriff, but the waves of English attacks kept coming. Ireland were all at sea.

The hosts' cast of attacking talent took turns at punching holes in Ireland's defence. Beth Mead's curler was deflected over; Russo forced Brosnan into a sprawling parry; then Jess Carter lashed one into the keeper's arms.

Ireland could have been five down by 16 minutes. Only Brosnan spared their blushes, denying Mead again with another excellent low block after the Arsenal star was picked out in the box.

Gleeson needed to make a change. A subtle move (Fahey swapped with Caitlin Hayes to go into the heart of the three-player central defence) helped her team to get some control. The veteran Galwegian brought order to a back line that had been shambolically panicked, and though the English continued to threaten, attacks became less frequent.

Irish passes found Irish feet. Confidence grew.

Carrow Road, which had been boisterously upbeat, went a little flat as England were forced to settle for just a one-goal lead at half-time.

Gleeson topped up the energy levels with a double substitution at the break: Russell and Leanne Kiernan came on for Barrett and Emily Murphy.

Russell, winning her first cap in four years, was like a coiled spring, hunting down English defenders with aggressive purpose. It helped Ireland to get higher up the pitch, putting the Lionesses on the back foot. The pacey Kiernan was sprightly too on the right wing.

How frustrating it was then to see Ireland giftwrap a second goal for their hosts in the 57th minute when a passage of overplaying at the back culminated in Fahey being robbed of possession by Hemp, and then dragging the Manchester City player down in the box.

Penalty kick. Stanway stepped up to send Brosnan the wrong way and kill off any realistic hope Ireland had of nicking a point.

The game sagged thereafter save for the occasional passage of slick English passing that raised the excitement levels.

Megan Campbell's introduction for the last 20 minutes again gave Ireland another dimension. Earlier this week Wiegman had expressed her concern about the Drogheda woman's massive throw - and she did get an opportunity to launch it with seven minutes to play. England comfortably diffused the missile.

Before that O'Sullivan lashed in a low effort that Alex Greenwood blocked; at the other end Chloe Kelly's volley spooned inches past the post.

That seemed to be that, but right at the death, Russell had a moment to remember when a Campbell throw caused confusion in the box and the Galway United woman swivelled on a dropping ball to claim a consolation. It was a sweet moment that she celebrated with gusto; and it may have a significance that we'll only be able to fully appreciate in time.

Ireland welcome France to Cork on Tuesday for their final match of a tough campaign before all focus turns to the play-offs, which begin with a two-legged semi-final in October.

This performance was far from perfect. But there were positives to take into the final qualifier, Russell chief among them.

England: Hannah Hampton; Maya Le Tissier, Leah Williamson (Millie Bright HT), Jess Carter (Niamh Charles HT), Alex Greenwood; Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh, Jess Park; Alessia Russo (Jessica Naz 72), Lauren Hemp (Agnes Beever-Jones 88), Beth Mead (Chloe Kelly 61)

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Jess Ziu, Caitlin Hayes, Niamh Fahey (Louise Quinn) 88, Anna Patten, Aoife Mannion; Ruesha Littlejohn (Megan Campbell 67), Lily Agg, Denise O'Sullivan; Emily Murphy (Julie-Ann Russell HT), Amber Barrett (Leanne Kiernan HT)

Referee: Catarina Campos (Portugal)

More stories on

Read Next