UEFA Women's Nations League play-off first leg
Friday, 24 October
Republic of Ireland v Belgium, Aviva Stadium, 7pm
TV
Watch live coverage from 6.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Listen to live commentary on an extended Game On on RTÉ2 fm.
ONLINE
Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport.
WEATHER
Showers gradually easing during the morning, with some sunny spells developing in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees with moderate to fresh westerly winds becoming northerly by afternoon.
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
IRELAND AIMING TO REJOIN THE BIG LEAGUES
Last year, Ireland got a taste of what life is like in the rarefied air of League A during the qualification campaign for Euro 2025.
During Eileen Gleeson's tenure, the Girls in Green had got there after gaining automatic promotion from League B in the 2023-24 edition of the Nations League.
Automatic relegation ensued and the Nations League group campaign earlier this year saw Carla Ward's side miss out on automatic promotion with second place behind Slovenia instead securing a promotion/relegation play-off.
All of which brings us these coming days where Ireland will hope to upset Belgium over two legs and get back into the top tier League A in time for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers.
Being in League A would, on paper, offer a slightly easier path towards the final round of World Cup qualification play-offs, which take place in the latter part of next year in comparison to remaining in League B.
BELGIUM HAVE BIG TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
Ireland will be underdogs against the Belgians however. The Red Flames are a seasoned team with recent big tournament experience.
While they did not emerge from their group at this summer's Euros in Switzerland - their third consecutive appearance at the continental championships - Elisabet Gunnarsdottir's side were in a very difficult group including tournament runners-up and reigning world champions Spain as well as Italy and Portugal.
A narrow defeat to the Italians and a 6-2 defeat to Spain put paid to their hopes but their last competitive fixture saw them beat Portugal 2-1.
Their record goalscorer Tessa Wullaert scored the opener in that latter match in Sion, and with more than 90 international goals to her name, the Inter Milan striker will certainly be on Ireland's radar as the main danger woman.
IRELAND'S GOALKEEPING WORRIES
Wullaert will be keen to test Ireland defensively and Ward's side will be without the experienced Courtney Brosnan in goal.
The Everton shot-stopper has been the out-and-out number one for Ireland for the past five years, playing in almost every game under successive managers.
But the 29-year-old is out injured for these two legs against the Belgians and that leaves a real void for Ireland. Of the three goalkeepers called up by Ward for this play-off, there are only seven caps between them - all of which have been accrued by Sunderland's Grace Moloney - with Charlton Athletic's Sophie Whitehouse and Leicester City teenager Katie Keane uncapped.
TO PARK THE BUS OR NOT PARK THE BUS?
Consequently, Ireland would have even more of a temptation to play more conservatively, especially with the aim of still being in the tie by the time the second leg in Leuven rolls around next Tuesday.
Former international Méabh De Búrca feels a more reactive approach would be best, telling this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast that: "If we can just stay in the tie in the home leg on Friday, then just take it to them then when you get over to Belgium.
"I think a back three just suits the quality of the players that we have and the strength in depth in those areas.
"The likes of Katie McCabe can play as a wing-back and push on. For me, being more defensive against a team higher ranked is a smarter, more prudent approach."
For her part, Ireland manager Ward has indicated that she's not planning for her team to sit back and is trusting her squad to impose themselves on the game where possible at Aviva Stadium.
"We've got an abundance of quality within our ranks," she said.
"So, we have to believe, we have to be confident, we have to be assured that we can go and play with the ball because I do believe that and I think these guys do as well. So, yeah, we won't be looking to just park the bus, so to speak."
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (Sunderland), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Katie Keane (Leicester City)
Defenders: Heather Payne (Leicester City), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Jessie Stapleton (Nottingham Forest – on loan), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest), Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Izzy Atkinson (Sunderland)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jamie Finn (Sunderland), Tyler Toland (Durham), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Jess Ziu (Bristol City – on loan from West Ham), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic)
Watch Republic of Ireland v Belgium in the UEFA Women's Nations League play-offs on Friday from 6.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live radio commentary on an extended Game On with 2fm
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