UK (commonwealth) _ Eileen Gleeson’s squad was guaranteed a place in Friday’s Euro 2025 playoff draw thanks to the Republic of Ireland’s 3-1 victory against France on Tuesday night in Cork.
There is still a long way to go before one may qualify for the competition in Switzerland next summer. In the first-round playoff, which takes place over two legs between October 23 and 29, Ireland will play one of the following teams: Albania, Belarus, Georgia, Greece, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Romania, or Slovenia.
Win over the Nations League C team (Gleeson’s team had just been demoted from league A); a two-leg playoff final would then take place on November 22 and December 3.
This may result in a rekindling of interest in Scotland. Ireland qualified for their first World Cup in Australia last year thanks to a goal by Amber Barrett at Hampden Park in late 2022. Alternatively, they might play Wales, who recently defeated them 2-0 in Tallaght in February.
A squad captained by Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan would not be intimidated by Scotland or Wales, but Portugal, who are rated 21st in the world—four spots ahead of Ireland—should be avoided.
Even though their coach Hervé Renard made 11 changes to the starting lineup, the victory over France nevertheless came at a crucial time. Ireland had lost its first five games and was placed in a group that included England, Sweden, and France—three of the best teams on the continent.
Their first goal of the season did not come until the 94th minute of last Friday’s 2-1 loss at Carrow Road against European champions England in game five. After O’Sullivan broke the tie in the 67th minute, Julie-Ann Russell added her second goal against the French.
The brilliant center half for Aston Villa, Anna Patten, was born in England. In injury time, she headed the third goal off a corner from Megan Connolly. In eight games, it was Ireland’s first victory of 2024.
The fact that we can now defeat anyone and advance to Switzerland the next season—which is truly the aim—makes it a fantastic springboard for us as we enter the postseason, according to Patten. We’re excited to be planted and believe we’re prepared to meet people when we arrive.
“It seems like the players and crew do a great job of isolating the noise when we enter this setting. Everything revolves around ourselves and what we are capable of. We were aware that every game had chances. With the exception of that one game against Sweden [a 3-0 loss at the Aviva Stadium], which we were largely unhappy with, we weren’t giving up a lot of goals.
However, they are elite teams, and these were close games. We had a deep inner knowing that the objectives would materialize. We’ll take it into the playoffs now that it was four in the end.
After a demanding summer schedule consisting of four matches, Gleeson and her management have decided to take a well-earned breather and will not be traveling to Switzerland for Friday’s draw.
We’ve been front-loaded with these games, let’s be quite clear, Gleeson remarked. “The camps are excellent, but the girls and the staff were overworked and underprepared. In terms of preparedness, preseasons, and off-seasons, this timeframe presented significant challenges.
We’re content to take a brief nap. Now is a good time to organize and settle down once more. All I’m going to do is lay down for roughly three days. The girls had an amazing night in Cork, and I’m thrilled for them.
France, who had already qualified but still wanted to finish ahead of England, made eleven changes for the match and thereafter appeared uncoordinated. The home team applied intense pressure early on in the match, and it nearly paid off when Russell attempted to punish a heavy touch made by French goalkeeper Constance Picaud.
Russell nearly had a ball threaded into his path by O’Sullivan, who was always trying to find a spark in the center, but Russell was unable to handle the pass.
France would settle in and see more of the ball after the Republic of Ireland’s impressive start, but Courtney Brosnan would still have very little to do in goal. Herve Renard’s team did, in fact, mostly rely on long-range efforts and lacked finishing precision.
