It appears that the lasses may have neglected to request their mothers to ignite candles, for if they had done so, we would not have been allotted this group. Blimey! Always destined to be a significant ascend for us, League of Nations A would serve as a reality jolt. However, ending up in a draw with France, England, and Sweden, who are ranked as the third, fourth, and fifth leading nations globally, feels like being in the direct path of a bullet’s trajectory.
Interestingly, I burst into laughter when Swiss goalkeeper Gaëlle Thalmann expressed regret for having started our grim journey by pulling our ball from the pot during The Group of Death draw. Such a challenging draw was beyond conceivable. Upon catching such cruel fortune, nervous laughter is all one can muster.
Following a League of Nations B campaign that breathed fresh energy into this team from Ireland, lesser formidable competition permitted them to adopt a more daring, offensive style of play. However, now it’s time to return to the familiar role of the underdog.
Our intention was to step away from this mentality, hoping to take a more proactive approach to our games. The saying goes, we are where we are. Despite our eagerness to shrug off the underdog image, we have flourished under it and will need to continue to do so in order to survive in this group.
Out of sheer necessity, we will revert to a more defensive strategy for this campaign. The reason being that we are, indubitably, a rung below our three rivals. It is in our best interest to return to the tactics that made us successful during the journey to the World Cup. Undoubtedly, playing against France, England, and Sweden calls for a cautious approach. Anything less is an open invitation to a staggering defeat.
Intimidating, without a shadow of doubt. However, expectations around the team are tempered because of the draw, alleviating the burden of pressure. It’s plausible we might gain a point or two during the games, but a major breakthrough would be a massive surprise.
The perception following the World Cup was that once you qualify, it becomes a regular occurrence. Nevertheless, this team is still in a phase of growth with multiple young players getting accustomed to the level of play, it will require time to gel together. This progress will not occur in time for this campaign.
France’s performance in football is unpredictable, but when in form, they’re an extraordinary sight on the pitch. Over recent years, England, our European champion and World Cup runner up, has established itself as a dominant force, boasting the world’s most robust league. Additionally, despite discussions questioning Sweden’s potency, their impressive outing at the World Cup, with only a 2-1 defeat against victorious Spain in the semi-finals, proves otherwise.
The synergy between these three teams in our pool is bound to ignite intriguing dynamics. Not only are we dubbing this a ‘Group of Death,’ but they’re likely mulling over the same sentiment, with the draw likely not being ideal for them either.
There’s a potential for complacency when they face us, however, it’s unlikely as all teams have something to prove – France strives for continuous improvement, Sweden yearns for regaining its top spot, and England intends to maintain its rank as Europe’s beacon.
Denise O’Sullivan’s reaction to the draw tweet: “We wanted to be here. Now we are. Let’s go for it.” speaks volumes about her elite mindset. Drawing upon this mentality throughout the team, we should be thrilled about the opportunity to play against such nations, rather than succumbing to fear. Savour the challenge, don’t be overwhelmed by it.
We’ve worked tirelessly over the years to compete at this level. While we acknowledge that we may not yet be ready to deliver winning results, we are confident that we can deliver a competitive performance. Eventually, I’m optimistic that we’ll secure a place in Euro 2025 through the playoffs, the group stage experience against high-quality opponents will be invaluable.
This unique opportunity doesn’t come with any risk and will serve as excellent preparation for the playoffs. It’s going to be a fantastic learning journey for our players. The ripple effect of this event on the national women’s football scene, coupled with the anticipated surge in spectatorship, will go far beyond what unfolds on the field.
Perhaps one could argue the merits of facing off with teams like France, England and Sweden on the intensely charged battlefield that is Tallaght, where the tightly packed field and antagonistic ambiance might unsettle our opponents. However, on considering the wider implications of fostering growth in women’s football, Aviva emerges as the prime venue, particularly for the upcoming clash with England. We are anticipating monumental events, the likes of which have not been seen before. As Denise stated, it signifies an aspiration we seek to fulfil.
Whilst we are making strides as a football-loving nation, we still have a significant journey ahead. The root of the problem extends beyond the national team, to the fundamental layers of grassroots-level nurturing, in which we find ourselves lagging at least a decade behind England.
However, the contribution that our Irish team has made over recent years towards elevating the sport is commendable. This match series, though, poses a significant challenge in terms of assessing their current state. We are already aware that we do not match up to the standards set by France, England and Sweden as yet. Our team find themselves in the familiar position of the underdogs, and conversely, we hope they can once again thrive under this label. Resorting to desperate measures like lighting candles is redundant, thanks to Gaëlle Thalmann’s intervention.