If team enthusiasm during national anthems were rewarded with bonus points, no doubt Ireland would have had their first score on Friday evening, well before their match against Sweden commenced at the Aviva Stadium. However, games are won on the field, not off it, particularly when confronting a team like Sweden, the world’s sixth best.
Friday’s match signified Ireland’s attempt to compete at an elevated level of international football. Previous qualifying games against France, ranked third worldwide, and against England, the number two team, were ambitious to say the least. Hence, compared to them, Sweden, despite their accomplishment of reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup last summer, seemed a more achievable challenge.
Nonetheless, fewer spectators than expected by the FAI showed up, 22,000 instead of the predicted 30,000. Still, they arrived with high hopes of witnessing the Irish squad best a formidable adversary. Although they didn’t achieve this in the end, they certainly got close in the prime moments of the game.
The team selection was an unexpected surprise for many. Spectators admire the bravery of those trying to predict Eileen Gleeson’s player choices, which can be as unpredictable as the British weather. Denise O’Sullivan was absent due to a knee injury, and the absence of Ruesha Littlejohn was also noted. Those predicting starters Amber Barrett and Lily Agg would fool even the shrewdest observer.
Katie McCabe had revived herself after playing a full 90 minutes for Arsenal in Melbourne the week prior. This signifies the extent of the sacrifices players make for their sport, especially amidst an ACL injury surge.
Marie Crowe was the host at Aviva, joined by Lisa Fallon and Stephanie Roche. All shared a degree of optimism built on memories from not so long ago when Ireland held Sweden to a draw in Gothenburg.
From the commencement, George Hamilton was pining for Roy Keane’s fierce tactics against Marc Overmars from over two decades ago, when Agg was a hair’s breadth away from barrelling into Fridolina Rolfö, a two-time Champions League winner, with a rather audacious attempt. George mused that Aine O’Gorman, a mere adolescent at the time of Roy’s intense play, likely wouldn’t recall it.
With an unabashed audacity, Ireland introduced themselves to their revered adversaries, to the stark delight of O’Gorman. They should’ve had the lead, yet Agg’s failure to capitalise on Barrett’s centre is a mystery that might never unravel. Similarly, Barrett’s inability to steer Jess Ziu’s delectable cross home has left many baffled. With her recent scoring spree for Standard Liege, one would think she would exchange all 19 goals for the satisfaction of watching that header find the back of the net.
However, Sweden simply continued in their familiar rhythm. They scored. The interim half-time shower from the Aviva sprinklers was punctuated by lamentations over squandered opportunities that could’ve altered the narrative of the first half dramatically. But the script saw no deviation in the second half. Sweden notched up more goals, cruising comfortably at 3-0.
Ireland had swept through their Nations League run last year, trouncing Albania, Hungary, and Northern Ireland. But the escalation in the level has been staggering. They’re earnestly battling, yet they are nowhere near making inroads.
It’s been five consecutive games without a goal now, with Caitlin Hayes’ late strike against Northern Ireland in December being their latest cheer. This harsh reality check is a jarring experience for a side bristling with ambition following a couple of years of success.
Yet, they remain substantially distanced from powerhouses like England, France, and Sweden. There’s no disgrace in this gap, as these teams parade a remarkable depth of skill and consistently churn out fresh talent. Ireland, for now, can only gaze on with admiration and aspiration.
The post-match comments from Gleeson conveyed our disappointment. “In retrospect, we should have netted twice before halftime,” he voiced amidst the frustration. “Our precision needs work. We are up against some of the best in the field, improvement is non-negotiable. We return to the pitch on Tuesday.” Nevertheless, suffering a 3-0 loss on home turf is far from ideal. Review: we must elevate our performance, regardless of the formidable rivals we face.