2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

[swinfordfc]

Scotland or Austria away from home .... Could be better and could be worse ... Avoided Switzerland/Iceland/Belgium who are strong.

[tetsujin1979]

Austria finished behind England in qualifying, and won every game in the qualifiers, apart from two losses to England and a draw against the North

[Insidetherock]

Scotland or Austria away from home .... Could be better and could be worse ... Avoided Switzerland/Iceland/Belgium who are strong.

Tough one all right.. could have been better but I suppose being honest, all the teams left in the play offs were in and around each other in rankings, so the best we could have hoped for was a home draw.. and didn't get it

Austria ranked 12th in Europe, Scotland ranked 14th.. we're ranked 16th

Belgium could conceivably beat Iceland (should they face them) in one of the other play offs, so that would give us a path straight to the finals should we win

Huge, huge game all right

[Insidetherock]

Austria finished behind England in qualifying, and won every game in the qualifiers, apart from two losses to England and a draw against the North

It is kind of hard to judge in womens football though, certainly harder than in the male equivalant

In the games that mattered i.e. between the top 3 teams in each group

Austria's record - played 4 w 1 d 1 l 2

Ireland's record - played 4 w 2 d 1 l 1

Austria gave up goals to N Ireland in both games (1 at home, 2 in Belfast)

It's going to be tough.. but its WC qualification, it was always going to be tough

Maybe this might prove 1 tournament too soon.. but we're definitely there and thereabouts for the next Euro's.. any qualification for a major finals would have been huge (missing out on England was a real loss )

[tetsujin1979]

It is kind of hard to judge in womens football though, certainly harder than in the male equivalant

In the games that mattered i.e. between the top 3 teams in each group

Austria's record - played 4 w 1 d 1 l 2

Ireland's record - played 4 w 2 d 1 l 1

Austria gave up goals to N Ireland in both games (1 at home, 2 in Belfast)

It's going to be tough.. but its WC qualification, it was always going to be tough

Maybe this might prove 1 tournament too soon.. but we're definitely there and thereabouts for the next Euro's.. any qualification for a major finals would have been huge (missing out on England was a real loss )
they really should have lost in Belfast, only equalised in the last minute
https://www.uefa.com/womensworldcup/match/2032363/

[tetsujin1979]

Scotland had a similar record in qualifying to Austria, won every game except for the two against group winners Spain, and a draw against third placed Ukraine, who were leading in that game until a last minute equaliser from Scotland
https://www.uefa.com/womensworldcup/match/2032323

[Insidetherock]

There'd not a lot between any of the three teams I'd say

[geysir]

It's not the quality of the opposition that's the import here but that it's an away fixture. IMO such a game, a final play-off for a world cup finals should either be 2 legged or played at a neutral venue. The strong advantage should not be given to one team by a virtual toss of a coin, I think that's insulting to the ethics of sport considering the prize, the highest on offer.
Regardless, for numerous reasons I'd be hoping that Scotland can scrape a win v Austria.

[gastric]

Frankly, it's b..LS..t!

[Insidetherock]

Scotland v Austria tonight..

[Insidetherock]

Portugal beat Belgium tonight to move to a home game v Iceland

[tetsujin1979]

Scotland v Austria tonight.. into extra time, possibly penalties.
Is that good or bad for the second round against Ireland?

[Insidetherock]

into extra time, possibly penalties.
Is that good or bad for the second round against Ireland?

Scots 1 up..

[Insidetherock]

Scotland it is... hopefully Veras knowledge of the Scots will pay off

[Insidetherock]

Biggest game in Irish football is on tonight..

The women qualifying for the World Cup would be huge for the womens game here, and bring a huge amount of publicity to the FAI and game in general in Ireland

[tetsujin1979]

RTE always deliver amazing promo packages for nights like this
1579860220301479939

[Insidetherock]

Both other games currently 1-1 with 15 mins left to play.. vert surprised UEFA didn't start all three together

On the upside, both Ireland and Scotland will know exactly what they're playing for by half time

[Insidetherock]

Iceland also down to 10 women since the 59th minute

[Insidetherock]

Switzerland battering Wales on possession stats.. 76/24.. but finishes 1-1.. heading to extra time

[Insidetherock]

Portugal 2-1 up...

[Insidetherock]

Courtney Brosnan saves brilliantly from the penalty spot

Delighted for her.. a bad mistake by Courtney in the game v Ukraine probably cost Ireland a spot in the Euros in England.. hopefully that'll prove decisive by the end

[Insidetherock]

Portugal 3-1 up.. If Ireland win in normal or extra time they go through

[passinginterest]

Since the penalty Ireland had by far the better chances. Once they started getting McCabe on the ball more they had the Scots in trouble. The long throw is absolutely lethal, just unlucky not to get a slight touch on the one that went in direct.

[Insidetherock]

Mad seeing one of the Irish players letting a ball roll out for a throw, when there was plenty time to take it on and whip a cross into the box..

The long throw is lethal...

[geysir]

Brilliant pass and goal.

[passinginterest]

What a finish from Barrett. Probably backs to the wall now. Pauw is a very negative coach. Hopefully they can hold on and maybe get another on the break.

[Metrostars]

Brilliant! Hang on for another 20 or so minutes. What a save right there from Brosnan

[Insidetherock]

Will someone please kick the crap out of Hamiliton.. he thinks a draw here puts Ireland through to a play off.. they still have to wi

But go on Ireland.. nerves shredded here

[culloty82]

What a finish from Barrett. Probably backs to the wall now. Pauw is a very negative coach. Hopefully they can hold on and maybe get another on the break.

TBF, she did bring Barrett on when the lazy option would have been to shore up midfield ...

[passinginterest]

TBF, she did bring Barrett on when the lazy option would have been to shore up midfield ...

Going 5-5-0 when it was still 0-0 would have taken the negativity to a whole new level!

[geysir]

Pauw is one of the best ever Irish coaches (any sex), the progress this team has made under her tutelage is outstanding.

[passinginterest]

Pauw is one of the best ever Irish coaches (any sex), the progress this team has made under her tutelage is outstanding.

I think she's been very lucky to have arrived with a crop of players way better than any we've had before. I don't rate her coaching at all. The mess made of the last Euro campaign lingers.

Absolutely delighted to see them qualify for the world cup though! Brilliant for football in Ireland.

[Metrostars]

They've done it!

[geysir]

I think she's been very lucky to have arrived with a crop of players way better than any we've had before. I don't rate her coaching at all. The mess made of the last Euro campaign lingers.

Absolutely delighted to see them qualify for the world cup though! Brilliant for football in Ireland.

Bull, the team she inherited were bottom or at best, middle 3rd seed pot in Europe. Now the only team to win away in all the WC playoffs.

[zero]

brilliant stuff. congratulations to all involved.

[gastric]

brilliant stuff. congratulations to all involved.

Ditto! We didn't play as well as we can, but we win again. I think that's 7 in 8 now. I hope we are based in Oz for the WC, will definitely get to some of the games.

[Metrostars]

From Gary McKay to Amber Barrett....Hampden Park sure has been a place where historic breakthroughs for Irish football have happened

[Diggs246]

Well done girls great achievement

[Insidetherock]

From Gary McKay to Amber Barrett....Hampden Park sure has been a place where historic breakthroughs for Irish football have happened

Gary Mc Kay scored in Bulgaria

[geysir]

From Gary McKay to Amber Barrett....Hampden Park sure has been a place where historic breakthroughs for Irish football have happened
Ahem, you might want to revisit the Gary McKay bit , but Mark Lawrenson did score a vital winner v Scotland at Hampden.

[backstothewall]

We've qualified for the World Cup. Go in and compete!

[nigel-harps1954]

Hard not to get emotional watching those interviews post match. Magnificent.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Great day to be Irish. May not be exciting to watch but it's all about getting results and qualifying for major tournaments. Other teams will be sitting at home and their pretty football won't be much consolation to them. The women will have a great time in Australia or New Zealand and may even suprise some people.

[paul_oshea]

Is there anyone questioning the Irish women's team style of play or saying things like I'd rather we didn't qualify than to serve up that dross?

No I didn't think so either.

Well done to the girls and hopefully they'll get a good following from the expats in aus if they are drawn there.

[gastric]

Thanks Paul for your positive input!:) Pauw has the team play to its strengths and that is good enough for me. Just like with Big Jack.

[seanfhear]

Saw some hight-lights ~ Good goalkeeping from the Irish Keeper ~ Good goal, nice finish ~ Great long throw weapon from the Irish side ~ The high-lights were entertaining anyway ~ Congratulations to the Irish Womens Team.

[tetsujin1979]

Draw isn't too far away either - Sunday, 22nd October

[Diggs246]

look at these idiots

IRA chant Ireland v Scotland: ‘There can be no excuse’ – Vera Pauw apologises after Ireland players sing IRA chant in post-match celebration - Independent.ie (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/womens-world-cup/there-can-be-no-excuse-vera-pauw-apologises-after-ireland-players-sing-ira-chant-in-post-match-celebration-42060513.html)

[Insidetherock]

look at these idiots

IRA chant Ireland v Scotland: ‘There can be no excuse’ – Vera Pauw apologises after Ireland players sing IRA chant in post-match celebration - Independent.ie (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/womens-world-cup/there-can-be-no-excuse-vera-pauw-apologises-after-ireland-players-sing-ira-chant-in-post-match-celebration-42060513.html)

Idiots my backside.. team is celebrating.. delighted for them

[jbyrne]

Idiots my backside.. team is celebrating.. delighted for them

exactly what place does chanting the name of a terrorist organization have in celebrating a sporting achievement?

given all the tributes and dedications that were made around last nights match to the victims of last weeks tragedy their chant is sadly ironic given what those they are chanting about did to hundreds of innocent civilians.

mentioned as role models for others in this mornings radio reports...... this action badly betrays those sentiments imo.

was delighted at last nights achievement but this action is a very poor reflection I am afraid.