Australia V Republic of Ireland - Thursday, 20 July 2023 - 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup

[gastric]

Sam Kerr out, good news for us!

[NeverFeltBetter]

That must have happened only yesterday maybe? If earlier they did a great job of keeping it quiet. Now, keep them from scoring early, frustrate the crowd and grow into the game.

[Diggs246]

So you're saying there's a chance

[gastric]

Always a chance!

[geysir]

Sam Kerr out, good news for us!

She's on the bench.

[JR89]

She's on the bench.

Probably just naming her on the bench for the sake of it since you can name the whole 23 man squad in match days now but official Twitter page for the team said she'll miss the first two matches.

[tetsujin1979]

Spun the match discussion into its own thread

[joey B]

Fair play to RTÉ for making a complete balls of it anyway….

[Diggs246]

Australia are better
But they are vulerable on the break
Very vulnerable

[tetsujin1979]

Thought that against France too, the defence was a little disorganised when the French got into their box

[gastric]

Kerr will miss the first two games with a calf injury.

[passinginterest]

Have to be pretty happy so far. Not giving up clear chances. Harassing the Aussies and frustrating them. Created a few opportunities on the break.

[joey B]

Ireland defended really well,nearly nothing going forward though but they’ll be happy enough going in level…

[osarusan]

Very solid at the back, one free header from a corner was all Australia produced, though Ford looks like she'll cause trouble. Their deliveries into the box have been poor.

One almost one-on-one with the keeper was all we created, but it's been very good.

The lack of shooting from distance really stands out.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Kerr is really badly missed by the Aussies so far, they can't get anything going from play really, just the header from a corner and that one distant effort. A 0-0 certainly possible. All the same, if Australia score it doesn't seem like Ireland are capable of doing the same.

[Yard of Pace]

Australia are better
But they are vulerable on the break
Very vulnerable


They don't have a McCabe. She's just so good and you can see she's revelling in playing in the biggest game possible. She's amazing.


Do all the folk still think we should have played on against Colombia, by the way??
O'Sullivan has been excellent. The rest have been top notch.

[gastric]

There is a Roy Keane feel about her. Hard as nails and from a family of 9 kids which might explain things!

[TonyD]

Ireland defended really well,nearly nothing going forward though but they’ll be happy enough going in level…

As you say have defended well, but they’re not great on the ball. Australia look more comfortable in possession, but haven’t troubled Ireland really.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Very silly foul for the penalty has handed this to Australia you'd think. Already looking far more open.

[tetsujin1979]

Sheva's pace being shown up a few times. Through ball from McCabe in the first half that she didn't reach, another just now

[nigel-harps1954]

Ireland responded fairly well to the goal. Two positive subs and we're having a go at them.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Have played very well last ten minutes alright, but no cutting edge at all

[tetsujin1979]

Substitutions definitely made a difference, but too late in the game IMO
Larkin has to start over Sheva against Canada

[joey B]

Had chances to level,the starting eleven has to be questioned with how they finished the game though….

[NeverFeltBetter]

Real sickner for them. But for the penalty it really didn't seem like Australia were capable of creating a goal, and then Ireland didn't really test the Aussies much with the possession they got in the last 20. Big decisions to be made on starting XI now, a few on the pitch didn't do enough really. Need to pick themselves up quickly and get something from Canada. You hate to see Sheva crying on the sideline before the game is even over.

[gastric]

Always frustrates me that McCabe doesn't start in midfield.

[joey B]

Looking back at the penalty its a complete brain fart from Sheva,Raso is one of the smaller players on their team and it wasnt going to get anywhere near her.....

[osarusan]

A bit frustrating that we spent so much time sitting back and soaking up pressure, as it turns out that when we had a go, they were pretty shaky defensively.

[tetsujin1979]

Australia played a similar game as they did against France. Kept Ireland away from the box, and took their chance when they had it.
They're facing Nigeria on Thursday, and could qualify for the second round with a win.

[Diggs246]

You just feel that with their best Player pulling out just before ko. that was the chance... But. It's wasn't to be I fear we won't have anything to play for v Nigeria

Hope Im wrong

[tetsujin1979]

Malachy Clerkin going in two footed in Marissa Sheva
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2023/07/20/ireland-were-doing-so-well-until-marissa-shevas-unforgivable-lapse-in-concentration/

[Stuttgart88]

I thought that was disgacefully OTT.

Canada v Nigeria didn't reveal much to be afraid of I thought, though I only saw short BBC highlights. Canada's keeper looks weak. Australia's keeper dealt very well with McCabe's corners but I reckon Katie will be targeting Canada's keeper.

[Predator]

Penalty aside, it felt like Ireland were comfortable in handling Australia and the Aussies were certainly on the ropes in the final 10 minutes. A real pity that an equaliser couldn't be found. Australia played more of the football overall though and Ireland's counter-attack play was sloppy - at one point McCabe was visibly irate with Carusa for her tardiness in releasing the ball. A thankless task playing as the lone striker in a game like that but I think Pauw should have made changes up top sooner, if only for fresh legs.

Australia were the hometown team and I think they managed to get away with on-the-edge play, with Gorry in particular showing a cuteness in her tackling. McCabe set the tone nicely for Ireland in that regard and our intensity in the tackle made a mockery of Colombian charges of Ireland being "little girls". Larkin showed signs that she is a real top-class player in the making. I wouldn't be surprised to see her start the next game.

[Fixer82]

Thought it was a soft penalty. Australian player felt the hand on the back and made the most of it.
Inexperience, or naïveté maybe, from Sheva to have the hands up of course but didn’t really see it as a push. More as a light hand on back and a dive

[pineapple stu]

Random fact - there's been eight games in the tournament so far, and every one has had a penalty.

[tetsujin1979]

Was wondering if any Irish player younger than Abbie Larkin had appeared at the World Cup, and it turns out she's the youngest by almost two years
1683061871602024449

[Bottle of Tonic]

Cannot multi quote but just on a couple of points made above on Sheva.

"Clerkin going in two footed"
"Disgracefully OTT"

Really? Reading the article it seems balanced and fair and tinged with genuine disappointment that a player mistake cost us. If the ladies game wants to move up a few notches closer to the men's in public perception you need to be able to make honest assessments in the media.

I read the rte.ie player ratings after the game and it was all glowing praise even for subs getting a few minutes. It smacked of "sure aren't they great girls altogether, mighty" .

Or even worse, a fear of criticising a mere woman. These are big girls, surely, to be playing at the level they are and you'd imagine they can take the scrutiny that accompanies the men's game and is part and parcel of it.

[Jd2793]

i cant understand the ire towards clerkin either. dont think the article is wrong at all. we'd all say the same on here if it was ogbene , coleman or cullen made that error. people do seem to b infantilising the womens team a bit i feel. they are well able, they are mostly pro athletes at the end of the day. sheva will know full well it was a stupid error .

[tetsujin1979]

Clerkin really targets Sheva with these comments

Stupid has no comeback though.
Stupid kills you every time.
The weakest link breaks the chain.
Sheva’s penalty concession was such a needless way to mess up all that good work.



I'm no fan of Sheva, but he hasn't described any other player in the game like that.

[pineapple stu]

Did any other player concede a needless penalty?

(It does seem a bit over the top for an article in fairness though)

[seanfhear]

Clerkin really targets Sheva with these comments


I'm no fan of Sheva, but he hasn't described any other player in the game like that.
Over the top = = After all, it's only a game.

[Supreme feet]

Did any other player concede a needless penalty?

(It does seem a bit over the top for an article in fairness though)

Yeah, it's over the top. She's an honest player who made a mistake in the heat of the moment. Think Shane Duffy in 2016. Let's not make her a pariah.

That article is as harsh as a blog I would have written in my twenties. 'Why Glenn Whelan's first touch is a damning indictment of the failure of the Irish psyche.'