FAI: PREVIEW | WNT v Zambia

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The Thursday night encounter – which will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 – is the penultimate game for Vera Pauw’s on home soil before they depart for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
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MATCH DETAILS
International Friendly
Ireland v Zambia
Thursday, June 22
Tallaght Stadium
KO 19:30
LIVE on RTÉ2
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MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Caroline Lanssens (Belgium)
Assistant Referee: Irmgard van Meirvenne (Belgium)
Assistant Referee: Melissa Leiear (Belgium)
Fourth Official: Jana van Laere (Belgium)
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TEAM NEWS
Isibeal Atkinson comes into the squad, while Megan Campbell will not be involved as she continues with her return to play periodisation plan.
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MANAGER QUOTES – Vera Pauw
“This will be our first home game in nine months, so we are looking forward to playing in front of our amazing fans again. All of the tickets are sold out so we would encourage everyone to turn up to Tallaght Stadium to cheer on the team in what is an important game for our preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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“We started our training camp on June 12 with a very detailed programme for our players to ensure their safety on returning to play from club action and holidays. Now, we must use this game to rise up to the challenge of one of Africa’s best teams.
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“The reason we chose to play against Zambia is because we have Nigeria in our World Cup Group so we must be ready for that type of opponent. This game also adds to our preparation plan for the tournament and gives us an opportunity for players to get back onto the pitch again.”
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NOTES

• This will be the first meeting of the two nations at Senior Women’s level
• Zambia are just the third African opponent that Ireland WNT will have faced following on from games against South Africa (Cyprus Cup) and Morocco (International Friendly)
• There are 55 places between the two games in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings as Ireland are in 22nd place while Zambia are in 77th
• Zambia, just like Ireland, will be making their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut this summer
• This game will be Vera Pauw’s 30th in charge of Ireland, since her appointment in September 2019
• This will be the first game included in the WNT Season Ticket Package, which was sold to over 1,200 fans

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IRELAND WNT SQUAD
Goalkeepers:*Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes)
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Defenders:*Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Áine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Claire O’Riordan (Celtic), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Tara O'Hanlon (Peamount United)
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Midfielders:*Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham United), Erin McLaughlin (Peamount United)
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Forwards:*Heather Payne (Florida State University), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers), Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Amber Barrett (Potsdam Turbine), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC)
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IRELAND WNT PLAYER STATS
Goalkeepers
Courtney Brosnan | DOB 10/11/1995 | 21 caps / 10 clean sheets | Debut vs Montenegro 11/03/2020
Megan Walsh | DOB 12/11/1994 | 1 cap / 0 clean sheets | Debut vs Russia 19/02/2022
Grace Moloney | DOB 01/03/1993 | 6 caps / 1 clean sheet | Debut vs Austria 02/03/2016
Sophie Whitehouse | DOB 10/10/1996 | 0 caps / 0 clean sheets
Defenders
Harriet Scott | DOB 10/02/1993 | 23 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Czech Republic 01/03/2017
Niamh Fahey | DOB 13/10/1987 | 106 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs Portugal 07/03/2007
Diane Caldwell | DOB 11/09/1988 | 95 caps / 4 goals | Debut vs Denmark 15/03/2006
Louise Quinn | DOB 17/06/1990 | 103 caps / 15 goals | Debut vs Poland 02/02/2008
Hayley Nolan | DOB 07/03/1997 | 3 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Belgium 11/04/2021
Claire O'Riordan | DOB 12/10/1994 | 17 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Hungary 07/03/2016
Megan Campbell | DOB 28/06/1993 | 47 caps / 4 goals | Debut vs Switzerland 24/08/2011
Chloe Mustaki | DOB 29/07/1995 | 5 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Russia 19/02/2022
Áine O’Gorman | DOB 13/05/1989 | 117 caps / 13 goals | Debut vs Denmark 15/03/2006
Tara O'Hanlon | DOB 14/03/2005 | 2 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs USA 08/04/2023
Midfielders
Katie McCabe | DOB 21/09/1995 | 72 caps / 20 goals | Debut vs Hungary 04/03/2015
Denise O’Sullivan | DOB | 101 caps / 18 goals | Debut vs Wales 17/09/2011
Megan Connolly | DOB 07/03/1997 | 38 caps / 4 goals | Debut vs USA 23/02/2016
Ruesha Littlejohn | DOB 03/07/1990 | 70 caps / 6 goals | Debut vs Hungary 07/03/2012
Jamie Finn | DOB 21/04/1998 | 15 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Greece 12/11/2019
Lucy Quinn | DOB 29/09/1993 | 13 caps / 3 goals | Debut vs Australia 21/09/2021
Ciara Grant | DOB 11/06/1993 | 17 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs USA 28/11/2012
Lily Agg | DOB 17/12/1993 | 7 caps / 2 goals | Debut vs Philippines 19/06/2022
Sinead Farrelly | DOB 11/06/1989 | 1 cap / 0 goals | Debut vs USA 08/04/2023
Isibeal Atkinson | DOB 17/07/2001 | 4 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Portugal 21/01/2018
Erin McLaughlin | DOB 09/03/2003 | 0 caps / 0 goals
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Forwards
Amber Barrett | DOB 16/01/1996 | 35 caps / 5 goals | Debut vs Wales 20/08/2016
Abbie Larkin | DOB 27/04/2005 | 6 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs Russia 19/02/2022
Heather Payne | DOB 26/01/2000 | 33 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs Scotland 07/07/2017
Kyra Carusa | DOB 14/11/1995 | 11 caps / 2 goals | Debut vs Montenegro 11/03/2020
Leanne Kiernan | DOB 27/04/1999 | 27 caps / 5 goals | Debut vs Wales 20/08/2016
Saoirse Noonan | DOB 13/07/1999 | 3 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs Wales 21/08/2016
Marissa Sheva | DOB 22/04/1997 | 3 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs China PR 22/02/2023



Ireland Category:
Senior Women


Choose Site:
Ireland


Match Preview / Report:
Match Preview


Match ID:
Republic of Ireland - Zambia | 2023 - Senior Women's Friendlies | 999948616


Introduction:
All tickets are sold out for the return of the Ireland Women’s National Team to Tallaght Stadium to take on Zambia in an International Friendly.




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