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qualifier against Sweden later will be on RTE Player internationally for all the forummers based outside Ireland
It's a bit of a gimme, in that Sweden are expected to win and qualify, but a loss won't affect us too much with qualification still very much in our own hands
BTW has anyone read the layout for the play offs? It's a mess
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_F...UEFA_play-offs
The playoffs make reasonable sense until you get to the bit where they rank the winning playoff teams, which is absolutely nuts. So you come second in your group, win your two playoff matches but still don't qualify because you drew with Slovakia or someone a year earlier - that's crazy.
The only thing is that, with the huge differences in standards that exist in women's football, there must be a reasonable chance that the inter continental playoff you'd then go into would be against some absolute no hoper from another continent, so you might qualify easily anyway.
Overall from an Irish point of view though, qualification looks extremely difficult here. Even if they get second in the group they still need to win two playoff games, most likely against higher ranked teams, and maybe an inter continental playoff as well. Big ask for them to qualify.
But yet we'll no doubt see countries from other parts of the world have much easier qualification paths and then get 13-0 type beatings in the finals, as happened in 2019.
EDIT: Just looked at the inter continental playoff format as well and that's a complete mess too - groups of three, groups of four etc.
There's got to be a better way...
Turned it on just in time to see them take the lead. Massive deflection on a McCabe shot. Get the impression it was all Sweden up to that point. Would be an incredible result if they can keep the clean sheet in the second half.
1-0 up at half time! Katie McCabe with a deflected shot. Sweden should have scored though, one glaring chance that came back off the underside of the crossbar
Hon the women.. mighty performance so far.. remember they kept them scoreless in the second half in Tallaght too
Realistically you'd still back Sweden to win, but have to give the women some credit
Getting to the world cup would be somecshot in the arm for the women and girls game in Ireland
Plus, just shows you how good the Swedes are.. pretty much all the Irish players are playing in England in the Super League, but theyre pinned back constant
One of the greatest performance by a senior Irish international team.. brilliant for them.. get the win in Georgia, and fill the stadium in Tallaght for the Finland game.. they deserve it
Great result, shows we can match it with the big teams now and this was despite a number of key injuries!COYGIG!
It was a stunning result, I didn't watch the game but I doubt Ireland came close to matching Sweden, there's a considerable gap to the top UEFA teams. Should Ireland finish ahead of Finland in the group reaching the play-offs, that would be a considerable mark of progress made.Quote:
Originally Posted by gastric
We have beaten Australia and drawn with Sweden who both finished top 4 in the last Olympics? I think that is matching it with the best.
By accounts Sweden totally dominated the game and in 3 games this campaign I have seen absolutely no hint that Ireland can match the top 10 teams. Should Ireland overcome 2nd tier Finland, that in itself will be cause for great celebration and set up a realistic target to get to the 2nd play off round. Of course that depends on the draw.
tuned in to watch and was delighted with the draw. I had expected a 2 or 3 nil loss.
22% possession says a lot though. we just kept aimlessly kicking the ball away and hardly strung more than 2 passes together. it was very frustrating at times given there were sometimes very good options for a better out ball but it seemed the plan was to just kick it anywhere.
I think the main difference between this team and what's gone over the last few years is the quality of the goalkeeper who had a very good game. one save onto the crossbar in the 2nd half was outstanding.
Would agree with this. I only saw the second half, but Sweden owned the ball, while panic seemed to set in every time it came to an Irish player. There seemed to be no thought at all to look for a pass, just punt it as far away from you as you can. I get that Sweden are at a different level, and a draw is a creditable result no doubt, but to call it a great performance ? Maybe defensively.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Agree with previous two posts. For what it was, it was a superb defensive performance, and Brosnan was an easy player of the match, even if RTÉ gave it to Katie McCabe for her goal.
Sweden dominated possession, were comfortable on the ball, and were clearly a step above in terms of quality, but Ireland dealt with them very well at the back.
Huge slice of luck for the Ireland goal, but also a fair bit of luck at the other end with some poor finishing from the Swedes.
All that being said, it's still a phenomenal result, and credit to the team for it. They done exactly what was required of them and put themselves into a great position with both Sweden games over and done with now.
Talking about the Swedish dominance is being a little churlish in my opinion.. consider how the mens team would match up to Brazil, Belgium (the real one), France etc.. the ladies are still 30th in the world, and there is definitely a bigger jump between 1st and 30th in the ladies game compared to the mens
But yesterday is about progression.. it's about not getting hockeyed 4-5 nil as they would have in the past. It's about growing the game in the eyes of the public and showing young female players there is a pathway to a profession through football. And maybe if not a full time profession, maybe a full time college education in the US or UK, via football.
You're seeing some of the best female GAA footballing talent going to Australia increasingly, as the WAFL is offering professional sport.. eventually if football offers a path for young girls, more and more will take that too.
I said this yesterday, if you looked at the Irish squad, more and more of them are now playing at high level in England in the WSL or at a high level in the States in college football (which is probably even stronger than the WSL to be honest).. the English team has improved in leaps and bounds because of this and their greater pick, but we'll eventually get closer as more and more Irish girls get a chance to be practically full time ballers
The Swedes and Germans.. they're already there
I don't think anyone disagrees with any of that Insidetherock, just merely observing yesterday's game as it panned out. Nothing particularly churlish about it.
It's a massive credit to the Irish side, that they were able to take on one of the best sides in the world, and to take points off them for the first time in their group campaign. It got great coverage, great press afterwards, and it can only do well for the game here.
Hopefully... I do feel kind of protective of the womens/girls game... I genuinely think we could compete with the best if given the chanceQuote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
The other thing I wonder though.. is how far the FAI might go to recruit Irish Americans to the team. The level at the higher end of college football in the US in the womens game, is phenomenal. An American collegiate champions team visited us on a pre season trip a few years back (the coach hailed from the town so he brought them over) and watching them training was jaw dropping.
They'd played a few friendlies in the UK during the trip and absolutely hammered two WSL teams .. at the time they were trying to line up the national womens team for a fiendly
Might be a top class Irish Americans (or three) still out there that could make a big difference
Interesting point on 2nd Gen/3rd Gen Irish Americans, could it be worthwhile for the FAI to organise a summer tour/ training camps in the US and see if the Irish diaspora tree throws up a few options. It can only strengthen the Irish team.
Won nine nil tonight to overtake Finland in second.
All comes down to the final qualifier against Finland at home in August.
Nope, even if they lose against Finland, a win in the final game against Slovakia away would likely be enough if Sweden beat Finland in their final gameQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
But a win/draw v Finland would most likely be enough to seal the play off spot
Poor start.. very nervy, but starting to grow into it
Megan Campbell has some serious throw on her.. Rory Delap would be proud of it
Agg coming on has improved the play in midfield. O'Sullivan with Ireland's best chance so far with a close range header.
Might not be a coincidence she's playing regularly in the states at the moment, some of the rest of the team aren't back playing yet
Ireland score, Agg given acres of space in the box for a free header from a set piece
Very poor tonight and maybe the lack of games is the issue.. I'll take a scrappy 1-0 all night though
Shocking goalkeeping. Keeper came out, made no attempt the get the ball, and then clattered into Agg after she'd headed itQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Great scenes after the result. Very emotional and a huge step for women’s football in Ireland. Delighted for them.
The football was suspect but the game hit the Richter scale of enjoyment.
Although the post game celebrations were brilliant, there's still a hell of a lot of football to play in order to qualify. Contrary to the pundits' optimism, it's 99.99% sure that Ireland will be in the play off 1st round.
Even if Ireland won both play off rounds, they would in all probability still have to compete in the inter-federation play offs down under, in order to qualify (3 from 10 teams) for the finals.
edit, I'm just saying that in case Paul doesn't turn up to reply in this thread
It's a messed up play off process all right, but they're in it, so they've a shot. Might even be a tournament too soon, but have to target the next Euros big time.. huge loss not making the one in England
But there's great work being done at underage.. would love to see both men and women's teams at the top table in European football for the next decade
My new Arsenal Jersey us arriving tomorrow/Saturday, and on the back of it.. Mc Cabe 15.. best Irish Gunner since Chippy
She made a mess in the away game and gifted the 2nd Irish goal too iirc and it has really cost them. Doesnt matter how good a performance is if a keeper is just a calamity away from undoing it all (Ive developed an intolerance for such keepers in recent years). The most impressive part of this Irish sides development is their resilience and mental strength to stay in games, dig in if needed but not afraid to go at higher ranked sides either, they always create something. Still a tough road ahead but when there is obvious and regular improvements as we've seen its only a matter of time before a major finals!Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
While it is more likely than not that we'll be in the first round, I think it's far from 99.99%. By my reckoning, we qualify direct for the second round if we beat Slovakia and three of the following scenarios occur:Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
1. Belgium lose at home to Norway, having lost to them 4-0 away
2. Belgium beat Norway by at least 4 goals, who then fail to beat Albania
3. Iceland fail to win either of their remaining games against The Netherlands and Belarus
4. Iceland beat The Netherlands and we beat Slovakia by a combined total of at least six goals
5. Switzerland fail to beat Croatia
6. Austria lose to England
7. Serbia don't win both of their games against Portugal and Israel
I think Options 1,6 and 7 are each definite possibilities
According to this article.. and he'll knows how they figured it out.. Ireland can by pass the play off semi final round if they win away in Slovakia, and the following three results go their way
Friday
Group F
Belgium v Norway (7.30pm) – Ireland need Norway to win or draw.
If Belgium claim a point, they will be ahead of Ireland by three on goal difference, making Tuesday’s mission a goal fest.
Group H
Serbia v Portugal (7pm) – Ireland need Portugal to draw or win.
Saturday
Group D
Austria v England (4.30pm) – Ireland need England to win.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...-40953329.html
Right now...
Norway are level with Belguim.. so that's good
Portugal lead Serbia 2-1
If the Examiner are correct, and results stay the same.. we'll all be cheering for the Lionesses again tomorrow afternoon
Big goal Norway. Right now, England and Ireland wins would leave us 3rd in 2nd place teams.
Edit, good chance now.
https://i.ibb.co/rwv5411/IMG-20220902-212530.jpg
Finishes 1-0 to Norway, and 2-1 to Portugal
Wonder if they play offs are seeded too..home draw on a final play off would be huge
England currently two up in Austria.. looks like a win in Slovakia will put the women into the top 3
The best explanation of the play offs, and possible intercontinental play off I've seen so far..
A win Tuesday is absolutely vital.
No mention of whether the seeded play off teams (top three) will have home advantage in the play off, but they probably will, so that'd be a huge night in Tallaght
https://m.independent.ie/sport/socce...-41959278.html
Nailed it!;)Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr