The Republic of Ireland WNT will look to record one of their biggest ever wins when they face England this evening at Carrow Road in Euro 2025 qualifying (Kick-off 8pm).
This is part of an international double header, with the second game a home-tie with France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday.
The Girls in Green go into these qualifiers with a play-off spot for the 2025 European Championship secured, they just need momentum after losses to Les Bleues, England, and France.
Ireland can only focus on themselves, and that means making sure they get some sort of result at Carrow Road, the home of EFL Championship side Norwich City.
The good news is that the team is boosted by the return of Denise O’Sullivan.
The midfielder missed the May/June international window through injury, and she returns fully-fit and after a run of games with North Carolina Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States.
She is joined by two other players from Cork in the squad, Megan Connolly and Eva Mangan.
Lily Agg, who’s grandmother comes from Cobh, is included and Kyra Carusa, who has family in Macroom, misses this international window through injury.
The players called up by Eileen Gleeson and Colin Healy will attempt to pull off a major upset in Carrow Road, against the reigning European champions and World Cup finalists.
England are a side that need no introduction.
The Women’s Super League is the standard bearer for what top level women’s professional football strives to be and their players are known far and wide.
This came from years of work behind the scenes and player development, while money was pumped into clubs like Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Ireland learned what England are like the hard way last November at the Aviva Stadium.
The game finished 2-0, with Lauren James and Alex Greenwood scoring two goals inside the first 20 minutes of play.
Gleeson changed things around at the break and pushed up, but it was too little too late and a few half chances for Louise Quinn were easily stopped by Leah Williamson and Hannah Hampton.
For all the quality in England’s squad, the team isn’t guaranteed a place at the European Championship.
The Lionesses are third in the group, and level on points with Sweden. The top two teams in the group will automatically qualify for the tournament finals in Switzerland, and the side ranked third will be put into a play-off.
England will want to avoid the lottery of one off-games, and to get around that they need to beat Ireland and Sweden.
Gleeson and her coaching staff know this, it showed in the players called up for this international window.
Niamh Fahey, Caitlin Hayes, and Aoife Mannion are all in the squad and they will play alongside stalwarts Louise Quinn and Megan Campbell in defence.
Anna Patten, who made her Ireland debut against France last April, is also involved after an impressive season with Aston Villa in the WSL.
The defence will be boosted by the presence of players like Katie McCabe, who can play as a winger and full-back, and midfielders Ruesha Littlejohn and Tyler Toland as they can cover space and get in the way of passing lanes.
O’Sullivan could be the key to transforming this group, as her passing range can help Ireland transition from attack to defence.
This was on show during the play-off for the 2023 World Cup, and it led to Amber Barrett scoring the game winning goal during the second half against Scotland at Hampden Park.
The spirit that night was high, and the mood is different now even though Ireland were drawn into a nightmare qualifying group that had three of the best teams on the planet.
The team needs to rediscover that if they are to have any chance of playing in Switzerland next summer.