Head Coach Sue Ronan is looking for a big response from the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team as they look to get their Eurp 2017 campaign up and running against Portugal in Moreira De Cónegos later today at 3pm.
The side were beaten 2-0 in their opening game Group 2 game last month by Finland despite creating twice as many chances as their opponents and they arrived in Portugal last Friday determined to get the job done properly this time.
Four training sessions later and Ronan has a fully fit and focused squad of 20 to select from so she is quite happy so far with the response to the Finland defeat.
“My own players are in great form. They have trained really well all week. They are determined to put the disappointment of the defeat by Finland behind them and move on from there. We all feel we are capable of winning this game.”
The shadow of Finland has loomed large in the lives of the players and coaches over the past four weeks and Ronan admits they are relishing the opportunity to try and put things right.
“It was very frustrating and disappointing. We played really well, created lots of chances, very clear cut chances actually, and it was disappointing not to take one of those at least and possibly more. Then we conceded two sloppy goals from a counter attack and a set piece. That is something we are trying to eradicate this time around but, as I said, the girls are determined.
“The positives we took out of that game were how well we played. We created lots of chances, the tempo of the game was very, very good and we have taken that into the training all week and we have started where we left off. Everybody is in good form and available for selection so we are really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Although Portugal are technically fourth seeds in the group there is actually very little between them and Ireland. They are just three places behind Ireland in the European rankings and just missed out on being in the third seed pot at last April’s draw in Nyon.
In the recent World Cup qualifying campaign they finished fourth behind Norway, Netherlands and Belgium and their 12 points came from four wins, home and away, against Greece and Albania. While the Dutch did hammer them 7-0 at home, they performed much after that and suffered narrow losses at home to Norway and Belgium before redeeming themselves somewhat with a 3-2 defeat away to Netherlands where the game was poised at 2-2 with 30 minutes to go.
Ronan has been keen to stress in the build-up to this game that Portugal will be tough to beat and are an improving side that beat World Cup finalists Switzerland in a friendly earlier this year.
“We have watched Portugal in recent friendlies they have played because this is the first game in the campaign for them so they have no points on the board, like ourselves. We have watched what they do and they don’t change their strategy too much so we have prepared for that. They are a good team and we know if we don’t approach the game properly they will take full advantage.”
Republic of Ireland Squad (v Portugal)
Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Grace Moloney (Reading), Niamh Reid Burke (Shelbourne).
Defenders: Megan Campbell (Florida State University); Meabh De Burca (Galway), Karen Duggan (UCD Waves), Niamh Fahey (Chelsea), Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna); Sophie Perry (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Midfielders: Diane Caldwell (Avaldsness), Ruesha Littlejohn (Celtic), Grace Murray (Shelbourne), Denise O’Sullivan (Glasgow City), Julie-Ann Russell (UCD Waves).
Forwards: Carol Breen (Wexford Youths), Katie McCabe (Shelbourne), Aine O’Gorman (UCD Waves), Claire O’Riordan (Wexford Youths), Stephanie Roche (Sunderland), Clare Shine (Glasgow City).
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