Ireland is preparing for the Swedish qualifiers with a Spanish tournament
The Republic of Ireland women’s squad will return to action next month at an invitational tournament in Spain.
The Pinatar Cup will offer an opportunity for Vera Pauw’s team to prepare for the April World Cup qualifiers away against Sweden. Ireland is currently second in Group A.
Seven other teams will compete alongside Ireland in Spain, as Belgium, Hungary, Poladn, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia and Wales also travel.
Ireland will face Poland in their first match on Wednesday 16 February and the winner will face either Hungary or Russia in a semi-final match on Saturday 19 February.
The final match of the tournament will be played on Tuesday 22 February with Ireland’s opponents depending on how their semi-final ends. They can either be in the main tournament final or be a draw for 3rd place, a duel for 5th place or a competition for 7th place.
There is an agreement in place that Ireland will not play against Slovakia in the third match – if it is a draw – because they are in the same World Cup qualifying group.
Vera Pauw has welcomed the opportunity for her players to test themselves against various oppositions before the resumption of the qualifiers:
“It is important that we gather as a squad and play at least one match before we take on Sweden in April. This tournament gives us three matches so it is ideal for our preparation to work with the players and give them playing time, says Pauw.
“Our focus is very much on the qualifying match against Sweden in April, but we plan to give players opportunities to play in these matches and that will help us in our overall preparations.”
Pinatar Cup 2022 (all time Irish time)
February 16th
Match A1 | Wales v Scotland, Pinatar Arena, KO 16:30
Match A2 | Slovakia v Belgium, Pinatar Arena, KO 19:30
Match B1 | Republic of Ireland v Poland, La Manga, KO 14:30
Match B2 | Hungary v Russia, La Manga, KO 19:30
February 19th
A3 | Winner A1 v Winner A2, Pinatar Arena, KO 19:30
A4 | Second A2 v Second A1, Pinatar Arena, KO 14:30
B3 | Winner B2 v Winner B1, La Manga, KO 19:30
B4 | Second B2 v Second B1, La Manga, KO 14:30
February 22nd
Final | Winner A3 v Winner B3, Pinatar Arena, KO 19:30
3rd place | Second A3 v Second B3, La Manga, KO 19:30
5th place | Winner A4 v Winner B4, Pinatar Arena, KO 14:30
7th place | Two A4 v Two B4, La Manga, KO 14:30