Positive and plenty of work because Pauw, O’Sullivan and co have “full focus on Sweden”
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND manager Vera Pauw and midfield maestro Denise O’Sullivan have both celebrated a positive week for Girls In Green in the Pinatar Cup.
Pauw’s team ended the friendly tournament in Spain at the top this afternoon with a 1-0 play-off win over Wales; The match’s player O’Sullivan’s fantastic goal in the first half differs on the scoreboard.
The 25th minute at Pinatar Arena saw Corkonian punish a mistake from Rhiannon Roberts and hit home a half volley from 20 yards for his 17th senior international goal.
“I looked at it … I knew it,” O’Sullivan explained afterwards. “I looked a little uninterested and I knew she was going to record the defensive midfielder. So I just threw myself into it and took a touch and honestly just hit it. I was really happy to be on the scoresheet today. ”
O’Sullivan did what Pauw’s tigers do best, as they stepped up preparations for the resumption of the 2023 World Cup qualifier in Spain.
The North Carolina Courage star was placed in a deeper role than usual this afternoon, similar to the six she plays at club level.
“Megan Connolly was not here because of Covid,” Pauw noted. “She’s coming out of isolation tomorrow. But Denise is so versatile. When we need her to play deeper, she does it really, really well. When we need her to play behind the striker, she does it really, really well. I think today showed again that she is at a very high level. ”
O’Sullivan with the Player of the Match award.
Source: Martin Seras Lima / INPHO
“I think it was just taking more control of the game, getting on the ball, trying to get the game,” O’Sullivan added. “I think I got more of the ball in the first half and then I think it passed me by in the second half.
“But look, it’s about a team and I think the girls did great today. Really proud of everyone. Winning this game and finishing the week at a high level, absolutely great. I thought we were really good at first half game, cruel performance.
“I think we dropped the level a bit during the second half, went much further so we did not really take control of the match but I am really proud of the hard work of everyone on the pitch. Looking forward to Sweden now, I think that is the main thing. ”
Pauw repeated these sentiments, reflecting on the encouraging signs shown throughout the tournament, with Girls In Green enjoying a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over higher-ranked Russia and a new XI barely coming to Russia.
“Satisfied with the result, of course,” said the Dutch boss, referring to today’s match first, “that we can manage a very opportunistic game at the end with long balls.
“But I think we are capable of having more risk in our game. We are capable of doing that. We showed it in the first game, we showed spells in this game, but we have to learn to be consistent in it. “
“We grow every time and if you grow you take more risks, you make more mistakes,” she continued.
O’Sullivan in action against Poland.
Source: Martin Seras Lima / INPHO
“If you look at how we can get out of close situations sometimes, we have more sense of possession on the pitch at the moment. It means if we are all in the same way [hymn] sheets, there is less chance of losing the ball.
“But we must now make sure that it turns around, when someone has to put in long balls unnecessarily and we are no longer sure of each other if we go far or if we go in possession. I think that is the biggest step we need to take . “
It must be done in April, when Ireland’s attempt to reach the first ever major tournament reaches new heights.
Currently second in Group A, Pauw’s team is facing a trip to Gothenburg to meet the runaway leader Sweden, with an important double draw against Finland and Slovakia in early September.
“This week was all about Sweden,” O’Sullivan concluded. “All our focus was on that.
“I think it was also fantastic to rotate the team in the second match and gain more confidence for the girls who enter the Sweden match. Yes, it’s about the Sweden game now.
“I think we can take a lot of positive out of it and I think we can also work with many things as well as a team. Full focus on Sweden. I think we are in a really good place.”
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