Vera Pauw on “heartbreaking” injuries and the squad for the Sweden qualifier
When Katie McCabe addresses the small question of whether Arsenal will host Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena in the Champions League quarter-finals, the focus shifts to unlocking an as yet unconfirmed boys’ side for 15 years.
Shelbourne U-15, led by Ken Kiernan, gave earlier training resistance to Republic of Ireland coach Vera Pauw, with equally well-trained teenage boys who were sought to emulate the mighty Sweden ahead of a fascinating World Cup qualifier in Gothenburg on 12 April.
Before McCabe continues his dizzying rise up the European club ladder as 90,000 Barcelona fans potentially welcome the Gunners to Camp Nou for the first semi-final leg on April 23. All in one day’s work for the Irish skipper who has been in sensational shape for both club and country this season.
Not because Sweden, nor the 14-year-old Dublin boys, will give her any breathing space. The same goes for Denise O’Sullivan, who will hopefully come fresh from North Carolina Courage’s hectic preseason when the squad gathers on Tuesday in Castleknock, as Pauw can not afford more injuries, especially in defense now that Dianne Caldwell (arm) and Savannah McCarthy (knee) has been excluded.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Pauw said of McCarthy’s injury. “Especially for her personally. It is a serious injury and we will do everything to help her recover. She was a different type of defender than the other two in the middle three. That is why she was so important.
“Firstly, she’s a left – footer, but secondly, she’s a completely different player. If you want to take the step up to the highest level, you need different types of midfielders with all abilities. You need a very agile terrier in the middle three. We have to see how we solve it. “
Liverpool duo Niamh Fahey and Megan Campbell are expected to be in the top three along with Louise Quinn, but the most interesting headache must be the goalkeeper – after Megan Walsh’s excellent debut against Russia in February.
The 27-year-old former minor goalkeeper from England showed all the qualities that Ireland need against the Olympic silver medalists and given that Sandy MacIver keeps Courtney Brosnan out of the Everton team, a change of guard looks like the logical call.
Sweden will qualify for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand by maintaining their 100% record in Group A, where Pauw already allowed the chance to catch them came and went in October last year in Tallaght when a rejected goal by McCabe’s club mate Stina Blackstenius secured all three points.
“The big chance was the first match. If you’ve seen them play recently, all their players are in shape. The first match they lacked some players, they were just coming out of the Olympics so all the players were very tired. Now you can see “In their play they are fresh, they are lively, they are exciting to see. It is a great challenge and we look forward to it.”
Realistic
Sweden scored seven goals against Denmark and Portugal during the last games before beating Italy on penalties to win the Algarve Cup.
“No one ever had an idea that we could qualify first in the group because if you have the second team in the world it is not realistic, and then we should have won the first match,” said Pauw and took a similar stance as Stephen Kenny during last year’s failed World Cup qualifying campaign. “In the end we will see what the result is. We will not collapse, that is one thing.”
Ireland’s rebooked away trip to Georgia on June 27, ahead of Finland in Dublin and Slovakia in September next year, will determine whether McCabe’s team enters the playoffs in October by finishing second in the group.
Pauw has called London City Lioness midfielder Lily Agg, after it was discovered that the 28-year-old’s grandmother Bridget Green comes from Cork.
There are six League of Ireland players on the 27-man panel with Peamount United’s Áine O’Gorman and Shelbourne’s Jessica Ziu vying for the right-back position. Ziu (19) joins West Ham United this summer.
Ireland’s squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton and Hove Albion), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Chloe Mustaki (Shelbourne), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United).
Midfielder: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Rangers), Jess Ziu (Shelbourne) , Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (Celtic).
Forward: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge), Amber Barrett (FC Cologne), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne).