Sweden v Ireland
WC 2023, qualifying group A
Sweden v Ireland, Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Tuesday 17:30
TV
Live broadcast of all construction and action from Gothenburg on RTÉ2 from 17.00. Streams online on RTÉ Player. Darragh Maloney and Lisa Fallon are on commentary, while Karen Duggan and Stephanie Roche offer studio analysis.
Radio
Live commentary on RTÉ Radio One Extra with John Kenny and Alan Cawley
Online
We will have a match tracker live on rte.ie/sport, the RTÉ News app, as well as updates on and goals on RTÉ Soccer Twitter and RTÉ Sport Facebook.
Weather
A dry but cloudy day is forecast with a light breeze and temperatures of 10c will kick off in Sweden.
To be the best, you have to beat the best
In many ways, this is the game that Ireland manager Vera Pauw has spent the past year building on.
When the Irish boss signaled her intention to test her side against teams in the top 20 FIFA World Rankings, it was always with an eye on preparing to face Sweden, the team second only to the all-conquering USA in world football.
Friendly matches against such as Belgium, Iceland and Australia were not about winning morale-boosting wins, but more to test Ireland against the top teams and now Ireland travels to Sweden for their toughest assignments in recent times.
As second in the world, Peter Gerhardsson’s team has almost secured its place in next year’s World Cup and has a perfect result in the qualifiers with six victories from six, and conceded only one goal on the road.
Ireland and Finland are vying for second place in the group and thus a place in the qualifying game with both sides on seven points each, although the Finns have played one more match.
Pauw’s team has a superior goal difference and any form of result against the Swedes would mean a huge boost for their qualifying jump.
Last time
Ireland will enter the match in Sweden full of faith given how they performed against the Swedes in the reverse match in October.
Pauw’s team had to curse luck when an attack from Stina Blackstenius – a nominee for Ballon d’Or Féminin 2021 – ricocheted from Louise Quinn’s ankle and seeped home in the 39th minute to decide the match.
Girls in Green kept up with one of the best teams in the world and gave the visitors trouble, as they proved to be defensively stable and threatening at the break.
For both Irish supporters and players, it was proof that they can keep up with the best in the world.
They followed it up with a win away to Finland five days later, and although November drew at home to Slovakia, memories of that match have since been banished by an 11-0 draw by Georgia and an impressive display in the Pinataur Cup recently. , with wins over Wales and Poland.
All this means that Ireland are entering the match in their best form recently and Pauw is looking for a statement on the pitch from her side.
“This is the kind of game we want to be involved in and one that we must experience if we are to reach our goal of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup,” she said.
“We are entering a full arena to play against the second highest ranked team in women’s football, so we have no choice but to raise our game.
“We have prepared as best we can within the time frame we have been given. We have four difficult qualifiers left in our group and we feel ready to take on those challenges.
“Sweden is next and we fully respect their quality. We know we have to adapt to their game because they are second in the world. We hope to continue the good form we have shown in recent matches and compete as a team against this huge team. “
Domestic happiness can increase international chances
Pauw has an almost full-strength squad to choose from with only Diane Caldwell and Megan Campbell missing due to injury. Eabha O’Mahony and Claire O’Riordan have been brought in as replacements and Pauw reported no concern about late injuries.
When the Irish camp gathered for this week’s matches, Pauw welcomed a group of players who are in good shape at club level and the hope is that they will replicate it for their country.
Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey, defender Megan Campbell and striker Leanne Kiernan are riding high after helping secure their side’s return to the WSL after winning the championship while Katie McCabe plays a key role in Arsenal’s WSL title hunt.
Abbie Larkin impressed Pauw during the Pinataur Cup and has done enough in Shelbourne to retain her place in the squad despite still being only 16 years old, while her teammate Jess Zui recently agreed a pre-contract with West Ham that will get her to make the move to London in the summer.
Meanwhile, Ciara Grant recently scored her first goal for the Scottish Rangers, having moved there from Shels in February, while Amber Barrett has been in fine form for FC Cologne, helping them secure their status in the Frauen-Bundesliga.
The feel-good factor has already been in the squad in recent matches, but there is an extra boost by having so many players in shape for their clubs.
Swedes shake off the Covid horror
Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson became sweaty on Sunday when the news began to seep through about a potential Covid-19 outbreak in his squad.
Fridolina Rolfö, Filippa Angeldahl and Amanda Nildén all missed Sunday’s training session due to Covid fear, and the team’s doctors confirmed that the trio had shown symptoms.
But it has since been confirmed as a false alarm and all three players have returned to training with the squad, giving the coach a new headache – as three players from the 26 called up to leave the squad with 23 players on match days.
Such are the concerns of the head of the strongest side in Europe.
Gerhardsson expects to lead the Swedes out in front of a full house at Gamla Ullevi Stadium, with a 14,463-seat sold-out that seems probable.
The Sweden manager expects that those present will witness another tight match against an Irish team that is constantly improving.
“Ireland has taken steps forward and they are very well organized,” he said.
“We know Ireland are a good team. They are well organized, and in every team you need key players. Ireland have some very good key players who can win the game. Now we know.”
Ireland’s squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defender: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Chloe Mustaki (Shelbourne), Claire O’Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Éabha O’Mahony (Boston College) , Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielder: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & 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 Koln), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne)
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