The Republic of Ireland’s Women's National Team get their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifying campaign started on tonight when they host Sweden in Tallaght Stadium.
All tickets for the game have already been snapped up, with the capacity capped due to COVID-19 restrictions, while it will be broadcast live on RTÉ2.
Ireland were meant to have played Georgia in their opening Group A game last month but that was rescheduled until June 2022. So their preparation for this opener has been a little longer and included the friendly win over Australia.
Vera Pauw's squad will follow this game with a trip to Helsinki to take on Finland on Tuesday, October 26th, but the focus is very much on making a positive start to qualifying.
Fantastic support from our primary partner @SkyIreland 👏
Fully behind WNT for #IRLSWE 🇮🇪🇸🇪#SkyWNT | #COYGIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/YN7QoYsTRB— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) October 21, 2021
TEAM NEWS
Midfielder Roma McLaughlin was added to the squad after Kyra Carusa withdrew through injury.
QUOTES
Republic of Ireland Manager Vera Pauw
"This game marks the beginning of a new campaign. It also represents a point where a lot of hard work has led us to with friendly games against teams ranked in the Top 20 of the world - Denmark, Belgium, Iceland & Australia. We believe that we have benefitted greatly from testing ourselves against quality opposition and that those games will help us in our pursuit of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
"The target for us is to qualify. We fully understand how difficult our group is with four tough opponents in Sweden, Finland, Slovakia and Georgia. But we must believe in ourselves, work as hard as we can, and show the world that we are ready for this.
"Sweden are a fantastic team. They finished as runners-up in the Tokyo Olympics and are ranked second in the world. We know all about their quality but it is up to us - as a team collectively - to embrace this challenge. We hope that playing in front of our fantastic fans will also help us.
"I've said it so many times and every time I feel it in my bones: the Irish fans are really special! There is no doubt that they help to drive the team on during difficult periods and inspire them to keep working hard. It definitely had an impact in our win over Australia and I hope to experience the same again in front of a sold-out crowd."
Ireland Boss Vera Pauw on the new sponsors coming onboard for the Women's National Team ahead of two massive qualifiers
Full press conference below - https://t.co/IC3Jh8vhtH pic.twitter.com/t4B16vFttp— THE WNL SHOW (@thewnlshow) October 18, 2021
SQUAD LISTS
Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (Reading), Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Eve Badana (DLR Waves), Amanda Budden (Shelbourne)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Diane Caldwell (North Carolina Courage), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Savannah McCarthy (Galway WFC), Éabha O'Mahony (Boston College), Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Niamh Farrelly (Glasgow City), Ciara Grant (Shelbourne), Aoibheann Clancy (Wexford Youths), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne), Roma McLaughlin (Central Connecticut State University), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Forwards: Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Rianna Jarrett (London City Lionesses), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Saoirse Noonan (Shelbourne), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
Sweden
Goalkeepers: Jennifer Falk (BK Hacken), Hedvig Lindahl (Atletico Madrid), Zecira Musovic (Chelsea)
Defenders: Jonna Andersson (Chelsea), Nathalie Bjorn (Everton), Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea), Nilla Fischer (Linkopings), Hanna Glas (Bayern Munich), Amanda Ilestedt (Paris-Saint Germain), Emma Kullberg (BK Hacken), Emma Berglund (Rosengard)
Midfielders: Elin Rubensson (BK Hacken), Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City), Filippa Curmark (BK Hacken), Anna Anvegard (Everton), Olivia Schough (Rosengard), Hanna Bennison (Everton), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (BK Hacken)
Forwards: Stina Blackstenius (BK Hacken), Rebecka Blomqvist (Vfl Wolfsburg), Lina Hurtig (Juventus), Sofia Jakobsson (Bayern Munich), Madlen Janogy (Hammarby), Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona), Julia Zigiotti Olme (BK Hacken)
From being the only girl playing on the streets with the boys, to dreaming of World Cup Qualification.
Sky presents BELIEVE with Jess Ziu #SkyWNT | #COYGIG | @FAIreland pic.twitter.com/ukFMMswkoY— Sky Ireland (@SkyIreland) October 20, 2021
CAPS LIST
Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (5 Caps / 0 Clean Sheets), Courtney Brosnan (5 Caps / 1 Clean Sheet), Eve Badana (3 Caps / 0 Clean Sheets), Amanda Budden (1 Cap / 1 Clean Sheet)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (21 Caps / 0 Goals), Niamh Fahey (95 Caps / 0 Goals), Diane Caldwell (84 Caps / 3 Goals), Louise Quinn (87 Caps / 12 Goals), Claire Walsh (3 Caps / 0 Goals), Savannah McCarthy (5 Caps / 0 Goals), Áine O'Gorman (108 Caps / 13 Goals), Éabha O'Mahony (3 Caps / 0 Goals)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (85 Caps / 12 Goals), Megan Connolly (29 Caps / 1 Goal), Jamie Finn (6 Caps / 0 Goals), Ciara Grant (15 Caps / 0 Goals), Niamh Farrelly (4 Caps / 0 Goals), Aoibheann Clancy (0 Caps / 0 Goals), Jess Ziu (4 Caps / 0 Goals), Roma McLaughlin (6 Caps / 0 Goals), Katie McCabe (53 Caps / 10 Goals)
Forwards: Heather Payne (19 Caps / 1 Goal), Rianna Jarrett (15 Caps / 1 Goal), Amber Barrett (24 Caps / 3 Goals), Saoirse Noonan (0 Caps / 0 Goals), Leanne Kiernan (21 Caps / 4 Goals), Lucy Quinn (1 Cap / 0 Goals)
MATCH DETAILS
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier - Group A
Republic of Ireland v Sweden
Thursday, October 21
Tallaght Stadium
KO 19:00
LIVE on RTÉ2
Referee: Deborah Anex (Switzerland)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Game Hashtag: #IRLSWE
Team Hashtag: #COYGIG
