Different year but same squad and goals for Carla Ward.
Ireland’s women’s team manager picked a panel whose familiarity could be interpreted either as a sign of continuity or stagnation.
Of the 23 players chosen for the upcoming double-header against France and Netherlands, all but three were part of her first squad 12 months ago.
Only one of the 23 was handed their debut by Ward, that being 29-year-old goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse in the last runout, a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hungary.
That none of the U19 squad which reached the Euro finals 17 months ago have graduated at the start of this qualification year is notable.
They did, it must be said, open the tournament by holding eventual champions Spain.
Last year’s domestic player of the year, Kelly Brady, was called in for the Hungary workout, without being afforded her bow.
The experienced coach considers that the tried, trusted and chiselled possess the optimal formula for reaching next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Along the way they’ll meet nations of Spain’s calibre. France are fifth in Europe, Netherlands sixth.
Ward admits nudging Poland out for third spot is the mission, ensuring an easier path to South America through the playoffs.
It’s unlikely any of the emerging cast would get a look-in until friendlies follow a successful qualification campaign.
“Let’s make no bones about it, it’s a huge jump,” former Aston Villa and Birmingham City manager Ward said of the gap between the Irish and UK leagues.
“Kelly is a prime example. She did tremendously well with Athlone Town but is getting up to the speed of the English game with Championship club Crystal Palace.
“Whether it’s the Women’s Super League or Championship, unless you’re in it, worked in it or you’ve played in it, it’s a completely different league physically, tactically. A massive jump.
“I will probably be long gone by the time the Irish league gets to where we want it to get to.”
Ward is contracted until the end of the playoffs, which Ireland are guaranteed to, on foot of beating Belgium last October to regain their League A place.
That backdrop renders the mainframe qualifiers free hits, as only four teams from Europe directly qualify for the finals.
It won’t diminish their ambitions of causing an upset in the opening window. When France rock up to Tallaght on Tuesday week (March 3), they’ll find the surface narrowed to the minimum pitch dimensions. One of Ward’s predecessors tried a similar stifling tactic for the 2020 visit of Germany that ended in a 3-1 defeat.
Ireland’s other home games in the series, against Poland on Saturday, April 18, and Netherlands on Friday, June 5, will be held at Aviva Stadium and Páirc Uí Chaoimh respectively.
“I wanted the France game at Tallaght because we can dictate things,” Ward confessed.
“We will try do everything we can to make that as difficult as possible for France.
“We want to reach the World Cup – be it by hook or by crook.
“I believe we can beat any team but the pair of matches in April against Poland will be critical. Poland will target those games as well but we must try get a point or two along the way against what we understand to be two of the best teams in the world.”
Ward isn’t concerned about the fitness of recent Liverpool recruit Denise O’Sullivan.
“Every time I see her knee strapped, I’m on the phone but it’s just for protection,” she said about the Cork native. “Moving from America to the WSL is good because it’s the most competitive league in the world.”
Her captain Katie McCabe will be leaving Arsenal in May. “The beauty of being one of the best left-backs in the world is you’re not going to be short of options. Wherever she moves, in my opinion, will be a top club getting a very top player.”
C Brosnan (Everton), S Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), G Moloney (Sunderland); K McCabe (Arsenal), A Patten (Aston Villa), C Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), H Nolan (Crystal Palace), A Mannion (Newcastle United), J Stapleton (Nottingham Forest on loan), C Mustaki (Nottingham Forest); D O’Sullivan (Liverpool), T Toland (Durham), M Connolly (Lazio), M Sheva (Sunderland), L Quinn (Birmingham City), R Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), J Finn (Sunderland); S Noonan (Celtic FC), A Larkin (Crystal Palace), L Kiernan (Nottingham Forest on loan), E Murphy (Newcastle Utd), K Carusa (Kansas City on loan), A Barrett (Strasbourg).
