World Cup Qualifier Preview: Slovakia -v- Republic of Ireland

• Macdara Ferris
• Mon, Sep 05 2022




SLOVAKIA

The home side have the chance of finishing in third place in their 2023 World Cup qualifying group on Tuesday.

They need to beat Ireland in the game set for their National Training Centre in Senec (kick off is 5pm Irish time with the game  liveon RTÉ) and for Finland to lose at home to Sweden. 

Slovakia have just the two wins in Group A in this campaign both against Georgia. They won 2-0 at home and 4-0 away - Ireland won the equivalent games against the hapless Georgians 11-0 and 9-0. 

The only other points Slovakia picked were from a 1-1 home draw with Finland from the 1-1 draw in Tallaght last November.

Heather Payne: 'The Slovakia game is still crucial. We need to get three points there so we can get a higher ranking and get a better play-off'https://t.co/ROyu4aBKkcpic.twitter.com/wiKkkhRN5O

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 5, 2022

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

With a place in the Wolrd Cup play-off secured after last week’s 1-0 home win over Finland, the Girls in Green are looking to close out their World Cup group games with a win in Slovakia to give them an easier run to the tournament being held in Australia and New Zealand next year.

Three points would mean that Ireland would be one of the top three runners up across the nine UEFA qualifying groups and so they would by-pass the play-off semi-finals to go directly to the play-off finals.

For more details on the UEFA play-offs and possible FIFA play-off that Ireland may end up in check out our explainer:

Explainer: 2023 World Cup play-off (UEFA and FIFA routes)https://t.co/MsjxqQMCHcpic.twitter.com/eq13la0d83

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 5, 2022

Speaking ahead of the game, Ireland manager Vera Pauw said: “It will be an extremely difficult game because Slovakia are a very good team. They have drawn against Finland and their other games were very close. And we also remember that we couldn’t get the win against them either, earlier in the campaign in Tallaght Stadium.”

Results on Friday and Saturday in the other groups went Ireland’s way to make the qualification route somewhat more straightforward – once they win in Slovakia. 

“Qualification is still in our own hands and that is fantastic. We know what we have to do and we will have every box ticked with our preparation. The players and staff have worked incredibly hard to reach this point, something that we all dreamed about when the draw was originally made, and we will be ready for Tuesday’s game.”

Wexford Youths player Aoibheann Clancy was a late addition to the Ireland squad following the withdrawal of Megan Connolly and Ruesha Littlejohn due to injuries picked up in the recent game in Tallaght.

Thank you to everyone at @FAIreland and the Mater Hospital Dublin for taking such good care of me while in hospital the last few days with fractured ribs and bruised kidney from Thursdays game. Heading home now to rest up and support the girls tomorrow night  #COYGIGpic.twitter.com/ELjtGEAQbk

— Megan Connolly (@MeganConnolly4) September 5, 2022

Referee: María Martínez (Spain)

MATCH STATS

Ireland are ranked 26^th in the world rankings – their highest ever position for the women’s side – and Slovakia are in 43^rdposition.

The sides have met on six occasions – Ireland have five wins with the other match, the most recent between the teams, finishing 1-1 in Tallaght last November.

Katie McCabe is Ireland’s top goalscorer in the captain with seven goals. Her 19 international goals make her the top scorer in the Ireland squad – Denise O’Sullivan has two less in this campaign and overall.

PREDICTION
2-1 away win  

Slovakia

Injured: n/a

Suspended: None

Republic of Ireland

Injured: Megan Connolly, Niamh Fahey, Ruesha Littlejohn, Savannah McCarthy

Suspended: Jamie Finn

Ireland squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Claire O’Riordan (Celtic), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham United), Aoibheann Clancy (Wexford Youths)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Amber Barrett (FFC Turbine Potsdam), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC)

Denise O’Sullivan’s Tallaght tears of despair turn to tears of joy with Ireland play-off bound

"It was very emotional. There were definitely a few tears.”https://t.co/Qzat0VIiWqpic.twitter.com/KSz7Rfno6u

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 3, 2022