The Girls in Green secured promotion to UEFA Women’s Nations League A; Deputy Editor Ilaria Riccio discusses how they achieved this impressive feat.
Since their unfortunate, yet historic, campaign at the latest Women’s World Cup, the Republic of Ireland Women’s National team has been building up momentum, as evidenced by their perfect run at the first edition of the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Indeed, following a string of four wins from four, the Girls in Green have now secured promotion to League A, which also guarantees participation in the qualifying play-offs for the upcoming 2025 EURO - should their qualifying campaign require it.
As per UEFA Nations League format, teams are divided into four leagues (A, B, C, D) according to their UEFA ranking. Initially placed in League B, promotion to League A means that Ireland will face high-profile teams in the next edition of the tournament, with the possibility of encountering teams such as England and world champions Spain. Despite the increased difficulty, this milestone testifies to the reputation that the Girls in Green are building for themselves in international women’s football - and their latest results further contribute to this. So how did they reach this historic milestone?
Initially placed in League B, promotion to League A means that Ireland will face high-profile teams in the next edition of the tournament, with the possibility of encountering teams such as England and world champions Spain.
Tallaght Stadium was the stage of the first encounter between Ireland and Albania on 27th October. This match also marked Diane Caldwell’s 100th appearance for the Girls in Green, and for the occasion, she inherited the captain armband from Katie McCabe. McCabe was nonetheless the star of the night, as she opened the scoring after just three minutes. The match was anything but a walk in the park however, as inaccurate finishing made it difficult for Ireland to capitalise on their early advantage. Albania’s surprising equaliser was yet another reminder of the unpredictability of the Nations League. After the initial struggles, Katie McCabe steered the match in Ireland’s favour, scoring another goal in the 25th minute. The second half saw the match transforming into a goalfest, with McCabe shining once again as she set up both goals from Kyra Carusa. The Arsenal star completed her hat-trick in the 80th minute, converting a free-kick that secured Ireland their three points with an impressive 5-1 final score.
This match also marked Diane Caldwell’s 100th appearance for the Girls in Green, and for the occasion, she inherited the captain armband from Katie McCabe.
Katie McCabe's impressive form in this match was the culmination of her incredible year, which earned her a nomination for the Ballon d’Or, the first Irish player to achieve this milestone since Roy Keane in 2000. Whilst she didn’t win, McCabe could not attend the ceremony in Nyon, as it was held the day before Ireland’s return match against Albania. It was not the first time that the Ballon d’Or ceremony clashed with the women’s international break, suggesting a disinterest from football institutions to fully celebrate the women’s game.
Katie McCabe's impressive form in the match was the culmination of her incredible year, which even earned her a nomination for the Ballon d’Or, the first Irish player to achieve this milestone since Roy Keane in 2000.
This disinterest also emerges considering the conditions in which Ireland played Albania on their home ground: the undisputed protagonist of the game was the downpour over Shokder, which rendered the pitch almost unplayable as the first half progressed. The game was stopped for an hour at half-time, and was eventually resumed after stadium staff cleared the pitch enough to allow both teams to play safely. The weather conditions surely added to the tightness of the game, which remained 0-0 until Denise O’Sullivan broke the deadlock in the 88th minute. This win and the concomitant 1-1 draw between Hungary and Northern Ireland signalled Ireland’s early promotion to League A of the Nations League.
The undisputed protagonist of the game was the downpour over Shokder, which rendered the pitch almost unplayable as the first half progressed.
Next on the schedule is Hungary, which the Girls in Green will face at Tallaght Stadium on Friday 1st December, and Northern Ireland on Tuesday 5th December.