Nov 21,2024
Tomorrow morning, Eileen Gleeson will name her Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming Euro 2025 play-off against Wales.
That tie looks like a crossroads as much as a potential bridge to another major tournament.
It's almost a year since the Dubliner was named the permanent successor to Vera Pauw having guided Ireland to Nations League promotion as interim boss.
Gleeson was given an 18-month contract that brings her term up to the conclusion of next summer's Euros in Switzerland.
If Ireland fail to get there however, her future is unclear.
The 52-year-old previously served as the head of women's and girls' football, with the FAI only filling the vacancy last April, when Welsh native Hannah Dingley was named as Gleeson's replacement. Amid a protracted process, there were reports some candidates had pulled out of the race because it was a fixed-term appointment and not a permanent one. It's certainly possible the door is being left ajar for Gleeson to return to her old job at some stage.
Clarity will likely come in the wake of the Wales games, and perhaps the FAI will be wary too of repeating the mistake they made with Pauw, who had to field constant questions about her future up to and throughout the World Cup as the association left her in limbo.
From the outset of her reign, Gleeson has stated it's the intention and expectation of the squad to make the Euros. The Pauw era ended in messy fashion, but it shouldn't be forgotten that Ireland acquitted themselves well at the World Cup after being housed in a very difficult group alongside co-hosts Australia, Canada and Nigeria.
There's an internal belief that they can make a bigger impact on a tournament, specifically by getting out of the group stages.
First, they must qualify of course - and getting there will not be straightforward.
The Welsh needed extra-time to squeeze past Slovakia in the semi-finals but make no mistake, they are a serious threat to the Girls in Green's ambitions.
Gleeson only has to revisit the highlights of the countries' friendly in Tallaght last February to know how sticky this two-legged tie could be. Wales wiped the floor with Ireland that night, the hosts flattered by a 2-0 defeat.
Ireland have since been steeled by six Euro qualifiers, against France, Sweden and England, while Gleeson can point to the fact that she was without Denise O'Sullivan that night. She also tried an experimental 4-2-3-1 formation that completely malfunctioned.
The visitors poured through the cracks left by confused Irish players; but Wales are unlikely to be afforded that luxury in Cardiff on Friday week when Gleeson will almost certainly line up with her preferred 3-5-2, a block that should be hard for Rian Wilkinson's world No 29-ranked outfit to penetrate.
As always, injuries further muddy the waters.
Jess Fishlock's return for the Slovakia games was a major boost to Wales; their most-capped player and all-time top goalscorer hadn't played since suffering a leg injury in action for Seattle Reign in early September. Now 37, Fishlock remains a potent threat, scoring the opener and making the second in their 2-0 second-leg defeat of the Slovakians.
However midfielder Sophie Ingle is out as she continues to recover from an ACL injury, while attacker Elise Hughes is still making her way back from the same setback. She has yet to feature for her club Crystal Palace this season. Both were brilliant in Dublin nine months ago.
Ireland have their own issues of course.
Louise Quinn came on at half-time during the friendly against Wales and subdued Hughes, who'd run riot in the opening half. The experienced defender is still out with a hip problem and looks unlikely to make the squad, with Diane Caldwell (back) also struggling.
There are doubts over Aoife Mannion, Ellen Molloy and Lucy Quinn, but Gleeson has a fully-fit Kyra Carusa to call on again after her goalscoring return in the last window against Georgia, while Megan Campbell, Megan Connolly and Ruesha Littlejohn are all back in the frame to feature too.
Then there's the Julie-Ann Russell factor. The Galway United woman gave Ireland a new dimension when she received a surprise recall for the England and France games last July. Three goals in four games later, it's hard to imagine this team without her in it.
Russell has been training with Salthill Devon's boys teams to keep herself sharp in the League of Ireland off-season. Her pace, energy and versatility will be crucial for the Girls in Green as they look navigate this play-off bridge and ensure talk of life after Gleeson can be parked until late summer.
