Nov 22,2024
The Republic of Ireland will dedicate time to practising penalties as they prepare for a Euro 2025 play-off showdown with Wales that could go right to the wire.
After watching his team lose to Spain in a shootout at the 2002 World Cup, Mick McCarthy said that "practising penalties is garbage".
Eileen Gleeson sees things differently. The Dubliner will use some of the build-up to next Friday's first leg in Cardiff to polish up her strongest penalty takers in the event this huge clash goes the distance; the teams meet for the return match at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday 3 December.
"Oh yes, we definitely will," Gleeson replied when asked they'd be working on penos.
In that scenario, first-choice stopper Courtney Brosnan, who was brilliant for Everton in their 1-0 derby win against Liverpool last Sunday, could be a major asset, with Gleeson adding: "I can't give Courtney enough praise. She’s phenomenal, she’s fantastic for Everton, she’s a game-winner.
"There might be an emphasis on strikers and scoring goals but the amount of times Courtney has kept us in games with some great saves. She’s really developed into a top-class keeper so we’re super lucky to have Courtney. She’s a huge player for us."
Ideally of course Ireland won't need heroics from Brosnan to qualify for a first Women's European Championships.
Wales deservedly beat Ireland 2-0 in a Tallaght friendly last February, but the Girls in Green will be slight favourites going into this one, having been steeled by tough qualification group games against England, Sweden and France, who they beat 3-1 in Cork.
Wales meanwhile competed in the more forgiving League B group, which they topped ahead of Ukraine, Croatia and Kosovo. Rhian Wilkinson's side needed extra-time to defeat Slovakia in the play-off semi-finals, as Ireland breezed past minnows Georgia 9-0 on aggregate.
"We've both have different routes and challenges at different times," said Gleeson.
"We obviously had tougher games in League A when they were in League B. They potentially had the harder game in the play-offs compared to us. They beat us in Tallaght.
"But we’re a different team to where we were in February. They’re also a different team compared to where they were in February, new management. So it’s a very evenly balanced tie.
"We’ve got variances in preparation phases at different times; different challenges when some might have considered more difficult than the other at different phases. But it’s evenly balanced. Both teams will be different come this stage.
"It's exciting, it’s the play-off, it’s the chance to get to Euro 2025, we’re at home for the second leg in the Aviva. It has the potential to be really historic for us so we’re super excited for it but paying a lot of attention to details."
