Nov 26,2024
Former Republic of Ireland international Méabh De Búrca is hopeful that the Girls in Green playing the second leg of their Euro 2025 play-off against Wales on home soil will give them the edge.
Friday's first leg will take place in Cardiff before Eileen Gleeson's side welcome the Welsh to Aviva Stadium next Tuesday with a first ever European Championship appearance at stake for both sides.
"It's going to be a challenge definitely for the girls but it's going to be one that hopefully they can overcome and I think it's going to be a really tight game, regardless," she said.
"Having the second leg at home, I think, will hopefully be an advantage to us."
While Tallaght Stadium has been forged into a fortress for Ireland's senior women, they have had a number of opportunities to get used to playing in front of larger crowds at the Aviva Stadium since first doing so against Northern Ireland in September 2023.
"Even last week the figure was over 15,000 (tickets) had been sold, so I'm sure that will pick up even more this week and I think that's going to be a huge factor because it's going to be such a big occasion, that the girls are used to playing there," said De Búrca.
"They're used to the big occasion now so I don't think that's going to be something that will over-awe them, and obviously they have already qualified for a major tournament whereas Wales might come into it with a bit less experience.
"Hopefully the girls can use that and it would be great just to qualify for a second major tournament in a row to build off that success of the World Cup and having (Euro 2025) in Switzerland, there will be a lot more publicity and the timing of the games will suit people in Ireland better and also then will allow for big travelling support. But I suppose we're getting away with ourselves there, we have to focus and get the job done, starting on Friday."
Meanwhile, the future of Ireland manager Gleeson could hinge on the outcome of the play-off against Wales. She is on record as being keen to remain in charge but talks with the FAI on a potential contract extension have not yet been held.
"She has done as best she can with the team," said De Búrca of Gleeson's tenure which initially began as interim manager in the autumn of 2023.
"I think really that Wales loss (in February) is probably the one major blemish on the record, otherwise I think we've beaten the teams that we're meant to have beaten and we've lost against the teams that we were meant to have lost to, of course barring that amazing win against France down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
"So I think that would definitely stand to her. That's the best result that we've ever gotten in a competitive game, so I think that she probably will stay on.
"It's hard to know, it's up to the powers that be who are making those decisions, but I don't think even if we were to lose against Wales, I can't see her contract not being extended. It's hard to call but I think that she probably will stay in the position going forward."
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