Dec 03,2024
On the eve of tonight's Euro 2025 play-off between the Republic of Ireland and Wales, the FAI issued a press release entitled: 'Women and girls' football continues rapid rise'.
The stats and figures listed paint a positive picture.
The growth is obvious and will continue no matter what happens at Lansdowne Road tonight. But this international derby does feel like it has a set of sliding doors sitting on its hinges.
After the 2023 World Cup, one of the FAI's targets was to bring through younger players, with an eye on the 2025 Euros, the 2027 World Cup and beyond. And yet the average age of Gleeson's starting XI against Wales in Cardiff last Friday was just under 30.
The inclusion of 37-year-old Niamh Fahey bumped that up, but Heather Payne (24) was the youngest Irish starter, and by the time the next World Cup rolls round, there's a chance the squad could be backboned by an ageing core. Katie McCabe will be 31, Denise O'Sullivan 33, Courtney Brosnan 31, Kyra Carusa 31, Louise Quinn 36, and Julie-Ann Russell 35.
So Ireland are at a crossroads. Making a second major tournament on the bounce would be a shot in the arm and of course represent another barrier smashed: the Girls in Green have never reached a European Championships.
However, defeat against the Welsh could derail the momentum they've worked so hard to build, while also opening up questions around Gleeson's future. Her contract expires after Ireland's involvement in the Euro 2025 campaign is over.
Wales are in a similar place to where Ireland were three or four years ago. They were unlucky not to reach the World Cup, suffering a heart-breaking late play-off loss to Switzerland. But driven by a charismatic foreign coach in Rhian Wilkinson, they have dusted themselves down to get back to within 90 minutes of making a seismic breakthrough. Wales have never qualified for a major women's tournament.
Canadian Wilkinson - her mother is Welsh - has been slowly turning the screw all week ahead of this showdown.
She has repeatedly referenced Ireland's "direct style" and "physicality", and scolded her team for getting sucked into playing their opponents' "brand of football".
The Welsh clearly believe they are a better footballing side and will look to play through and around the Irish press as much as possible. This notion that Wales are here to play while the Irish will be happy to make hard tackles and boot the ball down the pitch should grate. After all, the hosts are four places higher than Wilkinson's outfit in the world rankings.
"To be honest, the only time that I hear what Rhian says is when I come in here," Gleeson said at her press conference yesterday when asked if she was irked by her opposite number's comments.
"Respectfully, I don't really care what Rhian is saying. We are focusing on ourselves, she has to take care of herself and her own team. Whatever Rhian wants to say is up to her."
Gleeson leaned into experience for the first leg and is unlikely to change things too much tonight. Ruesha Littlejohn - fantastic in Cardiff - trained lightly yesterday to manage her tender Achilles. The hope, and suspicion, is she'll be okay to anchor the midfield again. If not, Tyler Toland and Jessie Stapleton are viable options to fill that role.
Lily Agg was taken off at half-time a few days ago so Megan Connolly might replace her in the engine room, though the versatile Lazio player would also be a capable deputy for Fahey in defence if Gleeson opts for fresher legs back there.
Marissa Sheva, who did quite well when she came on for Agg, will probably be held in reserve again along with Leanne Kiernan. Megan Campbell is ready and waiting too, her famous throw-in a potent Plan B should Ireland need it.
Wilkinson isn't expected to shuffle her pack either, though the energetic Carrie Jones could earn a start having done well off the bench on Friday.
The first leg was a scrappy, nervous affair that occasionally got heated. Expect similar tonight, with everything dialled up. Scrappier, nervier, more heated.
The presence of such jeopardy will ensure this is another cautious, albeit fiercely contested affair. Ireland should just about have enough to get the job done. But it might be a long night.
Prediction: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Wales
Predicted teams
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Anna Patten, Niamh Fahey, Caitlin Hayes; Heather Payne, Ruesha Littlejohn, Megan Connolly, Denise O'Sullivan, Katie McCabe (capt); Julie Ann Russell, Kyra Carusa.
Wales: Olivia Clark; Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd, Rhiannon Roberts; Lily Woodham, Angharad James-Turner (capt), Carrie Jones, Ceri Holland; Jess Fishlock, Rachel Rowe, Ffionn Morgan.
