WNT - France are not invincible going into winner-takes-all clash
Five2Follow - today’s developing stories
5 June 2026; Chiedozie Ogbene of Republic of Ireland, left, scores his side’s first goal during the international friendly match between Canada and Republic of Ireland at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Canada. Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile
Desperate times call for desperate measures as latest FAI bumblings take centre stage in the Damned United
Cathal Dervan, Editor
Damned if they do and damned if they don’t - the lack of real football experience and actual leadership came back to bite the FAI yesterday as they were, so to speak, caught on the STOP (sic) by the Government.
Be under no illusions. The latest developments in the Stop The Game debate were sparked by the Government on Monday when everybody bar the FAI confirmed that the FAI has decided to seek to move the Israel game to a neutral venue.
A week after Ministers O’Donovan and McConalogue confirmed they wouldn’t attend the home game, the Government finally saw something approaching sense and Oireachtas sources effectively leaked the neutral venue move.
It was a PR masterstroke to get out in front of the two Dail motions calling for a boycott of the Israel games and the removal of Israel from international sport. And it worked, even if it left the FAI scrambling to react and later insisting that ‘any statement around the game is solely a matter for the Association’. That’s the Government told - too late as it happens!
The Government doesn’t like these upcoming Dail motions, as is their right. They have imposed the party whip on their deputies, all but ensuring that the motions will be defeated and that any individual within their ranks opposed to the Israeli games is silenced.
They have also, as of Monday, been served with a judicial review threat by the Stop The Game campaign who are essentially taking legal action against the FAI, Sport Ireland and various Ministers over their handling of the Israel issue.
Like the FAI, the Government are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Unlike the FAI, the Government and their handlers know how to deal with these situations.
All the FAI told us on Monday, in the wake of huge media interest following Tony O’Donoghue’s revelations on RTE that the game is likely to be moved, is that they want to keep the focus on the Girls in Green and their World Cup qualification showdown in France on Tuesday night.
Fair enough, even if their statement only added fuel to the fire and did exactly what they didn’t want to do and gave more legs to the story and handed even more power to the Stop The Game protestors.
So here’s the question. Given that the FAI Board met last Thursday and, as we know now, decided moving the game to a neutral venue is a serious option, why didn’t they announce that on Saturday and get all the fuss out of the way by Monday’s news cycle, leaving the stage free to Carla Ward and her Cork heroes?
And here’s the real question, one that has been highlighted here on more than one occasion in the recent past - why didn’t they do all this when the Nations League draw was made in Brussels back in February?
Instead of walking away from the media that day, all they had to do was confirm that they would take a week out to talk to all stakeholders and then make a decision on how to handle what is becoming a bigger crisis by the day due to ineptitude from some parts of the Board and the FAI’s management team.
A week later they could easily have announced that they would move the Israel home game to a neutral venue unless instructed otherwise by UEFA or the Irish Government. That would have achieved what should have always happened in this case, it would have taken the decision and the moral responsibility away from the FAI.
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You see the real problem here isn’t a pure FAI one. It’s a political one and is based solely on who should decide if Israel - or any state involved in conflict - is allowed to engage in football.
The FAI, to be fair, can’t make that decision but they are the ones currently paying the price because the Government and UEFA won’t take a hard line. It’s just a pity the FAI didn’t realise that when the draw was made and take it up with UEFA there and then.
That’s where the real pressure should turn now. As things stand, the FAI have no choice but to fulfil the two fixtures against Israel. Only UEFA can change that. And there’s an easy way to make them see sense - threaten to pull Dublin as a Euro 2028 venue!
Desperate for cash, there’s no way the FAI will do anything but laugh at that suggestion. But it would certainly make UEFA sit up and take notice!
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History beckons in Grenoble after a coming-of-age moment for the Girls in Green down in Cork
Cara Conboy, Guest Columnist
History awaits Carla Ward’s Ireland in France tonight when a win, any win never mind a shock win, will secure qualification for the 2027 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. What a story that would be.
First though, my take on the action last Friday night as Ireland edged a Dutch thriller to set-up this decisive French clash as Páirc Uí Chaoimh once again played host to a memorable night as Amber Barrett’s late winner secured that dramatic 3-2 victory.
Carla Ward was left with tough decisions to make regarding the starting line-up with Cork native Denise O’Sullivan unavailable for selection after picking up a second yellow card of the campaign last time out against Poland and key forward Emily Murphy was also suspended. Larkin came into the side in place of Murphy, while Ruesha Littlejohn took O’Sullivan’s spot in the centre of the park.
From the off, the Oranje dominated possession, leaving Ireland to work hard off the ball and remain resolute in their defending.
Despite this, it was Kyra Carusa who broke the deadlock. A great ball forward from Littlejohn released Abbie Larkin, whose deft pass with the outside of her foot found Carusa who remained onside. The Irish striker finished neatly with 20 minutes on the clock.
For the remainder of the half, Courtney Brosnan was a calming presence between the sticks and she was quick off her line on multiple occasions to snuff out Dutch attacks. Thus it remained 1-0 heading into the break after a brilliantly disciplined display from the Girls in Green.
As the conditions continued to worsen, the second-half took a while to get going but it was Dutch persistence that paid off as Mannion brought down Groenen in the box and Janssen made no mistake from the spot to equalise.
Again, the Girls in Green showed excellent character following the disappointment of conceding, going straight down the other end to re-take the lead through the impressive Larkin.
As Ward looked to her bench to see out the result with both goal scorers making way for Leanne Kiernan and Amber Barrett, the back and forth nature of the tie continued as with 10 minutes to go, Pelova remained calm in the box getting away from Mustaki and Hayes to finish into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.
With third place in the group and a play-off already secured after the French victory over Poland, the Girls in Green had nothing to lose as the rain soaked Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Ward took a gamble, changing the shape from the tried and tested 5-4-1 to a more attacking 3-4-3 as Saoirse Noonan came on.
It’s safe to say the gamble paid off as, in the 89th minute, Marissa Sheva sent in a lovely ball from the right-wing which was expertly knocked on by Patten and sent into the goal by the outstretched boot of Amber Barrett, securing yet another historic victory in Cork.
While Barrett’s winner deservedly grabbed the headlines, this victory feels like a true coming-of-age moment for this Irish team.
The Netherlands dominated possession for large spells, but Ireland remained focused and disciplined throughout while always looking to transition quickly. Carusa led the line superbly, combining her physical presence with the relentless energy of Larkin to cause problems for the Dutch defence on the counterattack. Ireland particularly impressed down the right flank as Carusa, Sheva and Mannion linked up well, creating a number of opportunities to stretch the Dutch defence.
At the other end, Caitlin Hayes and Courtney Brosnan stood out. Brosnan made a number of impressive saves at crucial moments in the game, while her ability to command the box helped to relieve pressure throughout. Despite facing 17 attempts on goal, the Girls in Green limited the Netherlands to relatively few clear-cut opportunities.
Carla Ward also deserves huge credit. Her substitutions were timed brilliantly as she swapped Carusa and Larkin for Barrett and Kiernan, introducing fresh legs without sacrificing Ireland’s ability to threaten on the break. Her willingness to gamble in the final 10 minutes was refreshing and ultimately proved decisive as Barrett clinched victory with a late winner.
Following the excitement of Friday’s victory, Ireland now turn their attentions to an even greater challenge in Grenoble on Tuesday night against group leaders France. They go into the game knowing that one more historic victory will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Ireland will be boosted by the return after suspension of both Denise O’Sullivan and Emily Murphy while the performances of Ruesha Littlejohn, Jess Ziu and Amber Barrett against the Netherlands highlighted the growing depth available to Ward. Kiernan will be unavailable for selection following her late sending off but with competition for places increasing, Ward has several difficult selection decisions ahead of Tuesday’s crucial tie.
France, while one of Europe’s strongest teams, are not invincible. Their technical quality and attacking prowess have helped them to the top of the group thus far, but throughout the campaign they have shown signs of vulnerability, most notably losing 2-1 to the Netherlands in Breda and only securing a 1-1 draw in the return fixture.
Ireland’s previous qualifying clash with the French saw Les Bleues run out 2-1 winners through two Melvine Malard goals.
A win on Tuesday wouldn’t be the first time the Girls in Green have shocked France. A 3-1 home victory over the French in July 2024 was the sole positive in an extremely tough Euro 2025 qualifying group.
This Ireland team are no strangers to the role of underdog and will travel full of confidence after Friday’s victory. If their display against the Netherlands proved anything, it is that this group possesses the resilience and belief required to compete with Europe’s elite as 90 minutes in Grenoble now stand between Ireland and a place at their second ever Women’s World Cup. History beckons.
The key stories developing today
The FAI have taken the decision to move the UEFA Nations League home qualifier against Israel out of Dublin - now they need UEFA’s approval as Dail Eireann prepares to debate the most controversial fixture in Irish football history.
RTE’s Tony O’Donoghue broke the news on Monday afternoon that the FAI Board have finally accepted that they cannot host the ‘home’ fixture against the Israelis with Budapest now the likely venue for the clash pending a green light from UEFA.
RTE also reports that Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has claimed that moving the game out of Ireland is not enough as the Irish parliament prepares to debate her party’s motion on Tuesday which calls on the FAI to boycott the game.
The FAI have yet to confirm the switch but did issue a statement on Monday evening in light of the RTE story and the subsequent media enquiries.
O’Donoghue’s story suggests that the game on October 4th will switch from the Aviva Stadium to a neutral ground, pending UEFA approval, with a venue in Hungary considered a likely alternative.
It goes on to say that the FAI Board met last Friday while a second meeting was held this afternoon where a decision was reached.
The FAI said later on Monday that it would not release any statement on any decision on the matter until after a board meeting scheduled for Thursday as they want to keep the focus on the FIFA Women’s World Cup make or break qualifier play in France on Tuesday night.
The FAI also said it is the responsibility of the Board of the FAI to protect the future interests of football in Ireland and that any decision around the israel game is ‘solely a matter for the Association’.
Speaking ahead of the Dail debate on Tuesday,Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “Our motion supports the Stop the Game campaign - the call is quite clear for the game not to proceed in Ireland or anywhere.
“There is no support for our national team to play, under our tricolour, against Israel while there is a genocide ongoing.”
Ireland manager Carla Ward has outlined the opportunity that awaits her players in Grenoble tonight when victory against a top French side will send the Republic to a second straight World Cup finals.
The late, late win against the Netherlands in Cork last Friday night means Ireland are now one win away from automatic qualification for next summer’s year’s in Brazil.
With a play-off already secured, Ireland will give it a right go against the fourth ranked team in the world in France tonight and Ward insists her players should be proud of their campaign to date.
The Irish Examiner’s John Fallon reports from her pre-match press conference when she said: “First of all, no matter what happens tomorrow night, this group can be incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far.
“That is number one and it’s important that we don’t lose sight of the actual development of the group. Of course, we want to go and win this game, we wanted to win the game the other night and we made sure we did.
“How big would this be? I think you would all agree it would be one of the biggest sporting stories in world football. That’s because no fourth ranked team stays in League A, let alone wins two games and then wins three games and then wins the group.
“We’ve already written our own records, and this would be the biggest one, no doubt about it.”
Roy Keane will quit his Cheshire home for Australia if England win the World Cup for the first time in 60 years this summer according to a story in the Irish Sun.
The paper quotes Keane talking to a Sky Bet podcast about England’s World Cup chances and his response to a question from Micah Richards about that he would do if Thomas Tuchel’s side win the tournament.
The Corkman said: “I don’t want England winning it! But obviously, when we’re working over there, and you’re ITV, you want them to do well.
“And you know they’re gonna through the knockout games, and when they’re getting through, there’s a bit of excitement. And that’s when I start to get worried, when it’s semis and finals.”
Asked by fellow pundit Richards if he’d be happy if England won the competition, Keane declared: “No, I’d be emigrating to Australia.”
Wolves Technical Director Matt Jackson has paid tribute to Matt Doherty’s time with the club after confirmation that he has been released on a free transfer after 13 years at Molineux, over two spells.
The Dubliner played almost 400 games for Wolves and the Irish Mirror reports on Jackson’s praise for the Ireland defender.
“It’s rare to get actual ‘club men’ in the modern game, but Doc is definitely a Wolverhampton Wanderers man, through and through,” said Jackson.
“He’s been absolutely exceptional throughout the 13 years he’s spent at the club, both on the pitch and with the leadership he displays off it.”
Galway United have been forced to move their Premier Division game with Dundalk on Friday night to Turner’s Cross in Cork as Eamonn Deacy Park is closed for pitch renovations and their temporary home at the Pearse Stadium GAA venue isn’t available due to an All-Ireland football championship fixture.
The Dundalk game will now be played on Leeside but upcoming fixtures against Derry City, Sligo Rovers and Waterford will go ahead at Pearse Stadium as planner.
All photos on TheSportsHacks are provided by Sportsfile.com
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