‘Horrible’ decision on World Cup squad selection awaits Vera Pauw

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

Vera Pauw’s decision on who to bring to the World Cup needs to be made by the end of the month but it is the players who won’t make it that are in her mind right now.

Speaking after Ireland’s 3-2 friendly win against Zambia, she admitted that it will be “the worst day of the campaign when I have to make the final decision” on her 23 player squad (plus three training players).

As the team travelled to Tallaght on Thursday night for the game, the Dutch woman reached out to those players who haven’t made the training squad.

“It is horrible,” she said about having to make the decision on her squad, “but it is worse for them (the players). After those decisions are made we will go ahead. It isn't the ones who make it that are in my mind but the ones who do not make it. 

“I feel for those players who have not made the training squad as they must feel bad. I texted every player who didn't make the squad on the way to the stadium as I felt that they are not here and not with us and that hurts but we need to be strong as that is part of elite sport.

“The decision is on my shoulders but we take it together with the technical staff but in the end I'm the one responsible.”

extratime.com asked Pauw did she get what she hoped from the match against the team who finished third in last year’s African Cup of Nations.

“We got more than we hoped from the game,” said the Ireland boss. “It was really beneficial. We always play to win and the way we got that win over the line is phenomenal because we are in pre-season and you could see that after the 70th minute.

“Two years ago we wouldn't have been able to do that. We got the win by killing the game while still playing. We aren't a team that is going to dive but we know what to do.”

The friendly fixture was set up as Zambia play a similar style to Nigeria who Ireland will face in their final World Cup group game in Brisbane (after beginning their campaign against the hosts in Sydney and then playing Canada in Perth).

“They were physically so strong, fast and skilful and we knew that would cause us problems. The players now know what it is to play an African team and how difficult it is.”

Ireland trailed 1-0 at the break and Pauw looked for more from her players in the second half – using a mantra she used right when she took over the job 30 games ago.

“At the break, the first sentence I said was if you have a fear of failure you will never succeed. That was the first line in the first presentation four years ago and that is what happened today. There were players who had fear of making mistakes. You have to have the guts to fail.”

The plan was always to make five changes at the break and substitute Amber Barrett showed she had no fear in taking the penalty four minutes after coming on to draw the team level.

With Claire O’Riordan’s goal and another from Barrett in the 71^st minute it gave the Girls in Green some breathing room which was useful after Racheal Kundananji’s goal 11 minutes from time.

The players have a few days off before they are back training in UCD next week ahead of their final friendly in Ireland on 6 July.

Girls in Green win World Cup warm-up in Tallaght

Match Report: Republic of Ireland 3 - 2 Zambiahttps://t.co/fnpP1xfOMypic.twitter.com/xiOvPhLNqV

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) June 22, 2023