Pauw proud of ‘phenomenal’ Ireland performance in final game at home before heading Down Under

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

When Vera Pauw took over as the Ireland manager she set about getting fixtures against higher ranked opposition. They lost seven straight matches before an impressive 3-2 win over Australia in Tallaght Stadium in September 2019.

That win turned the corner for the Girls in Green and, benefiting from those difficult games, set out their work that has resulted in their next competitive game being against Australia again but this time in the opening game of the World Cup – Ireland’s first on the biggest stage in the women’s game.

As part of preparation for that fixture in Sydney, Pauw picked France as the opposition this week and it was a tough test in Tallaght against the world number five team.

It was a 3-0 win for Herve Renard’s team but Pauw got what she needed from the game – bar losing Katie McCabe to a rolled ankle in the first half that is hoped isn’t too serious.

“I'm very proud that we've performed at a very high level,” said Pauw after the game. “Especially the first half, the way we started, it was phenomenal. The best half that we played against a higher opposition so far. We keep on improving and improving.

“With Katie, it's a blow but I hope things are okay. I don't know more than you do because I've not been in the dressing room. The doctor has to see it and have the first assessment still.

“The reason why we play these games is that you make individual mistakes if you for the first time play under that level against that high opposition - and that is what happened.

"The second goal, If you let a player play in between the lines, it's a goal at this level. The third goal was a runner from midfield at the set-piece.

“That is why you play these games, because you need to make these mistakes to learn from it. That will not happen at the World Cup now. I'm happy it happened because that makes everybody sharp and aware that you can't just do this. 

“We were so proud, we were actually playing an even game against France and that is a huge compliment and nobody would have expected it. Second half, we couldn't cope any more, we couldn't get the pressure any more, the wind was strong so that didn't help us.

“We said at halftime (after conceding two goals in injury time), you did phenomenal. It was absolutely fantastic. So don't let those two goals get you down. This is why we play France, a top five nation. This is why we put this game at this stage now because this will not happen at the World Cup.

“So we took the positives, the really good play that we've done and we've sharpened a few things. We said it's just phenomenal how they played very good.”

Kyra Carusa: ‘Opponents are thinking they're going to get points off us. We have to thrive on that and that has to become our superpower’ https://t.co/hax1C91pItpic.twitter.com/nOc0OyXf5i

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) July 6, 2023

There have been plenty of sell-outs in Tallaght Stadium for the girls in green but dissapointinly having large numbers of empty seats with ticket holders not attending – that wasn’t the case for this World Cup send off.

A record crowd for an Ireland game of 7,633 came to Dublin 24 to see off the Girls in Green before they head to Australia.

Pauw and the FAI had emphasised the importance of ticket holders coming to Tallaght and, despite the rain, they did so in record numbers for an Ireland women’s international.

“I was looking at the opposite side and thought no gaps, everybody's turned up so in this weather I’m so proud of all those kids and their parents and the teams and everybody that supported us. Yeah, really, really good.”

Ahead of kick-off the starting XI were given a guard of honour by the Ireland women's team from fifty years ago who were the first to represent the country.

“Those legends they started it, we're standing on their shoulders, so it was so nice. They were enjoying themselves so much and they fully deserve it and I hope they really enjoyed it.” 

The new legends of the game will travel to Australia in two groups over the next couple of days after a family brunch at their team hotel on Friday. History is about to be made.

World Cup Warm Up: Republic of Ireland 0 - 3 France https://t.co/MStE9Pwzr7pic.twitter.com/mTP76jKB6y

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) July 6, 2023