- Christine Allen
- Sat, Apr 06 2024
"Mon centre cède, ma droite recule, situation excellente, j'attaque”
"My centre is giving way, my right is retreating, excellent situation, I am attacking."
Ferdinand Foch, Allied Supreme Commander WWI
Ireland's WNT team held their nerve against a Les Bleues siege in the Stade Saint-Symphorien and were unlucky not to take a point into their second A3 group game at the Aviva against England on Tuesday.
On studying Eileen Gleeson’s team sheet, Hervé Renard may have suspected an optical illusion, the strength of that presented by the kaleidoscopic stained glass that fronts the Cathédrale St-Étienne, so unexpected was the Dubliners' starting eleven, which featured three competitive debutantes and an untested (and therefore unseen) defensive backline of five.
As expected, given their formidable opposition, the women in white lined out in a padded 5-4-1 formation, with Heather Payne and Aoife Mannion operating as wingbacks, McCabe holding the midfield while Kyra Carusa hunted as a lone striker up top.
From the kick-off, the French raced forward as if their opening European qualifier were a Grand Départ in the Tour de France, cycling the ball between the back three as they looked to scout UEFA Women's Champions League Winner Sakina Karchaoui on the left and the braided Kadidiatou Diani who pedalled menacingly up front.
The first warning shot came in the 3rd minute when a slip ball through by Diani to Chelsea's versatile right-back Eve Perisset resulted in an inviting sweep into the box which was thumped out for a corner by Payne, whose block moments later on the left-hand post denied Delphine Cascarino a possible assist.
Payne, despite her tireless work rate, was soon outpaced by the lightning-quick Karchaoui, the PSG left-back dropping to the lush green turf when her shirt was tugged by The Toffee.
As Diani adjusted her sights, RTE's George Hamilton switched from commentator to clairvoyant.
His headset microphone his vessel, Hamilton ominously conveyed that six of the home side's last nine goals had materialised from set pieces.
Moments later, Maëlle Lakrar side-footed the ball towards goal, PSG's record goalscorer and youth graduate, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, reacting quickly to tap her attempt over the backline in the 7th minute - her 28th international goal in her 36th international appearance.
There was the sense that this early concession could spell the beginning of the end for Gleeson's side, as the former Peamount United boss signaled for her girls in white to calm down as the French looked certain to cruise into fifth gear, while McCabe's former Arsenal teammate, Louise Quinn, commanded the backline.
There was promise too from the visitors, Payne attempting to muscle into the box, while a dummy worthy of a Michelin star from skipper McCabe took Perisset out of the game, the ball cleared forcefully to Denise O'Sullivan who was unable to control it to shoot from long range, before Payne over-hit the cross out for a goal kick.
The French continued to create chances for the remainder of the half from set pieces and open play, their final execution, however, was lacking in the final third.
Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan's starring role began in the 17th minute when the New Jersey native remained on the deck as her teammates received some much-needed replenishment and direction from the Ireland bench.
This astute move was soon followed by a crucial save when Sandie Toletti let fly from 25 yards out, Brosnan reaching and tipping the ball over the crossbar - the first of many spectacular saves from the player of the match when the 90 were played.
Ireland's best chance in the first half came two minutes into added time, when O'Sullivan played a heavy through ball to Karusa, which Pauline Camille Magnin bundled before the San Diego Waves forward could take a touch.
London City Lionesses' Megan Campbell took the place of Emily Murphy on the restart, while Mannion switched to the right wingback role with Campbell slotting into the left and Payne switching to the right side of midfield where she utilized her throw-in reach to great effect.
In the second half, Ireland sensed that a point was there for the taking, Katie McCabe urging Patten to move higher up the pitch for the free kick, before the Tallaght native’s attacking efforts were extinguished by three French shirts.
At the other end of the stadium, Brosnan was forced to make two saves in quick succession, a brave punch following a floating ball from Karchaoui and a low take on foot of a glancing header by Lakrar solidifying her credentials on the world stage, while the number one was booked shortly thereafter for a masterclass in gamesmanship.
Amber Barrett replaced Carusa in the 64th minute, one center for another, her link-up play with O'Sullivan looking to set Ireland's foundational counter.
However, Barrett's entrance was short-lived, a muscle injury forcing her to retire early, Birmingham's Lucy Quinn called upon to replace her.
Eugénie Le Sommer sparked on the left channel yet Hayes held her own with the eight-time European Cup Winner and was central to Ireland's strength in defense, along with the tireless Campbell, while Liverpool's Leanne Kiernan threatened Karchaoui on the right flank.
The French made a flurry of substitutions in the final fifteen, Renard alert to the growing threat of the equaliser. Ireland's best chance to convert came in the 87th minute when an interception from Quinn fell to Kiernan on the edge of the box, who, head down, fired the ball across the post, the unmarked McCabe falling to her knees and rueing the wasted opportunity with a slap on the turf.
Long hopeful balls from Campbell did little to trouble the French backline and five minutes of additional time was not enough for the women in white to level the score.
“Be where your feet are” is a mantra that Eileen Gleeson broadcasts within the Dublin 15 HQ - so where are Ireland now?
Still within the group.
All to play for at the Aviva on April 9th.
