IRELAND LOOK set to face Nations League relegation to League B, after a 3-0 defeat in this evening’s Euro 2025 qualifier against Sweden, but they certainly didn’t die wondering.
A brave approach from the Irish team did not work out as hoped, meaning an attendance of 22,868 were left disappointed in the women’s team’s third-ever match at the Aviva Stadium.
Boss Eileen Gleeson had spoken of the need for her side to be “assertive and aggressive” in the pre-match press conference and the team backed up these words in the game’s opening stages.
The Girls in Green had been disappointingly passive at the outset of their last home qualifier and Gleeson made five changes from the starting XI that lost 2-0 to England.
Three were enforced, with Heather Payne, Denise O’Sullivan and Ruesha Littlejohn out injured, while Lucy Quinn and Aoife Mannion dropped to the bench.
Some eyebrows were raised, however, as the starting XI was a noticeably attacking lineup for this must-win qualifier.
It was a rare instance against top-calibre opposition of the Irish team beginning with two out-and-out strikers as Amber Barrett was given a surprise start alongside Kyra Carusa.
In the absence of O’Sullivan, Lily Agg came into the team and was the most advanced of the midfielders, playing almost as a number 10 at times.
Megan Connolly and Jessie Stapleton occupied the deeper midfield roles, with Katie McCabe and Jessica Ziu filling the wing-back slots.
Meanwhile, the backline was as expected, with Louise Quinn, Caitlin Hayes, Anna Patten and Courtney Brosnan all retaining their places.
This bold approach had the potential to go awry, but in contrast to the England game where they were 2-0 down after 18 minutes, Ireland started promisingly.
In an exciting first half, Barrett might have finished better on more than one occasion, while Agg was equally frustrated as she turned a shot inches wide of the post.
Yet the inevitable downside of such an attacking approach is how vulnerable it can leave teams at the back and the hosts made it all too easy for Sweden’s opener.
Ireland were badly caught out on the counter with a lack of defensive cover, as Johanna Rytting Kaneryd was given too much space and made no mistake with the clinical finish.
After an encouraging opening quarter Sweden go in front with Rytting Kaneryd goal.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 31, 2024
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From this point onwards, the momentum shifted significantly.
Perhaps feeling they were performing better than the scoreline suggested, the frustration was evident in some of the Irish players’ body language — an exasperated Katie McCabe threw her hands up in the air on more than one occasion, while Barrett’s anger with herself was obvious as she headed over the bar from close range.
Sweden, by contrast, missed a host of good chances. Last-ditch challenges on either side of the break from Hayes and Ziu prevented near-certain goals, while Brosnan made a good save to deny Fridolina Rolfo who found herself through on goal.
The same player did not make the same mistake again, as Ireland were caught on the counter minutes later. The Barcelona attacker was afforded far too much space after a quick break and this time curled expertly into the far corner.
The midfield alteration that saw Blackburn’s Tyler Toland replace Stapleton could not stem the waves of Swedish attacks.
And as the game entered its final 20 minutes, Gleeson made further changes — Leanne Kiernan, Aoife Mannion and Megan Campbell replaced Agg, Patten and Carusa.
Campbell’s introduction, in particular, drew excitement in the crowd, as the London City Lionesses defender’s long-throw-ins gave the team’s attack another dimension.
But it was too little too late as Sweden saw out the win with relative ease and added a third late on with another clinical counter — the influential Rytting Kaneryd converted on the rebound after Matilda Vinberg’s initial effort was saved.
Of course, anything other than defeat against the side ranked sixth in the world would have been unexpected.
But it was the first time the sides met since a memorable 1-1 away draw in Göteborg helped Ireland secure World Cup qualification in 2022.
It was a much more pragmatic performance on that occasion, and since the Gleeson era began, this Irish team has made no secret of their desire to evolve into a more formidable attacking unit.
Six wins on the trot suggested they were moving in the right direction and those results were enough to land Gleeson the permanent manager’s job.
But after five matches without a win — admittedly against much tougher opponents — it is clear they remain a work in progress and not quite good enough yet for the highest level of international football.
Brilliant reaction from united. Delighted for bruno.
@Brian Dunne: best player on the pitch tonight, when he cuts out the antics and plays like that it’s great to see and he shows he’s class. That was the reaction needed after Sunday.. De gea distribution worrying again though.
@Brian Dunne: Shocked at the Virgin Media panel’s scathing review of Wout Weghorst. Sure, he won’t be United’s starting 9 going into next season, but a player like that is invaluable. He was a workhorse at Wolfsburg and he’s giving it his all here too it seems. He’s a man who will play for the badge. People seem to forget that if you’re chasing a game in seasons to come, the option to throw on a difficult 6’5 centre forward is a blessing. Would not be surprised if he scores one or two important goals going forward if he sticks around.
@Pauly Kel: yeah not sure de gea is ever going to get better at that at this stage.
@Ultan Corcoran: agree Ultan. The lad has worked his socks off in every game and contributes plenty in general play. Anyone who likes football was surely happy he got a goal tonight. But the first thing virgin talk about after the game? How the lad isn’t good enough!
@Ultan Corcoran:agree, thought it came across as very arrogant and nearly sneering of the chap. I’m sure he’s living and enjoying the dream playing for utd, he has been putting in some serious work on the pitch a team player no doubt
@Ultan Corcoran: he might be looks like our transfer window will be suspended with this take over
@Ultan Corcoran: I must say he seems to be very well liked in the squad as they all seemed delighted he scored. Will he be a Kane and score 20+ gold a season. But saw it tonight when they were 3-1 up. Took off Rashford and left Wong on and he never stopped running and harassing. Stopped watch virgin ages ago. Between the pundits and commentators there all terrible.
@Pauly Kel: he’s great against lesser opposition.
@Michael Anthony: you say he goes missing in the big games so?
@Pauly Kel: What part of Manchester are you from?
@Ultan Corcoran: agree. It took forever for John Aldridge to score his first goal for Ireland back in the day. Didn’t make him a bad player. Weghorst will get his share in time.
@Brian Dunne: always plays well against bad teams. Just shows his character really.
Bruno answers his critics with a Man of the Match performance! Delighted for Weghorst too for his goal… Sancho continues to frustrate! Overall an excellent performance after Sunday!
@G Bot: anything was better than sunday
@James Rowan: I agree!!!
@G Bot: Bruno didn’t answer anything. The epitome of a fair weather player. When everything goes well he excels, but runs away when the going gets tough. One game doesn’t absolve years of evidence to the contrary. Mini Ronaldo.
@Trevor Wallace: utter nonsense.
@Trevor Wallace: Really? He effectively carried United on his back single handed for 2 seasons. I’m not sure what evidence your talking about but as a fan I watch him week in week out and his quality and his character is clear…maybe some petulance is a mark against him but otherwise I think your talking out of your proverbial
@Trevor Wallace: they’ve beaten city, liverpool, arsenal, spurs, and barcelona this season with him playing a large part in all those victories but just make stuff up their trev.
@Brian Dunne: How so? I have no skin at all in this. Bruno was a disgrace on Sunday and not for the first time either. I believe Brian Kerr said similar tonight.
While obviously a super talented player when the chips are down has Bruno shown he’s going to dig in for the team? As a non EPL team supporter watching ManU over the seasons, I’m not sure how you can argue against this.
So again, one game doesn’t maketh a player.
@G Bot: Hang on hang on! I’m not dissing him as a player. He is super talented but I question his mentality when the chips are down. I think that’s fair no? I do agree he was awesome in his first season for you. Not sure for 2 seasons….but I’m sure you can correct me.
@Trevor Wallace: 1 game? He has nearly 60 goals and over 50 assists for utd in 150 games for a cm that’s excellent stats, I wouldn’t be too happy with he’s antics when the chips are down he could clean up on that. But he has been a excellent signing for utd..
@Trevor Wallace: I think you’re backtracking a bit there Trevor… Tonight was a tough game despite the scoreline. A flakier team (or United a few years ago) would’ve struggled after Sunday especially after the equaliser. Fernandes was a decisive part in the victory. You might have a point to certain extent to question his character when the chips are down but I think you were dissing him quite a bit in your first comment
@A$AP ETH: Sigh! That is not what I am saying at all. Read my comment again. How any ManU supporters could support some Bruno performances is beyond me. Would I like him playing for my team? (I’m not faceless check my twitter) hell yes every day of the week!! Is Bruno a team player when you’re up against it? Not currently on evidence but maybe he will be.
@Trevor Wallace: like when the chips were down when they went 1 down to barca and won, 1 down to city and won, conceded an equaliser against arsenal earlier in the season and were under the cosh for half an hour and won 3-1? He had a mare last week, the whole team did, yet you are zeroing in on him because he got the lions share of the flak for ‘petulance’ by neville and keane, who as great as they were, also spent the lions share of their career roaring at their team mates. When did people become so sanctimonious that visibly being pissed off when things are going badly is something to be criticised?
@Trevor Wallace: mini Ronaldo? You can say what you like about Ronaldos final weeks at United but nobody can take away what that man achieved, the amount of games he got by the stuff of the neck and the amount of important goals he scored.
@A$AP ETH: Yes, beat liverpool 2-1 at old Trafford with 29% possession and played like a bottom half team on the break. I suppose a stopped clock is right twice a day.
@Denis Ryan: coming off their worst premier league season ever just after receiving a hammering from brentford, and playing one of the top two teams in the league? Well i suppose if they played swashbuckling stuff and lost or drew i could be on here delighted they got them getting 47% possession. Goals on the board is the only stat that matters. Whats the excuse for the actual teams in the bottom half they’ve lost to this year?
@A$AP ETH: same excuse that ye are beginning to use, tired from playing twice a week last year and not investing in our midfield. Won 50 out of 63 games last season without ever playing non possession based football. Remember ye have lost 6 league games this season and we have lost seven. As the games pile up for ye this season, ye will drop points. Besides a miracle in Madrid we have 13 games left this season over three months, plenty of rest and to plan and we are usually better in the second half of the league season.
Sum decent perfomances sum still poor. Antony flatters to deceive. De Gea was shakey all night wit the ball. Thought lads off bench did well wit exception of sancho who was poor…again. Should have bagged another couple of goals.
Good win. Could have scored more. Still a lot to improve on. Think when utd are playing a more attacking team AWB should be playing. Anthony (despite scoring) and Sancho again frustrate
They didn’t beat them 7-0 though!
@Jonathan Nolan: Liverpools next week, can’t wait for Drubbing No.2!
We recovered well, bitter much!??
@Damien O’ Sullivan: in the second tier of European football ffs. Bitter ? Just never forget 7-0
@Johnny Honest: would now be an awkward time to point out that Liverpool are currently qualifying for that second tier of European football in 23/24
@Johnny Honest: We have already.
And we’re moving on to the other competitions we’re still in.
After Tuesday’s mauling the big chase for 4th is all you lot will have.
Exciting…..not.
@Johnny Honest: and you remember 7 is the number of points United are ahead of Liverpool this season
@Johnny Honest: and you remember 7 is the number of points United are ahead of Liverpool this season
Andy townsend voice: Better! An entertaining game. Pleased for Wout, some class run by pellestri in the build up. Unreal finish by anthony as well, shame he didn’t square it for that chance he had at the end. Liked the school font on the numbers for the betis jerseys. Onto the saints on sunday!
Good performance from Utd tonight, should be favourites to win this competition now.
Not sure that Ten Haag won’t cash in on Bruno in the summer.
@Bert Carolan: maybe, but Roma and Sevilla might think the same, they are playing well in this tournament too.
@Andrew Giles: And Arsenal.
@Fionn O’ Neill: I think the league is the bigger prize for Arsenal, Europa League would just be a welcome bonus, who would be a manager trying to juggle selection, avoid injuries in pursuit of multiple trophies, like Klopp last season, and Arteta and Ten Haag this season, both eyeing 2 trophies, 2 more in Utds case, the league, in my opinion us beyond Utd now.
It’s not Uniteds ability to win matches that concerns me. It’s their mental weakness when things go wrong. Seeing that change would be a positive for me.
Bruno will always turn up…. On Thursday nights.
@Colin Mac: he does it some Saturdays too against the teams battling relegation.
@Johnny Honest: its hilarious how bruno triggers fans of other teams!