Slovenia 4
Republic of Ireland 0
A CHASTENING NIGHT for Ireland, Carla Ward’s side stunned by Slovenia in Koper.
This was the Girls In Green’s heaviest defeat since 2018 and worst competitive loss in over 12 years.
By the 34th minute, Ireland trailed 3-0. Lara Prašnikar bagged a brilliant brace, with Zara Kramžar adding the third amidst some dismal Irish defending.
Substitute Nina Kajzba made it 4-0 late on as Slovenia — ranked 14 places below Ireland at 39th — claimed a famous Nations League win and rubber-stamped top spot in Group B4.
It’s a first defeat for Ward as manager, her reign opening with a scrappy 1-0 win over Turkiye at on Friday. Another victory was expected here, but a disastrous evening unfolded at Bonifika Stadion as flaws in Ireland’s new possession-based, attacking plan were exposed.
This was a humiliating first half, one which went from bad to worse and resulted in Ireland conceding three goals in the opening period for the first time since a 3-0 Euro 2021 qualifier defeat away to Germany in September 2020.
Before kick-off, Ward was forced into a late change, with Megan Campbell picking up a hamstring knock in the warm-up. It was the first of many things not going to plan. Megan Connolly got the nod, coming into central defence ahead of Caitlin Hayes and Jessie Stapleton, as Amber Barrett made her first start since last May. Ireland reshuffled in their new, fluid 4-3-3 — and attempted to move Katie McCabe higher up the pitch — but this backfired spectacularly.
Slovenia boss Saša Kolman, meanwhile, stuck with the same starting team from Friday’s 2-1 win away to Greece.
Any signs of a front-footed Irish start were undone before the clock hit three minutes.
Prašnikar made no mistake firing home, despite Courtney Brosnan getting hands to the ball, as Slovenia capitalised on an Irish defensive nightmare. An Anna Patten clearance cannoned off Connolly, and Maja Sternad’s ball over the top sent the prolific Eintracht Frankfurt goalscorer on her way:
🇸🇮 1-0 🇮🇪
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 25, 2025
It was a disastrous start for Ireland as Slovenia pounced on an error at the back for Prasnikar to give the hosts an early lead
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Rattled by the early concession, Ireland lacked urgency as they tried to muster a response. Denise O’Sullivan saw a strike brilliantly saved by Zala Meršnik, while Slovenia threatened on the counter after two misplaced Ruesha Littlejohn passes.
This became a common theme in an open half; Ireland overrun in midfield and slopppy in possession, and Slovenia dangerous on the break.
While the visitors took the wrong options in attack — Lucy Quinn blazing over was as close as they came early on — Slovenia were clinical with two goals from two shots on target.
Prašnikar bagged her second in the 28th minute, this one a superb front-post finish from Kaja Korošec’s corner.
Five minutes later, it was three. Ireland were torn apart on the counter once again, completely at sea. After Payne lost the ball, Slovenia moved from left to right and back again, an unmarked Kramžar tucking home Sternad’s squared pass from close range after more poor defending:
🇸🇮 3-0 🇮🇪
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 25, 2025
Ireland all over the place and Sternad has time and space to pick her spot for Slovenia's third before half-time
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Ireland were reeling, a tame penalty call waved on, and in dire need of half time. The deficit could have been greater but for Brosnan stopping Sternad one-on-one before the break, and Kramžar fluffing a golden chance just after.
Ward turned to the dropped Marissa Sheva and Tyler Toland, as McCabe reverted to left-back. Ireland continued to dominate the ball, but they toiled, and Slovenia nullified their threats.
Kyra Carusa — operating in a new role on the right — almost pulled one back when she headed just wide from a McCabe delivery, while O’Sullivan scuffed a good opportunity shortly afterwards.
Patten joined O’Sullivan in the book as frustrations grew. Abbie Larkin tried to bring spark from the bench, while Meršnik denied a decent McCabe strike. Nothing was going right.
And the final blow arrived in the 82nd minute, Ireland the architects of their own downfall again as Kajzba’s curled finish punished some more dreadful errors.
That’s not to take anything away from Slovenia though, who were excellent and fully deserving of the convincing win.
A truly chastening night for Ireland in Koper, the heaviest defeat since a 4-0 reversal to Poland in October 2018.
Much to ponder before a double-header against Greece in April. Turkiye beat them 1-0 this evening.
IRELAND: Courtney Brosnan; Heather Payne (Tyler Toland HT), Anna Patten, Megan Connolly, Aoife Mannion; Ruesha Littlejohn (Marissa Sheva HT), Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe; Kyra Carusa, Amber Barrett (Abbie Larkin 66), Lucy Quinn.
SLOVENIA: Zala Meršnik; Izabela Križaj (Korina Janež 71), Lana Golob, Dominika Conc, Kaja Eržen; Lara Prašnikar (Mateja Zver 81), Sara Makovec, Kaja Korošec, Zara Kramžar (Nina Kajzba 62); Maja Sternad, Špela Kolbl.
Referee: Michalina Diakow (Poland).
A shambles. It has been all downhill since Vera was forced out.
The katie McCabe fangirls won’t like that
@Cian Halley: she was world class this evening. Pity the other 10 players, subs, management, the FAI, the fans, the Irish people, the EU, Trump and the Russian fella weren’t on the same page as her
@Jed Ward: LOL
@Jed Ward: ah ya but she’s the only one any of those ladies know about
@Jed Ward: enough of everything Katie and her fake eyelashes. The team needs to be developed and Katie shouldn’t be of everything because she isn’t!
Imagine most of these girls felt Vera was holding them back. We now know how right Vera was and what a good manager she was . Why the FAI agreed to let her go is beyond me .
@Don Buckley: How was she a good manager. Under Colin Bell, they had very impressive results in the world cup qualifiers. In the following qualifiers, under Vera, they finished behind Ukraine, who got well beaten by NI in the playoffs. Add in her terrible player management.
@John Buckley: did they not qualify for a major tournament under her as manager?
@John Buckley: She was a good manager because she maximized the potential of this group of players. Maybe her demands rubbed up certain players the wrong way, but she didn’t deserve the lack of respect that was shown to her during & after her exit.
@Luke: she obviously didn’t get the best out of the players if they finished behind Ukraine in the European qualifiers. Ukraine were well beaten by NI in the playoffs. Bells Ireland beat NI 4-0 and 2-0 in the World cup qualifiers just 2 years earlier. That is making the team worse. You are just a bluffer that knows nothing about womens football
Absolutely fantabulous performance from the girls in green today.
Can’t wait to hear who they will blame for this result?
@Jed Ward: did nt watch the match but surely katie mccabe
@Liam Collins: Katie a certainty for World player of the year after tonight’s performance
Katie and her mutineers are being well exposed now. The most dislikeable group of wannabes you will find anywhere. The less we see and hear about these wasters the better.
We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes but when you see players doubling down on comments regarding Colin Healy when the new management are trying to focus on the here and now you know that something isn’t right in the camp. That wasn’t just “a bad day at the office”. A number of those players clearly downed tools in that game. Disinterested and time and time again left wide open spaces for Slovenia to attack. This management team has a long road ahead of them if they are going to get things back on track after tonight’s shambolic performance.
@Earthworm Jim: why the management team? The players downing tools on the pitch ought to take a good look in the mirror rather than blaming everyone and everything else for their very poor performance
@Jed Ward: If management cannot get players onside who ultimately bites the bullet, regardless of who is right or wrong. This result might be the kicking some of the players really needed. After the fiasco of the Welsh game a lot of the interviews afterwards surprised me-a lot of excuses and blaming bad luck. When you compare both squads it should never have come down to luck. To not win that tie comprehensively was poor and the side have continued to perform in that manner since.
How is Courtney still in the goal.
@conor carroll: Didn’t see the game tonight. Was she at fault for any goals? She was one of our better performers in last campaign.
Expect the usual pile on by the knuckle draggers.
@colm buckley: The women’s team are getting critisized for their losses now, the same as the men’s team do. That’s progress & equality.
What a bunch of over rated and
over hyped big headed wasters.
Vera must be laughing her head off.Dublin media to blame for the hype.The less we hear of them in the future, the greater
our peace of mind will be.
Give media exposure to proper
professional athletes ie track and field.
Even @RayRidge would have predicted this one
@Mick O’K: the girls in green were hot favourites to win this one
@John buckley If McCabe hadn’t missed a penalty against Ucraine when we were one nil down ( after conceding an OG from a back pass) we would have qualified for the Euros