REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Vera Pauw has expressed disappointment after last week’s Finland showdown fell short of a capacity crowd, despite the game having been billed as a sell-out.
The FAI has said that it will review the situation – the record crowd of 6,952 was short of Tallaght’s 8,000 capacity — confirming that it was a result of ticket-holders not turning up on the day of the crunch World Cup qualifier.
Speaking this evening at the pre-match press conference in Senec before tomorrow’s final Group A qualifier away to Slovakia, Pauw referenced the scenario that saw the FAI unable to redistribute tickets to fans who could attend after ticket-holders did not turn up on the day.
“I think it was teams because there were a series of empty seats,” she began. “They have bought tickets but didn’t show up and that is a real shame. Because there were thousands of girls who wanted to come.
“Every ticket had been sold. What do you do, eh? It’s our marketing department that are dealing with it. We want it to be accessible to everybody. We can make the tickets more expensive but then you put pressure on people who maybe do not have that much [money] available. You want everybody to be able to attend.
“My honest feeling is it comes back to the decency of the people who buy the tickets, and that they know there are thousands of girls crying at home. Literally crying at home because they couldn’t go to the stadium.
“You need to take responsibility when you buy a ticket.”
Pauw and her side are “loading up emotions for another fight” as they chase the 2023 World Cup dream, ahead of tomorrow’s remains group game.
A against Slovakia will shorten Ireland’s play-off route as they look to reach a first-ever major tournament.
The Girls In Green sealed their progression with a 1-0 win over the Finns, and with results elsewhere going in their favour, three points against the Slovaks would propel Ireland into the second round of the Uefa qualifying play-off series as one of the three best runners-up.
“I’m confident,” Pauw said today. “We’ve had a huge emotional explosion on Thursday, the biggest thing is to get back on the ground and load your emotions up to another fight. Because there is no game won without a fight. That is the biggest task, but we don’t do it with stress.
“We also have to realise that we’re missing a few players — Megan Connolly, Ruesha [Littlejohn], Niamh Fahey (all injury) and Jamie Finn who’s suspended. We need to find a few solutions for that.”
Wexford Youths teenage midfielder Aoibheann Clancy has been added to the squad, along with Izzy Atkinson (Aston Villa) and Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne).
Dutch coach Pauw, one to always discuss growth, noted that the team’s mentality against Finland shows how far the group has come under her tutelage. The next stage is another stop along the way, far from the final destination.
“I don’t know how it was but for this group — even in the European campaign — the play-offs wouldn’t be enough, it was just a step in between. There is everything to play for tomorrow as we can get to the best three second-placed teams that would give us a huge advantage in our play-off position. Of course you can draw one of the top seeds also and there is only one game to prepare for and win.
“There is nothing in us that makes this game less important. It is fantastic that we have reached the play-offs but I hope it is coming out that we make a huge step in our play. I hope that comes out tomorrow.”
Sitting on her right-hand side, stalwart defender Louise Quinn echoed her manager’s sentiments. The Birmingham City captain assured that there would be no easing up despite the fact that a play-off spot has been secured.
“I don’t think so. For us, there’s plenty to play for. Also in the team, there’s plenty to play for in terms of making sure you’re in the next starting XI for a potential play-off, wherever that may be, for Vera to see us and the coaches to see us in the best of our light.
“We’re constantly competing, we constantly want to send messages to other teams about the strength and depth of our team. For us, we’re thrilled to get a play-off, but now we have another chance to make it even a better play-off spot, get that extra bonus for the hard work that we’ve done and to keep pushing through in this group like we always have.
“For us, there’s never complacency in the games, there’s always so much to play for as a team and personally.”
The sides drew 1-1 when they met in November, Peter Kopún’s team scoring just one of four goals Ireland has conceded in this campaign.
“We don’t underestimate Slovakia,” Pauw added. “This is a very, very good footballing team. They had a good sense of positional play, they have the skills to execute that in a small space.
“There’s a lot of street footballers in it, very mobile and know exactly what they do on that pitch. It is a very dangerous squad, they drew against Finland, against us, only small losses against Sweden, so we are fully prepared for tomorrow.”
Slovakia manager Peter Kopun is targeting a win, though has been impressed by Ireland.
“We presumed Sweden and Finland would be the two favourites but Ireland have become the dark horse. I have been completely surprised by what Ireland have done in this group.
“Their defence has worked well. Finland and Sweden had issues trying to break them down so presumably we will also. We could have won our last game against Ireland in Dublin so don’t feel like outsiders.
“We also know Ireland must win to go straight to the play-off final but we also have something to play for.”
It’s highly unlikely that such a large number of paying spectators didn’t turn
It is very likely a free ticket allocation issue. Sponsors, commercial partners etc always get these free tickets. They simply weren’t interested and it’s surprising Vera is pointing blame on fans who would be very loyal and growing in numbers. But I suppose she can’t criticise the source of sponsorship money.
@Paolo Fandango: you’re just guessing and then assuming your guesses are right. She’s in the thick of it, so should have access to the data. It’s the data that matters, not guess work!
@Con Cussed: with no data provided then you’re guessing too.
@Con Cussed: Most people who buy tickets for games after their taxed wage usually go. Most people who receive free tickets are 50/50. Even at that, when they do turn up a percentage dont watch from start to finish. It’s not rocket science. Irish manager can’t bite the hand that feeds the squad. Easy picking is the general public. If not stats are produced we have our answer. It can’t be that hard after four days to figure who didnt attend.
@Ciaran McCann: Yet you continue to assume that the manager doesn’t know exactly what tickets went unused. She wouldn’t call out the fans if they weren’t public sale tickets that went unused.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: and you assume she does … pot kettle
@OnlyHereForTheComments: a manager of an international team would not be burdened or distracted with data about fan no shows, free ticket ratios etc.
She has much more pressing things to be focused on. Number one being focused All the things an elite manager must do to win games. This is why there are a myriad of other folks concerned with revenues , attendance numbers and so on.
I bought 2 tickets to bring my 6 year old daughter to her first ever game but a family matter at late notice put paid to that. Unfortunate, but it happens.
I think that perhaps the 7pm kick off time, on a school night, would have maybe kept some fans away with younger kids?
The Women’s team tends to attract a younger fanbase so perhaps the FAI/UEFA could work something out down the line?
@Matthew Lysaght: well that’s two tickets accounted for Matthew. This could get interesting yet.
1000 plus didn’t turn up that sounds like a white lie to me wouldnt be like the fai thou to cover up someone’s else’s mistake
@christopher dyas: thanks…any other thoughts
I’ll probably get abuse for saying this but in my opinion the real issue is the level of passion for women’s soccer. Supporters of the mens international team take it a lot more seriously and wouldn’t miss a game if they had a ticket. Those who had a ticket for the women’s game could well get distracted by any number of competing distractions that pop up on the night.
@Mick Hyland: Yes you will, and rightly so. That’s a small minded comment, the mens game have had the last 150 years to grow their fanbase – women’s football has only begun to gain real traction in the last 15 to 20 years so saying we simply don’t care is insulting. For your info, the only mens game with just about the 51k full attendance in the Aviva in last year was the portugal one all others were short 5k if not more. Aesthetically 1k out of 8k looks a lot worse than 5k out of 51k. I was at the game, and the majority of empty seats were in the main stand where season ticket holders are allocated free tickets – I think the real problem is those supporters who go to men’s games getting tickets for the women’s one and then deciding they couldn’t be bothered. Passion ye?
@Mick Hyland: ye mean like knitting a jumper or something mick. Enlighten me please.
@Paul Gorry: Men support the women’s soccer team too Paul, cop yourself on
@Mick Hyland: exactly mick iam one of them.
@Mick Hyland: coronation street for example?? Or it clashed with a meeting of the local ICA guild
We have been to all the home matches for this qualifying campaign. Could not get a ticket for this match, and I was willing to beg, borrow and steal. When I was sitting at home and saw all the empty seats, I saw every shade of red. We are not part of any club, but are avid supporters of the girls in green. I think that repeat purchasers should be able to opt in, via their email for early bird tickets. Surely this is not too difficult to do.
Lol people in the comments thinking it’s lack of male support, it’s week day games, it’s corporate tickets,it’s this it’s that. At the end of the day it all comes down to money. Her job is to manage the team not give out to people about arses on seats. If people go they go, if they don’t they don’t same as the GAA. Either way it’s all about how much is in the tills at the end of the day nothing else.
@Gary Mullen: money of course is primary, but the optics of this scenario are massively important too because of football fan passion / commitment etc etc, which is why there is a news article about it and there is a lot of engagement in the article.