The Republic of Ireland women's national football team represents the Republic of Ireland in competitions such as the FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA Women's Championship. The Republic of Ireland has qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. It has taken part in invitational tournaments such as the Algarve Cup, the Istria Cup and the Cyprus Cup. It is organised by the Women's Football Association of Ireland.
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Nickname(s) | The Girls in Green (Irish: Na cailíní i nglas) | ||
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Association | Women's Football Association of Ireland | ||
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
Head coach | Vera Pauw | ||
Captain | Katie McCabe | ||
Most caps | Emma Byrne (134) | ||
Top scorer | Olivia O'Toole (54) | ||
Home stadium | Tallaght Stadium | ||
FIFA code | IRL | ||
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FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 23 ![]() | ||
Highest | 23 (December 2022) | ||
Lowest | 38 (July 2003) | ||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Llanelli, Wales; 13 May 1973) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland; 30 November 2021) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Borås, Sweden; 20 September 1992) | |||
World Cup | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2023) | ||
Website | Official website |
HistoryEdit
In 1973, the Women's Football Association of Ireland was established[2] and in the same year on 13 May the Republic of Ireland made their official international debut, Paula Gorham's hat-trick securing a 3–2 win in an away friendly game against Wales.[3] They made their competitive debut on 19 September 1982 in a 1984 European Competition for Women's Football qualifier against Scotland. This time the Republic of Ireland lost 3–0. On 2 October 1982 the Republic of Ireland gained their first competitive win when they defeated Northern Ireland 2–1 in an away game in the same competition. After losing 10–0 to Sweden in a Euro 1993 qualifier, the FAI did not enter a team in the 1995 competition.[4] This defeat against Sweden remains the team's biggest defeat.
During the 2000s the Republic of Ireland enjoyed some minor successes. In 2000 they won the Celt Cup – a four team tournament that also featured Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.[5] In their 2005 UEFA Women's Euro campaign they also won their second level group, finishing above Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Malta. This would have secured promotion to the elite group of nations which competed directly for qualification to major tournaments, had the two level system not been scrapped for the next qualifying campaign. The Republic of Ireland also won their group at the 2013 Cyprus Cup, finishing above South Korea, South Africa and Northern Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland has also enjoyed some success at both under–17 and under–19 levels. In 2010, with a team that included Megan Campbell, Ciara Grant, Dora Gorman, Denise O'Sullivan, Siobhán Killeen and Clare Shine, the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[6] In the UEFA championship semi-final the Republic of Ireland defeated Germany 1–0.[7] With a team that included Megan Connolly, Savannah McCarthy and Katie McCabe the Republic of Ireland team won their group at the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship and qualified for the semi-finals.[8]
In April 2017, the squad demanded better treatment from the FAI and threatened to boycott a home match against Slovakia.[9] They wanted a higher match fee, and broken time payment for amateurs missing work.[9] They claimed that they had to share with underage teams the tracksuits they wore travelling to and from away matches, and change out of them in airport toilets.[9] The boycott threat was lifted when agreement on improvements was reached.[10]
In November 2021 the team recorded their biggest ever win: 11–0 against Georgia in the qualifiers for 2023 World Cup.[11] After beating Finland 1–0 later in the qualifying campaign, Ireland reached a historic milestone as the team qualified to the playoffs for the first time in its history.
This achievement was soon surpassed when Ireland won the play-off final 1–0 over Scotland in Glasgow on 11 October 2022 to qualify for the final tournament.[12] A crucial first-half penalty save from Courtney Brosnan kept Ireland alive before Donegal native Amber Barrett scored the decisive goal, days after news of an explosion that killed several people in her county. She dedicated the goal to the victims and the community.[13] While celebrating in the Hampden changing rooms, several players sang Celtic Symphony praising the Irish Republican Army, for which manager Vera Pauw and players Áine O'Gorman and Chloe Mustaki apologised; the chanting was condemned by politicians from Northern Ireland.[14][15] The FAI was fined €20,000 for the chanting.[16]
Team imageEdit
Home stadiumEdit
Throughout their history the Republic of Ireland have played their home games at various grounds. The most regularly used have included Dalymount Park, Tolka Park, Richmond Park and Turners Cross. They have also played occasional games at Belfield Park, Carlisle Grounds, Ferrycarrig Park, Flancare Park and in Arklow. However, since September 2013 they have played all their home games at Tallaght Stadium.
Results and fixturesEdit
- The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Lose Fixture
2022Edit
16 February 2022 Pinatar Cup | Republic of Ireland | 2–1 | Poland | La Manga |
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Stadium: La Manga Club Football Stadium |
19 February 2022 Pinatar Cup | Republic of Ireland | 0–1 | Russia | La Manga |
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Stadium: La Manga Club Football Stadium |
22 February 2022 Pinatar Cup | Wales | 0–1 | Republic of Ireland | La Manga |
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Stadium: La Manga Club Football Stadium |
12 April 2023 FIFA WWC qualifier | Sweden | 1–1 | Republic of Ireland | Gothenburg |
18:30 |
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Report |
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Stadium: Gamla Ullevi Attendance: 12,123 Referee: Iuliana Demetrescu (Romania) |
19 June Friendly | Republic of Ireland | 1–0 | Philippines | Antalya |
18:00 UTC+3 |
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Report | Stadium: Bellis Hotel Sports Center Referee: Gamze Durmas Pakkan (Turkey) |
27 June[note 1] 2023 FIFA WWC qualifier | Georgia | 0–9 | Republic of Ireland | Gori |
Report | Stadium: Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium Referee: Melis Özçiğdem (Turkey) |
1 September 2023 FIFA WWC qualifier | Republic of Ireland | 1–0 | Finland | Dublin |
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Report | Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France) |
6 September 2023 FIFA WWC qualifier | Slovakia | 0–1 | Republic of Ireland | Senec |
19:00 UTC+1 | Report |
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Stadium: NTC Senec Referee: María Martínez (Spain) |
11 October 2023 FIFA WWC– UEFA play-offs | Scotland | 0–1 | Republic of Ireland | Glasgow, Scotland |
Report |
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Stadium: Hampden Park Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland) |
14 November Friendly | Republic of Ireland | 4–0 | Morocco | San Pedro Alcántara, Spain |
17:00 | Report | Stadium: Marbella Football Center Referee: Jason Barcelo (Gibraltar) |
2023Edit
22 February 2023 Friendly | Republic of Ireland | v | China | Algeciras, Spain |
14:00 UTC+1 | Stadium: Estadio Nuevo Mirador |
20 July 2023 FIFA WC Group | Australia | v | Republic of Ireland | Sydney, Australia |
Report | Stadium: Sydney Football Stadium |
26 July 2023 FIFA WC Group | Republic of Ireland | v | Canada | Perth, Australia |
Report | Stadium: Perth Rectangular Stadium |
31 July 2023 FIFA WC Group | Republic of Ireland | v | Nigeria | Brisbane, Australia |
Report | Stadium: Lang Park |
Coaching staffEdit
Current coaching staffEdit
The senior women's management team includes:[18]
Role | Name |
---|---|
Head coach | Vera Pauw |
Assistant coach | Tom Elmes |
Goalkeeping coach | Jan Willem van Ede |
Manager historyEdit
- Eamonn Darcy (1984–1985)
- Fran Rooney (1986–1991)
- Linda Gorman (1991–1992)
- Mick Cooke (1992–2000)[19]
- Noel King (2000–2010)[20]
- Susan Ronan (2010–2016)[21][22]
- Colin Bell (2017–2019)[23]
- Vera Pauw (2019–)[24]
PlayersEdit
Current squadEdit
- The following 28 players were named to the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA play-offs on 11 October 2022.[25]
- Caps and goals updated as of 6 September 2022 after the match against Slovakia.
Recent call-upsEdit
- The following players have also been called up to the Republic of Ireland squad within the last 12 months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Naoisha McAloon | 17 March 1999 | 0 | 0 | Durham | v. Georgia, 27 June 2022 |
DF | Jessie Stapleton | 7 February 2005 | 1 | 0 | Shelbourne | v. Slovakia, 6 September 2022 |
DF | Éabha O'Mahony | 17 May 2002 | 4 | 0 | Boston College Eagles | v. Georgia, 27 June 2022 |
DF | Claire Walsh | 28 October 1994 | 4 | 0 | Glasgow City | v. Sweden, 12 April 2022 |
DF | Savannah McCarthy | 26 March 1997 | 10 | 0 | Galway | v. Wales, 22 February 2022 |
MF | Ellen Molloy | 5 June 2004 | 6 | 0 | Wexford Youths | v. Slovakia, 6 September 2022 |
MF | Ruesha Littlejohn | 3 July 1990 | 68 | 6 | Aston Villa | v. Finland, 1 September 2022INJ |
MF | Megan Connolly | 7 March 1997 | 35 | 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | v. Finland, 1 September 2022INJ |
FW | Leanne Kiernan | 27 April 1999 | 27 | 4 | Liverpool | v. Slovakia, 6 September 2022 |
FW | Stephanie Roche | 13 June 1989 | 58 | 14 | Shamrock Rovers | v. Georgia, 27 June 2022 |
Notes:
- INJ Withdrew from squad due to injury
- PRE Preliminary squad / standby
- RET Player retired from the national team
RecordsEdit
- Statistics correct as of 23 October 2020.
- Active players in bold.
Most capsEdit
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Most goalsEdit
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Competitive recordEdit
FIFA Women's World CupEdit
FIFA Women's World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | |
1991 | Did not qualify | UEFA Euro 1991 | ||||||||||||||
1995 | Did not enter | UEFA Euro 1995 | ||||||||||||||
1999 | Did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | +4 | ||||||||
2003 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 7 | +11 | |||||||||
2007 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 15 | −12 | |||||||||
2011 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 10 | +2 | |||||||||
2015 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 9 | +4 | |||||||||
2019 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 6 | +4 | |||||||||
2023 | Qualified | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 4 | +23 | ||||||||
Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 55 | 27 | 8 | 20 | 91 | 55 | +36 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
UEFA Women's ChampionshipEdit
UEFA Women's Championship record | Qualifying record | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | |
1984 | Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 14 | |||||||
1987 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 17 | ||||||||
1989 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||
1991 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | ||||||||
1993 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||
1995 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||
1997 | Did not qualify | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 10 | |||||||
2001 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 | ||||||||
2005 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 5 | ||||||||
2009 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 18 | ||||||||
2013 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 11 | ||||||||
2017 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 14 | ||||||||
2022 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 10 | ||||||||
2025 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||
Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 80 | 34 | 9 | 37 | 126 | 134 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
See alsoEdit
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ Fan Hong, J. A. Mangan (2004). Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era. Frank Cass Publishers.
- ^ Ryan, Eoin (10 May 2020). "Trailblazers – When Dundalk Ladies represented Ireland". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
When the WFAI was established in 1973, almost a full three years after the Corinthians clash, Gorham scored a hat-trick in the Republic of Ireland's first officially recognised women's international – a 3–2 victory away to Wales.
- ^ "Irish goalkeeping great Sue Hayden". Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ^ Garin, Erik (20 October 2003). "1st Celt Cup – Women Tournament – 2000". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "UEFA.com – Women's Under-17 2010 – Republic of Ireland-Sweden". www.uefa.com.
- ^ "UEFA.com – Women's Under-17 2010 – Republic of Ireland-Germany". www.uefa.com.
- ^ "Women's Under-19 2014 - Sweden-Republic of Ireland – UEFA.com". Uefa.com. 21 July 2014.
- ^ a b c "Ireland women's team withdraw from training". RTÉ.ie. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ "Agreement reached between FAI and Women's National Team". RTÉ.ie. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ Ryan, Eoin (30 November 2021). "Recap: Republic of Ireland 11–0 Georgia". RTÉ.ie.
- ^ "History in Hampden as Ireland clinch qualification for 2023 World Cup". The 42. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "'This is for Creeslough, this is for Donegal' - Amber Barrett pays poignant tribute after famous playoff goal". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Reid, Kurtis (12 October 2022). "Watch: Republic of Ireland players apologise as video emerges of pro-IRA chant". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Republic of Ireland women: FAI and manager Pauw apologise for players' IRA chant after play-off win". BBC Sport. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Republic of Ireland women: FAI fined 20,000 euros by Uefa for players' pro-IRA chant". BBC Sport. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ "New date set for Georgia v Republic of Ireland". www.fai.ie/ireland. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Management Team". Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "End of an era for Irish women". Kickin Magazine. 7 July 2000. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ Kelly, Niall (31 December 2020). "Noel King takes charge of Shelbourne's WNL team ahead of 2021 season". The42. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
King spent almost a decade in charge of Ireland's Women's National Team from 2000 to 2010
- ^ "Ronan succeeds King at Ireland helm". UEFA. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ Mackey, Liam (29 December 2016). "Sue Ronan kicks through football's glass ceiling". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Colin Bell replaces Sue Ronan as Ireland manager". RTÉ Sport. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ Fallon, John (4 September 2019). "Ex-Netherlands boss Vera Pauw appointed as new Ireland women's manager". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "WNT squad selected for World Cup Play-Off". fai.ie. 30 September 2022.
- ^ "Emma Byrne | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
- ^ "Olivia O'Toole; Escaping Drugs, Fighting Inequality & Becoming Ireland's Top Scorer – Her Sport". 6 March 2020.[dead link]