Ireland sitting pretty after Italy win

Ireland2 Italy1

Yet Ireland are a little lucky to be in such a healthy state, points-wise. Despite dominating yesterday’s encounter with the Italians they nearly succumbed to a late sucker-punch which would have given the Italians a draw.

Germany, who beat Ireland’s initial Pool A victims Wales 4-0, are a much more fearsome prospect, followed by England on Monday.

Kuper is playing down the challenge of both games.

“We have to try and get points here and there to try and secure a top eight finish, but at this moment we are top of our pool and I have to get our players to realise their achievement in doing that.

“We’ve played England and Germany before and we enjoy playing them. We have no fears of them, although obviously they will be hard to beat.

Normally they are stronger than us, but we will enjoy playing them.

“Technically the Germans are very good, but we will go for it, we’ve nothing to lose. But, we have to take what we can from today’s win and build on that,” Kuper said.

She did not try to paper over some of the obvious cracks in the Irish performance yesterday, admitting that her players allowed Italy back into a game that should have been beyond them.

“We dominated the first half and had a lot of chances, but while we had a lot of penetration, the girls followed their natural instinct to go for goal rather than taking other options which might have been more profitable.

“In the second period we lost a lot of possession unnecessarily and we turned it over too much. Italy were definitely vulnerable, but in the end it took some good goalkeeping to keep us in it. I would have been disgusted if they had not won.”

Ireland’s dominance in the first period was underlined by Eimear Cregan’s excellent solo effort in the fourth minute when she drove down the right, raced past the Italian full back, turned into the circle and clipped home a neat shot at the near post.

As the Italians attempted a fight back, Ireland continued to drive forward but were wasteful on many occasions. Eventually, after 31 minutes the pressure was rewarded when Lynsey McVicker followed in on a spilled Italian save for Ireland’s second goal.

Ireland started aggressively in the second period yet failed to land the third goal. They paid the price for their attacking in the 22nd minute of the half when Giorgia Carradori scored from a short corner.

Despite excellent work from Rachel Kohler and Jill Orbinson in the middle of the field, the Italians were turning the screw and Angela Platt in the Irish goal was tested on several occasions.

Then, as time ran out, the Italians got a short corner and suddenly they sensed a draw. They pushed everyone except their ‘keeper upfield for the free, but the Irish defence stood firm.

Irish goalscorer and vice-captain Lynsey McVicker said afterwards that they were glad with the result, but added there was still work to be done.

“As a forward I was pleased we created so many chances and scored two goals, but was disappointed we did not score more. We have to work on our finishing; we should have won that game long before the end,” she said.

Ireland face Germany tomorrow and the Ukraine on Saturday. Realistically the latter tie will decide Ireland’s ultimate fate in Pool A.

IRELAND: Platt, Caulfield, Cregan, Kohler, McKeever, McVicker, O’Brien, Orbinson, Sixsmith, Maybin, Burke.

Rolling subs: Bateman, McDonough, McKean.

ITALY: Lilliu, Girotti, E. Tagliasacchi, Corso, Scalia, Faustini, Garcia, A. Tagliasacchi, Previgliano, Canavosio, Miranda.

Rolling Subs: Carradori.