Colin Bell believes Girls in Green can stun Dutch

As their toughest test inches closer, Ireland women’s manager Colin Bell has urged his players to embrace the challenge of facing European champions Netherlands in their backyard before a capacity crowd.

Bell, a Uefa Champions League coach from his spell at Frankfurt, concedes that customary wisdom points to only one outcome at the Goffert Stadium Nijmegen next Tuesday. While Ireland, like the Dutch, have claimed full points from their opening two World Cup qualifiers, the gulf in reputation remains vast.

“We have to find a formula to try stop this Dutch machine,” asserted Bell.