'Fearless' Ireland chasing Euro miracle against German side with 'no weaknesses'

Ireland manager Vera Pauw enjoys some time out from training at Tallaght Stadium. Pauw says Ireland will be ‘fearless’ but readily admits they will need to pull off an enormous upset to keep their dream of qualifying for the European Championships alive. Picture: Stephen McCarthy

If the Republic of Ireland’s game away to Ukraine in late October was the biggest in the history of the women’s senior team, then today’s closing Euro 2022 qualifier at home to Germany must surely rank as the toughest.

Vera Pauw’s side played all the football in Kyiv five weeks ago but lost 1-0 thanks to a freak Aine O’Gorman own goal and a Katie McCabe penalty that rebounded off the crossbar. It was a crushing loss for a squad that needed just a draw to finish runners-up and earn a play-off place.