A time of revival: 12 months under Vera Pauw

Beating the Aussies 3-2 last September didn’t gain any points but provided the foundation for the tilt at reaching a first-ever major tournament.

PROGRESSION: Manager Vera Pauw during a Republic of Ireland Women training session at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

This has been a year of progress like no other for the Irish team, coming on the back of their worst-ever year.

Seven straight defeats stretching from September 2020 to June 2021 was far from ideal preparation for the World Cup campaign but stemming the tide by shocking Australia in a friendly transpired into a wave of euphoria sweeping through the Ireland team.