Change in the air for Ireland in St Louis

Vera Pauw needs to use the second friendly in the space of four days to take a close look at the members of her panel who have not yet assured themselves of a place in the World Cup squad

CHANGES AFOOT: Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw speaking to her players after the women's international friendly match against the USA at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

With the cherry blossoms bursting powdery pinks and purples along the Mississippi, spring has spectacularly sprung in St. Louis. Yet the season finds the locals restless.

Nine games are gone in the Major League Baseball season and the beloved Cardinals are sitting at an ugly 3-6 record and find themselves rock bottom of the National League’s Central Division, altogether unfamiliar territory for the second-most successful team in the game. Luckily, the Cardinals still have 153 regular season games to turn things around. Baseball, you have to remind yourself, is North American sports’ ultimate marathon.