Carusa believes Ireland will "thrive" in "uncomfortable" World Cup environment

Republic of Ireland's Kyra Carusa believes the World Cup will be uncomfortable and that the Irish side will "be comfortable.. with being uncomfortable" and need to thrive in that environment. 

COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE: Kyra Carusa believes World Cup will be uncomfortable and that the Irish team are getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

You could call it a hat trick, of sorts. As Kyra Carusa stood and excitedly pondered the implications of a productive night and week in America she was wearing one blue US jersey, held another in her hand and soon revealed that a third was already in her bag in the dressing room.

Ireland had been defeated for the second time in the space of four days by the World Cup holders and powerhouse of the game. On Tuesday night in St. Louis it was a 1-0 loss to follow a 2-0 reverse in Texas on Saturday which, in just raw mathematics, suggests improvement. Other numbers were on Ireland’s side but for Carusa and her teammates it is the emotional evolution that felt key too: even against the best team in the world, leaving with a moral victory and a keepsake or three doesn’t cut it for Vera Pauw’s side any more. Not close.