Vera Pauw set to give fringe players last chance to stake claim for World Cup spot

Ireland also play France in Dublin early next month but the cut will have already come by then and that makes this fixture a last big chance for some.

TIME TO WOW PAUW: Manager Vera Pauw during a Republic of Ireland women press conference. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Vera Pauw has confirmed that she will offer opportunities to fringe players in Thursday’s pre-World Cup friendly against Zambia but the Republic of Ireland boss has stressed the need to maintain the collective culture and to avoid “chaos”.

The encounter with the African side marks a step up in the side’s preparations for a tournament which still lies a month over the horizon and it will go a long way to informing Pauw’s choices as she looks to slim the squad down to 23 players.