Vera Pauw daring Ireland to believe they can go deep into World Cup

Pauw's side, ranked 22nd in the world, will need to finish second in a group that includes two top-10 teams in seventh-ranked Olympic champions Canada and the number-10 Australia

BELIEF: Manager Vera Pauw after addressing supporters ahead of a Republic of Ireland open training session at Meakin Park in Brisbane, Australia, ahead of the start of the Fifa Women's World Cup 2023. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw is perfecting the delicate balance between accepting her World Cup debutants' underdog status and daring them to "outbelieve" they have what it takes to go deep.

The Girls in Green open their tournament on July 20 under perhaps the most difficult circumstances: facing co-hosts Australia in a match so popular advance ticket sales forced a venue change to Sydney's 80,000-plus capacity - and now sold out - Stadium Australia.