Vera Pauw: A player can always ask but Katie McCabe isn't the coach

Pauw waited until the 84th minute to make her first substitution, suggesting she was not prepared to grant McCabe’s wish of withdrawing Sinead Farrelly earlier

NOT FOR MOVING: Sinead Farrelly of Republic of Ireland with Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

A World Cup odyssey that began 22 months ago for Ireland ended with a goalless draw with Nigeria and plenty of discord.

Scalping two of the top-10 ranked teams on the planet proved beyond them, as did the task of accounting for one below them in the form of Nigeria.