New recruit Anna Patten sidelining English pals ahead of Aviva crunch

Ireland WNT play England on Tuesday night, the first competitive women’s fixture to be staged at Lansdowne Road.

5 April 2024; Anna Patten of Republic of Ireland acknowledges supporters after the UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between France and Republic of Ireland at Stade Saint-Symphorien in Metz, France. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Ireland newcomer Anna Patten has kept interactions with her England friends deliberately limited ahead of Tuesday’s titanic battle between the nations.

Friday night’s set of opening Euro 2025 Group A3 fixtures saw the holders England held 1-1 against Sweden at Wembley and Ireland lose narrowly 1-0 to France in Metz.

There’s scant time to recover for Tuesday’s derby, the first competitive women’s fixture to be staged at Lansdowne Road.

A crowd of between 25-30,000 is expected for a game that due to unwise scheduling goes up against two Champions League quarter-finals on the television.

Patten will be centrally involved, albeit not for the country she represented up to U23 level. The Aston Villa centre-back turns 25 later this month and has encountered a clutch of England’s players, whether as international teammates, clubmates or adversaries.

 Republic of Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson speaks to Anna Patten after the game with France. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

“I’m keeping those communications at a minimum during this camp because I’m focused on playing for Ireland,” Patten said after being thrust straight into the team for her debut against the French on Friday.

“There hasn’t much communication there. I can’t wait to get stuck in and I think that’s the mood in the camp.

“There’s lots of positives to take into that England game and I think it’d mean a lot if we go out there and put in an unreal performance against the English.

“We’re at our home ground that’s what we all expect to do, really push and perform to our best.” 

Patten applied for a switch of allegiance through her Irish grandparents. Her grandmother, Bridie Coyle, came from Galway and her mother Paula was in the crowd for her senior bow.

“That was an amazing feeling - I loved it,” she said after belting out Amhrán na bhFiann.

“I had Denise O’Sullivan beside me; she was singing loud and so was I.

“My mum was just telling me that she was up in the crowd and getting emotional singing it. It was a proud moment.”