Late Russell goal brightens Irish outlook in loss to England
IMPORTANT GOAL: Julia Ann Russell secures an important goal for Ireland in injury time on her return to International football. Picture: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
England didn’t need one of Delia Smith’s rallying calls to be roused into a cakewalk victory over Ireland in this penultimate qualifier at her home of Carrow Road.
From six in one (last year's sequence of victories in the Nations League) to half a dozen the other (likely six defeats in their elevated qualifiers), Ireland are discovering the other side of the European divide in 2024.
The European champions could easily have bagged a hatful here, with just as well considering Ireland’s playoff challenge may depend on the extent of concessions.
Crucially, however, their first goal of the campaign and year – at the seventh attempt, brightened the outlook.
That Julie Ann Russell, on her comeback after a four year absence, bagged it in stoppage time crowned the morsel of positivity.
Every goal and result matters within this situation Ireland find themselves, where the revised ambition is avoiding the basement spot among the 16 teams in the top tier of the European qualifiers.
That equation included an interest in the game contested between Austria and Poland earlier in the day, the hope being that Poland wouldn’t break their duck.
Not only did they fail to nudge ahead of Ireland in points but a 3-1 defeat expanded the difference to seven in goals they must make up on Ireland to engineer a turnaround in positions for seeding purposes in the playoffs later this year.
An English masterclass within the opening stages threatened to shorten the gap.
Given Ireland face the aristocrats of France, in Pairc UĂ ChaoĂmh on Tuesday while simultaneously the Poles tackle a slightly less daunting clash against Iceland, a hammering in Norfolk had the risk of becoming decisive.
Eileen Gleeson’s strategy at stemming that flow entailed the most contentious selection decision of her 11-game reign – axing Louise Quinn.
Since breaking into the Ireland team, the towering defender has been an ever-present in the spine of the team but there may have been a clue of the fate facing her when she was called ashore on her 119th cap before the break last time out in Sweden.
Fatigue was attributed to the unexpected decision while the game was scoreless but the 34-year-old’s replacement in Stockholm, Anna Patten, kept her place in defence.
Gleeson could still have restored her for this rearguard action but it was the returning Niamh Fahey, two years older than Quinn, who get the nod. It was the Liverpool captain’s first appearance since the World Cup a year ago.
Megan Connolly was another option for that trio of centre-backs Gleeson favours for her foundation but the Corkwoman didn’t claim a place even in her normal midfield berth. She was also culled in the revamp deepened by the suspension of captain Katie McCabe.
Emily Murphy’s promotion to the starting XI to operate off sole striker Amber Barrett, after such a disappointing competitive debut away to France, was a peculiar call and her rustiness was evident with some undercooked early passes. In a replica move to Metz, she was hooked at the break in a double substitution that also saw Barrett make way.
England don’t have to be concerned about lack of game-time in players’ legs, affording to leave on the bench a batch of Euro winners. Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Ella Toone and Mary Earps.
Perhaps it was irrelevant which Ireland players shaded the marginal calls, for such is the punch England carry from midfield upwards, they obliterated the Irish backline within the opening five minutes.
Packing defence is one thing but solidifying midfield is similarly imperative to suppress quality, a deficiency cruelly exposed.
When Georgia Stanway cut inside from the right, she was able to bypass stand-in skipper Denise O’Sullivan by swapping passes with Keira Walsh.
Space created, the ball was sprayed to Beth Mead on the left, who was able to slip a pass between Fahey and Patten for Alessia Russo to latch onto. Two touches took her past the advancing Courtney Brosnan with the third tucking away her 20th international goal in 41 matches.
Vast gaps bequeathed between the lines were the invitations top team feast upon and England availed of the hospitality of their neighbours by advancing in numbers. Fortunately for Ireland, ruthlessness deserted the holders when the sights were presented.
Mead ought to have bagged a hat-trick, seemingly intent on walking the ball into the net rather than tapping into the gaping one at times.
Whatever about the tactical naivety from the sidelines, there was no excuse for players from having the audacity to try dribbling out from the back.
Fahey was the primary culprit, relieved when her dispossessed 14th minute foray didn’t result in a second goal thanks to, firstly Russo’s unselfishness in laying the ball off and then Courtney Brosnan denying Jess Carter from the recycled phase.
The Galwegian wouldn’t get away with for a second occasion early in the second half.
All that pressure amounted to a siege, temporarily curbed by an injury to Brosnan after 19 minutes.
There’s been a tendency for those to occur after Ireland have fallen behind on the road in this campaign, triggering a huddle and result. A convenient ploy, without materially altering the direction of travel.
Ireland simply were unable to get motoring, Barrett’s tame shot at Hannah Hampton their sole effort on target and the first and only corner on 40 minutes coming to nothing for a foul on the goalkeeper.
Two interval changes by both sides were slightly more beneficial for Ireland, well relatively at least.
England didn’t flinch and they profited from Fahey’s dithering in possession to settle the contest before the hour mark.
A player of her experience should have known someone of Lauren Hemp’s potency would punish her dawdling inside the box. A tug of the Hemp’s jersey and shove had the consequence of a penalty, which Stanway stroked home by sending Brosnan the wrong way.
Russell’s first appearance since 2020 offered a fresh dimension and twice she got behind the English defence. While for touch eluded her then, she was clinical in flicking home one of the trademark throw-ins from fellow substitute Megan Campbell. Louise Quinn’s involvement was worth noting ahead of Tuesday.
: H Hampton; L Williamson`(M Bright 46), A Greenwood, J Carter (N Charles 46); K Walsh, G Stanway; B Mead (C Kelly 61), J Park, L Hemp (A Beever-Jones 89): A Russo (J Naz 71).
C Brosnan; A Mannion, N Fahey (L Quinn 89), C Hayes, A Patten, J Ziu, L Agg; R Littlejohn (M Campbell 66), D O’Sullivan; E Murphy (JA Russell 46), A Barrett (L Kiernan 46)
Catarina Campos (POR).
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