Katie McCabe: 'It's a very sacred thing and not everybody gets the opportunity to do that'

The 30-year-old will become the eight female centurion when she leads the time into battle against the Belgians, following Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant, Áine O'Gorman, Diane Caldwell, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn and Denise O’Sullivan into an exalted club.

ELITE CLUB: 30-year-old Katie McCabe will become the eight female centurion when she leads the time into battle against the Belgians, following Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant, Áine O'Gorman, Diane Caldwell, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn and Denise O’Sullivan into an exalted club.

On the eve of her 100th cap, Katie McCabe admits Friday’s epic win will be forgotten if the Ireland team she captains blows their lead in Belgium.

Ireland bring a 4-2 first-leg buffer to Leuven for a tie that will influence the route to potential back-to-back World Cup appearances in 2027.

Arsenal’s Champions League winner McCabe was the inspiration in a special night at Lansdowne Road, scoring twice, creating another for Marissa Sheva and having her hat-trick goal reclassified by Uefa as an own-goal.

Belgium, unlike Ireland, have never featured at the women’s World Cup but three European Championship appearances in a row reflects their status as a League A nation.

Unless Ireland capitulate in the second leg, they will swap places with the Red Flames – pitting them against the bigger guns in next year’s qualifiers but in the knowledge a backdoor route to Brazil via the playoffs is assured.

Belgium will have mainstay duo Justin Vanhavermate and Jill Janssens returning from suspension, while Anna Patten is also back for Ireland after a ban.

Extra-time and penalties will apply at the 10,000-capacity Den Dreef Stadium if required to discover which team enters the November 4 draw among the top-16 in Europe.

“Friday was incredible”, noted McCabe. “Over the whole night, we had those goals to share with our fans.

“But it means nothing if we don't finish the job here.

“We know what we're going into, which will be a very strong Belgian team.” 

The 30-year-old will become the eight female centurion when she leads the side into battle against the Belgians, following Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant, Áine O'Gorman, Diane Caldwell, Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn and Denise O’Sullivan into an exalted club.

For all the accolades she’s received over almost a decade at Arsenal, both individually and collectively, representing Ireland is what McCabe deems precious.

“It's a very sacred thing and not everybody gets the opportunity to do that,” she said.

Meanwhile, Belgium boss Elisabet Gunnarsdottir insists her team won’t be caught cold again.

“Our focus will be on performing from minute one, not talking too much about the emergency scenarios that have to occur,” noted the Icelander.

“We must show reactions to what we did on Friday.

“Football is a really complex and weird sport in many ways. Ireland’s team spirit is important but certain individuals – like Katie McCabe on Friday – makes the difference.

“I complimented Carla Ward afterwards on her gameplan because it surprised us.

"Our team must play with discipline and structure but, at the same time, be ready mentally for the game because this will be completely different.” 

Gunnarsdottir also revealed that current Ireland men’s boss Heimir Hallgrímsson gave her the break she craved into coaching.

When Hallgrímsson left the ÍBV women’s team to become men’s assistant coach in 2001, he recommended his compatriot.

“I was only 25 then,” said the 49-year-old. “That’s how we met each other for the first time but we haven’t been in contact around this tie.”