'The aerobic base from running still benefits my game' says former Olympics hopeful Sheva

Irish-American Sheva, 28, has developed into a key component of Carla Ward’s side. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

In another life, Marissa Sheva could be gracing the global stage as an Olympic athlete but her sprint to a second successive World Cup fulfills her sporting ambitions.

Pennridge High School is a microcosm of Philadelphia’s emphasis for developing elite athletes.

Sheva flourished in the long-distance events to the extent she was considered for international service.

We’ll never know if her vest would don the stars and stripes or her ancestral home of Ireland because football, or soccer as colloquially termed Stateside, won her heart.

Sheva’s agility and pace was evident when assimilated into Vera Pauw’s World Cup-bound squad in 2023.

Two-and-a-half years on from that Australian expedition and Ireland are within sight of a repeat in 2027.

Sheva, currently at Sunderland, chipped in with a goal to smooth Ireland’s path to Brazil, her thunderbolt against Belgium at Lansdowne Road last month proving crucial.

That 4-2 win put Ireland in first-leg control to complete the mission in Leuven. Abbie Larkin’s late goal delivered it.

What the playoff triumph does for 2026 is not only present qualifiers against three League A nations – France, Netherlands and Poland – but guarantee a playoff route to the Brazil-hosted finals.

Sheva, 28, has developed into a key component of Carla Ward’s side, functioning as one of the attacking supports to sole striker Kyra Carusa.

She’s left the cold climate of north-east England and Ireland behind to finetune the year’s preparation on a training camp in Marbella. That peaks with a friendly against Hungary on Saturday morning, albeit closed to fans.

“Splitting time between track and football slowed my football development a bit,” she recalls about his duel commitments of a decade ago.

“At one point in college, I enjoyed running a lot more than I was enjoying soccer but gave it one last-ditch effort to have a soccer career.

“I’ve bridged the physical gap now as the aerobic base from running still benefits my game.

“I wouldn’t change that experience because it prevented burnout. I saw that happen to many girls who played soccer all year-round.”

Emerging from the European phase as just one of the 11 representatives constitutes an endurance test too but beating a Belgium side situated seven places ahead in Fifa’s rankings removes any fear.

“We managed to click in the last camp and I don’t think that was due to one single factor,” Sheva explained.

“It was probably coming over several camps but we executed our gameplan against Belgium very well.

"I don't think I'll ever be comfortable because I think that is a high-pressure environment but I’m definitely in a better place than 12 months ago.

“Playing in the English Championship has taught me a lot. It’s a gritty league which helps my international career too.”