Ireland stars ban talk of Netherlands heroics ahead of rematch
DUTCH COURAGE: Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward speaks to her players. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.
Ireland’s players have banned talk of their heroic scoreless draw against then 2017 Women’s Euro champions Netherlands ahead of Saturday’s rematch.
Colin Bell was in charge and Katie McCabe the captain when the Irish silenced the boisterous 12,000-capacity crowd in Nijmegen on the Dutch homecoming.
Nine years later and some of the players return to the Lowlands, this time Utrecht, for another World Cup qualifier.
Despite leading the group’s top seeds France until the 71st minute in Tuesday’s opener at Tallaght, Ireland ended up with nothing.
Between substitute Melvine Malard of Manchester United burying a seven minute brace and Denise O’Sullivan having her last-gasp shot headed off the line, Ireland lost 2-1.
McCabe’s former Arsenal teammate Vivianne Miedema will lead out a Dutch side disappointed to have been held 2-2 by Poland in their League A opener.
“No, no,” Ward emphasises about channelling that backs to the wall display of old.
“Our players wouldn’t even talk about the last win over France (in Pairc Uí Chaoimh) before Tuesday.
“They’re getting fed up with everyone talking about it. They want to talk about this new era so there’s no talk about what happened before.”
Ward will soon discover whether O’Sullivan shakes off a knee injury to face the Dutch – now managed by Arjan Veurink.
He was the former assistant to England boss Sarina Wiegman, whose victory in charge of her homeland triggered three-in-a-row of Euro titles.
“The main improvement from the France game is putting the ball in the back of the net,” said Ward.
“If you remember my first press conference, the one thing I said is that I like to be exciting. I think we’ve shown that and it will be the same on Saturday.”
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