Poland boss takes swipe at Ireland over pitch-width tactic

Ireland reduced the width of the Tallaght Stadium pitch to minimum Fifa standards for the World Cup qualifier against France in March

Ireland face Poland, who are managed by Nina Patalon, in the Women's World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday evening in Gdansk. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Poland’s manager insists she wouldn’t entertain Ireland’s ploy of narrowing the pitch against the better nations because she advocates for “certain standards”.

For last month’s visit of France to Tallaght, Ireland boss Carla Ward ordered the width of the Tallaght surface to be trimmed to meet minimum Fifa pitch-dimensions rules.

This was designed to reduce space for the effervescent French wingers, chosen with the purpose of generating a ‘one per cent’ advantage.

Ward’s plan of action worked for a while as they sped ahead before the top seeds in the World Cup qualifying group overturned the opener to claim a late 2-1 victory.

Ireland will have no influence over the pitch size on Tuesday at the 41,000-capacity Polsat Plus Arena, the Gdańsk scene of Ireland’s 4-0 hiding by Spain at the 2012 men’s Euros.

The nations meet again on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium, leaving Ireland with a concluding pair of qualifiers against the Netherlands at Pairc Uí Chaoimh on June 5 before travelling to Grenoble in France for the final match three days later.

How results unravel this week will determine whether Ireland or Poland get an easier pathway through the playoffs to the World Cup in Brazil next summer but the Polish boss seemed to take a dim view of Ward’s meddling.

“If it was up to me, I’d like dimensions of the pitch being subjected to the same standards,” said Nina Patalon, who led the Poles to their first ever Euros last summer.

“We need certain standards so I don’t like changes to dimensions. If we’re running in a 100 metre race, it shouldn’t be a 90 metre race.

“Of course, there is freedom here to do it but my attitude is that teams should have certain standards because it’s a level playing field.” 

 When it was put to Patalon that the bald patches on their pitch might stifle free-flowing football, she again returned to the France game in Dublin.

“This is less important than a narrow pitch because it won’t affect the game,” she pointedly said.

Denise O’Sullivan returns from a knee injury to earn her 130th cap in midfield, while Katie McCabe’s bandaged hand won’t prevent her spearheading Ireland’s charge.