Fuelling Ireland's French mission: Ward credits nutrition shift for late game surge

Ireland face France in Grenoble on Tuesday evening with a place at the World Cup in Brazil on the line. 

Ireland manager Carla Ward: “I think anything is achievable. We’ve that mindset, a strong culture and the biggest thing is togetherness." Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

In the most mountainous area of Europe sits Ireland’s ultimate peak expedition.

Grenoble’s 20,000-seater Stade des Alpes is suitably named, nestled beneath the hulking cliffs that dominate the French skyline in these parts.

Whereas at the start of the year many foresaw this final World Cup qualifier as Ireland’s last chance to avoid the wooden spoon, instead there’s a cupboard of tantalising gifts on offer.

Ireland’s mission is simple in theory yet daunting in practice.

Maintain their momentum by winning a fourth game on the spin and they’ll qualify directly for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

Against that, France are the fourth best in Europe and last lost a World Cup qualifier at home in 2005, all of 11 years ago.

Manchester United's Melvine Malard didn’t disguise her annoyance at the French fate boiling down to a shootout.

Five points dropped against a Netherlands side scalped by Ireland at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Friday has delayed what they imagined would be the formality of sealing top spot.

Local apathy is reflected in the prediction of a half-empty stadium. This was supposed to be a lap of honour, not the inconvenience of trying to bring the pool’s surprise packets down to size.

Home manager Laurent Bonadei has gotten used to the nuisance aspect of their opponents. He was assistant to Hervé Renard when they lost 3-1 in Cork.

Even their two victories over the past two years, 1-0 in Metz and 2-1 in Tallaght three months ago, left him with a sense of relief.

Those one percenters Carla Ward highlighted to gain an edge of superior seeds are on his mind again as the pressure builds on Les Bleues. In sweltering conditions, the only team feeling the heat are the hosts.

“Carla has won the three last games but also nine of her last 14 games,” the French coach noted of his opposite number.

“Ireland has the chance to qualify and they deserve the position. Carla has some ideas to disturb the opponent - remember her reducing the width of the pitch at Tallaght?

“We are ready because she probably plans some things that we have to be focused on the game. She can imagine something really difficult for us.

“We know she develops a strong fighting spirit into her players.” 

It took a brace from substitute Malard, and a late goalline clearance from Denise O’Sullivan, to turn a goal deficit into a 2-1 win in March. She’ll start in attack, likely alongside another global star in Lyon striker Marie‑Antoinette Katoto.

France may have Katoto but Ireland have Katie.

Ireland’s skipper McCabe had one of her quieter games in Cork, having just completed a high-profile move from Arsenal to Chelsea, and is determined to end this series by giving her team the best chance of avoiding the play-offs en route to a second successive World Cup.

Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan did make some crucial interventions during the Dutch demolition and believes the experience of making it to Australia for a first tournament is contributing to their blaze of form.

“The background helps massively coming into a situation with these stakes again,” said the Everton stopper, whose penalty save in the play-off against Scotland was the precursor to Amber Barrett’s extra-time winner.

“The squad as a whole has been unbelievable in this campaign and to see the buy-in from everyone into what we want to achieve and where we want to be is brilliant.

“We have always had that but only continued to grow stronger along this journey.” 

Both Brosnan and Ward are aware of how they have to replicate the magic mustered last November by the men in winning their final pair of games to stay on track for the showpiece.

If Troy Parrott’s heroics were the football timestamp of 2025, within the grasp of the women is their own version of Reeling in the Years folklore.

“I think anything is achievable,” beamed Ward. “We’ve that mindset, a strong culture and the biggest thing is togetherness. That goes for the staff, the players, everybody. I think if you’ve got those three, there’s a chance of creating more records.” 

France only require a draw to secure their ticket but should the game remain in the balance late on, don’t expect Ireland to wilt as occurred in the opening window.

Late goals by the French and Dutch left them empty-handed but the vitality Ireland showed in finishing off Friday’s cruncher by the Lee with Barrett’s goal wasn’t a fluke.

Rather, Ward attributes their energy and endurance to a change in the background she initiated.

“First of all, I’m going to say fuelling,” she said about the players’ food intake.

“I’m ok with saying it but I think we’ve the best nutritionist in Olivia Patel.

“She’s brought in a high-level, high-performance chef, Ryan Swift, I had the joy and pleasure of working with when I managed Aston Villa to fifth in the Women’s Super League in 2024.

“I do believe that last Friday was the first game where, at 70 minutes, we didn’t see the shift that we had seen. So we’ll put that down to them.” 

The French should be wary of Ireland’s intention to exact revenge by serving them with a cold dish.