Ireland will face Georgia at Tallaght Stadium tomorrow as they continue their quest to qualify for Euro 2025.
After securing a 6-0 victory in their first playoff against Georgia in Tbilisi last Friday, Ireland will be aiming for another win to boost their chances of reaching next year’s continental tournament.
Ireland manager Eileen Gleeson is confident her squad is ready for the challenge.
“That has been the message from day one in this camp,” she told the Irish media ahead of the game. “And it has been repeated several times. It is to come out here, be ruthless with this game, and kill it off. This is the second part of this playoff, and we will respect it as such. We need to start strong, hopefully score goals early, and really enjoy the night.”
Among those who excelled in Ireland’s last playoff against Georgia were Marissa Sheva, Aoife Mannion, and Jessie Stapleton, all of whom achieved their first senior international goals during the match.
When asked about potential changes to the starting lineup, Gleeson hinted at a balanced approach.
Head coach Eileen Gleeso at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)“We’ll aim to get players some minutes, but we will start strong. We have a few young, inexperienced players, so it will be good for them to come in during a positive moment with less pressure. We’ll definitely look to give some young players a chance.”
Ireland captain Katie McCabe echoed Gleeson’s sentiments about the team’s commitment to winning.
Speaking to the media, she added, “Look, I think from our point of view, we want to start the game tomorrow how we finished it—with more control, patience, connecting our play better, showing urgency, and being clinical as we were in the second half. That’s how we want to start the game. With a sold-out crowd, there’ll be a great atmosphere from the fans too.”
As McCabe alluded, a strong, urgent start might be just what Ireland needs to secure another victory against Georgia.
If Ireland claims another win, they will face either Wales or Slovakia to reach the milestone of appearing in the Euros for the first time
