Emma Duffy reports on Ireland's Euro 2025 play-off final against Wales, where one side will qualify for the European Championships in Switzerland next summer. With over 25,000 tickets sold, Ireland hopes to secure victory in front of a large home crowd, continuing the legacy set by their recent World Cup qualification.
It’s 1-1 at the halfway stage of Ireland ’s Euro 2025 play-off final against Wales .One side will qualify for their first European Championships in Switzerland next summer. The perfect early Christmas present. The losers leave empty-handed.
Eileen Gleeson’s side are embracing the pressure and expectation as they look to become just the second Irish senior football side since to qualify for successive major tournaments, the other being Jack Charlton’s men of Euro 88 and Italia 90.“Leading up the World Cup play-offs, that was a massive thing for us, to create a legacy,” Katie McCabe said yesterday. “This is the next steps of that as well.
The stakes are soaringly high, but the Irish camp has exuded calmness. Now they must play the game, not the occasion, as the marginal favourites.There has been no shortage of needle, both on and off the pitch in recent days. Not only was Friday’s first leg at Cardiff City Stadium cagey, it was a feisty encounter with several flashpoints.
After shadow boxing on Friday, one must take the initiative here. Both sides say they can be better, and the overarching feeling is Ireland even more so. They don’t need to be told that they must show more in attack and create more chances. Their superstar duo, McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan, need to play more prominent roles here.
Along with O’Sullivan in midfield, Littlejohn should start again, but load management is key amidst persistent Achilles issues. Connolly or Stapleton could also hold. Marisa Sheva, who replaced Lily Agg at half time, could be favoured as a more attacking option here.
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