Katie McCabe is ready to silence the Swedes with a dose of Dutch courage this evening.
More than 12,000 tickets have already been sold for the World Cup qualifier in Gothenburg, with home fans expecting their players to secure their spot in next year’s World Cup.
However, McCabe and her team-mates won’t be intimidated by the big partisan crowd.
And she reckons they can take inspiration from their heroic 2019 World Cup qualification draw away to then-European champions Holland.
“We’re ready for it,” said McCabe. “We’re used to it away from home. The Dutch one stands out, with the cauldron of orange.
“But it is 11 v 11 and we’re focused on the job in hand,.”
A point – or three – for Ireland would certainly put a dampner on things for the hosts – but that’s not manager Vera Pauw’s motivation.
“Spoiling the party for Sweden, we’re not busy with that at all. At all. Because this is a massive game, and we have enough to face,” she said.
“If you get a result here, of course, that would be magic.”
Pauw has has problems in defence, with Diane Caldwell and Savannah McCarthy missing out.
Liverpool defender Megan Campbell was called into the squad initially, but didn’t make the trip.
“That gives us a headache because we need to leave five players in the stand. Everybody that travelled is fit and we’re ready to go,” said Pauw.
“[Campbell’s] knee swelled up after playing for Liverpool unfortunately.
“We are missing those players of course. Everybody knows that we need to find a solution and we will see.
“But I am not a coach that is panicking about missing players because we need to do it with the players that are here.
“We have so much talent. Every player gives her all and will fight her way through the game. We will be ready with the players we have.”
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