THIS IS IT. The winner takes it all.
It’s 1-1 at the halfway stage of Ireland’s Euro 2025 play-off final against Wales.
History beckons for one at the Aviva Stadium tonight [KO 7.30pm, live on RTÉ 2], heartbreak for the other.
One side will qualify for their first European Championships in Switzerland next summer. The perfect early Christmas present. The losers leave empty-handed.
For Wales, there’s the added caveat of a first-ever major tournament. Ireland achieved that feat two years ago when they stunned Scotland at Hampden Park to secure World Cup qualification. That same night, Welsh hearts were broken by a 120th-minute Switzerland winner. The agony and ecstasy. History and heartbreak.
Extra-time and penalties are a possibility tonight, but Ireland will be hoping to get the job done sooner in front of a big home crowd. The FAI announced yesterday that over 25,000 tickets had been sold for their fourth appearance at Lansdowne Road, 400 of those travelling fans.
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.
That’s a real fucking legacy to leave, as the Taylor Swift lyric goes.
“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.
“We see young girls coming to our hotel, training sessions, games; they’re following us everywhere because they look up to us and because we’ve become role models for them, it’s an amazing feeling.
“We just want to give young girls the chance to dream to be in our position one day and represent our country and show them that they can make World Cups and European Championships. If I can make one girl dream about that, I have left a legacy in that as well. It’s special.”
The Irish captain warned they are “more hungry than ever,” having gone through exhilarating highs and gut-wrenching lows, as they try to cement their place in history.
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.
Tempers flared between Ruesha Littlejohn and Jess Fishlock in the second half, the Irish Player of the Match dismissing it as “handbags” afterwards. McCabe, who was unsurprisingly involved in some argy-bargy herself, called out “cheap shots” in yesterday’s press conference, but was unclear on which incidents she was referring to.
Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson has repeatedly tried to stoke the flames, making digs about Ireland’s “very distinct style” and Wales getting caught up in their directness and physicality. Gleeson hasn’t bitten back. She’d rather her team do their talking on the pitch.
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.
Gleeson is likely to keep changes to her XI minimal. Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan could be busier tonight, should it go down to the wire, while two of the three centre-half positions are nailed on by Anna Patten and Caitlin Hayes. Niamh Fahey got the nod to join them last time, while Megan Connolly and Jessie Stapleton are other options.
McCabe and Heather Payne were pinned back on the flanks in Cardiff, but should be looking to operate in more advanced positions this time around. Getting more from the Arsenal star will be crucial for Ireland: she will hope to get forward and test Wales ‘keeper Olivia Clark. Shots must be fired, à la Littlejohn for Friday’s equaliser.
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.
Kyra Carusa and Julie-Ann Russell have been deployed up top of late, but Leanne Kiernan put her hand up with a lively cameo off the bench. Might the Liverpool striker be better kept for impact, though? Long-throw specialist Megan Campbell is another who could add threat from the sideline.
Wales have weapons of their own. For Ireland’s difference makers O’Sullivan and McCabe, Fishlock is their star attraction. The 37-year-old was similarly quiet on Friday, but showed her class in the build-up to Lily Woodham’s opener. Their captain Anaghard James is a key midfielder, while Carrie Jones showed glimpses of brilliance from the bench.
The Dragons had Christmas dinner and a present exchange over the weekend, but Wilkinson is expecting no such gifts from Ireland tonight.
“There’s nothing that will be given to us, and we will receive nothing for free,” the former Canada international said. “When you have opponents like that, you always have to prepare for more than 90 minutes, and potentially the eventuality of penalties.
“You have two equal teams, two teams that are so clear on their mandate of leaving football in a better place, and the legacy, to have that opportunity in two wonderful stadiums to battle it out for a chance to represent their country at a major tournament, what a moment.”
51 years on from Ireland and Wales playing their first-ever women’s international against one another, they now go head-to-head for a spot at their maiden Euros.
Expect fireworks.
This is it. All or nothing. History beckons.
- Ireland v Wales, Euro 2025 play-off final, second leg — 7.30pm, Aviva Stadium, RTÉ 2
Fine margins all the same, serious point gained. Still can’t believe yer man hit the bar after Randolph’s fumble, and also to a lesser extenr that Ivanovic couldn’t convert when clean through
Also, don’t think you can really give Coleman too much credit for that goal-line clearance, it was him not pushing out that led to the chance!
6 is very harsh on Long, thought he was our man of the match, battled bravely all night on his own, and the corner for Murphy’s goal came from a ball he had no right to get to between two defenders, thought he gave them a torrid time from brutal service
If Robbie had played like long tonight everyone would be giving out. Long did little enough.
Hahaahha who cares away point in the bag
Robbie us gone – Shud ave been gone years ago to give the younger lads a chance.
I think Coleman is really poor for Ireland, left his man for their goal, played everyone on side for his goal line clearance and generally their threat came down his wing, don’t rate him as highly as most pundits.
Long was my man of the match. Worked tirelessly and intelligently…something Robbie never did. The team performance doesn’t deserve a rating at all at all.
Brady
Quinn was really influential when he came on and only gets a 5?!?!
Was I watching a different game.
Just listening to K Cunningham on highlights programme. OMG does he even breathe…:he is non stop yap yap yap.
At this moment in time
Yeah like all the has beens, tryin to make a name 4himself in commentary. As for Jim Beglin & Ronnie Whelan – get rid of them.
Better to be a has been than a never was
We don’t have tactics of any note. Free kick anywhere…big men up…lump it up. Sit deep. There is nothing enjoyable about watching that type of football.
I’m as patriotic as anyone but I couldn’t watch 90 minutes of that.
Entertain us a bit please.
The way the game has gone it’s no longer about entertainment….it’s all about getting points..:staying competitive in the group…then selling tickets and that’s the money go round.
Taught the most entertaining moment was when Ronnie Whelan taught Jeff kenna was on the pitch, says it all really
John, even Spain or Germany don’t go out to entertain, they go out to win, international football is not a show, it’s a competitive sport, go to the cinema if you want to be entertained. The rest of us will continue to support our country
I’ve seen your comments before and if I ever get to a stage in my life where I take your advice on what to do for entertainment, that will definitely be my rock bottom.
Thanks for educating me re the ethos of successful teams.
Goodnight poor mouth.
People who think we should be going to Serbia and bossing the game and playing it around all over the gaff haven’t a clue about the game or the standard of players we have in our squad. We didn’t play that great but that’s a great point tonight.
Nobody expects Ireland to be bossing the Serbians for 90 minutes on their own patch…long ball rovers for 90 minutes though is really stuff from the dark ages. Irish players when they play any decent standard of opposition just look technically inept.
Have to agree with most of those ratings, long and hendricks were at least a seven, really hope judge comes back strong and give arter a go. Austria and Wales are beatable
O’shea and whelan need to retire NOW. Dundalk are easier on the eye then trap 2
Agree with you on that. Different level but one thing that has really impressed about Dundalk in Europe so far is how they are not afraid to play composed passing football. Even when they are under pressure against superior teams. When Ireland played with confidence today they really troubles Serbia. Unfortunately after each goal we scored we reverted to type. Serbia had 3 times more passes than us!!
Spot on there Trevor. O Shea is past it Whelan not at this level. Dundalk should have 3 players in this squad. O Donnell,Mcmillan and Horgan. Not too many of this Irish team would make Dundalk’s first 11 . They are actually a better team, very unlucky not to be in CL group stages
Coleman should lose a point for that goal line clearance, he caused the chance by playing everyone one! I couldn’t believe it when I saw that, especially from him!
It’s funny tho when we actually tried to play we were all over them, that Serbia were thier for the takin if O’Neil had made changes at half time when it was obvious we were gonna concede . He’s traps half brother , arter and hoolihan should have started ahead of whealan and ward Brady lb it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise that. Randolph made 1 error in a muddy pitch he was are best player other than that
Then who would cover that dodgey defence. Whelan didn’t have a great game but its either him or McCarthy. If Arter played instead we would have conceded more than 2
The Goalkeeper got Man of the Match, surely he should be rated better than 6. He kept them in the game.
So what are your ratings supported by,playing away from home where it’s going to be hard for any team to get points, a pitch that was like a bog..but hey on yer scores we should win the wc..good result.
Dundalk can play why can’t we, why do we play like the Flintstones I will never know
This is a very poor team espicaly with whelan and ford also oshea not up to standard
They were all crap as usual – 1 Nil Up & we f(k it up. When will we ever learn. 2Points lost tonite. The usual sambles.
John Delaney , I’d rate zero. “Didn’t show up on the night”!!!
Here we go, another brave performance, total rubbish, we got out of jail after scoring early why sit back, we should have gone all out for 2nd and we would have won. Might win in Georgia, and Moldova but if we play like we did tonight no chance of winning in Austria and Wales. Best we can hope for is play offs.
Why is it every team we play are better than us? Passing the ball seems ti be a big “no no” with this team.When they get it they just lump it forward hoping for lucky break.Having watched Dundalk and Cork City play some decent stuff, we then have to watch this rubbish.Houlahan,Brady and maybe Hendrick are all we have as players. If Keane was no.1 think he would give other players a shot.MON is not going to change his conservetive style of play at this stage
Find this far too critical. We got an away draw against a decent team on a terrible pitch and when we look back on this group we could see this as a key result like the Georgia away win last time.
Still a huge level of unrealism from our media about the quality of a group of players who play for Stoke Burnley Sunderland Stoke and West Brom.
They were there for the taken last night that is a poor Serbia side. And as for the excuse that it was a poor pitch Serbia didn’t have a problem passing the ball on the ground. It’s O’Neill’s hoofball tactics was the problem not the pitch.