Eoin Harrington reporting from Metz
Ireland get their EURO 2025 qualifying campaign underway on Friday night with one of the toughest assignments possible, an away trip to face France in Metz.
France were semi-finalists at EURO 2022, quarter-finalists at last year's World Cup, and ran out 3-0 winners when they faced Ireland in a pre-World Cup friendly last July.
With England and Sweden coming fast down the tracks, things are not set to get any easier for Eileen Gleeson's Ireland side. If they can achieve any kind of result in Metz on Friday night, it will be a huge achievement, and spark hope that a positive campaign may yet play out.
Team selection will be crucial with Ireland punching above their weight, and we've selected the XI we would like to see take the field against France at the Stade Saint-Symphorien on Friday night.
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The Ireland team we want to see against France in Metz
Formation: 3-4-1-2
The three-/five-at-the-back system is the one that Ireland's players have been accustomed to for some time now and, given the strength of their opposition, it's hard to see them deviating from the three-centre backs model.
There is some debate as to whether that shape will look more like a 5-4-1 or a 3-5-2, but we've opted for a formation utilised on more than one occasion by Eileen Gleeson during the Nations League campaign which allows Ireland to be flexible when in and out of possession.
GK: Courtney Brosnan
No brainer. Brosnan is a safe pair of hands between the sticks and has developed into an assured presence in her own box over the past year.
Reliable and consistent throughout the Nations League, Brosnan was also among the best performers in the Irish squad the last time we came up against top-level opposition in the World Cup. Locked in.
RCB: Caitlin Hayes
One of the most impressive performers of the Nations League campaign after her 11th-hour introduction to the squad before the Northern Ireland game at the Aviva Stadium.
Caitlin Hayes has been an ever-present at RCB ever since that Northern Irish game. Not only is she an assured presence in the backline, but she also offers dynamic passing and a goal threat from set pieces.
CB: Louise Quinn
A veteran of over 16 years of international football now, Louise Quinn continues to perform at the heart of the Irish defence. Her presence was missed in the last window, with the defence noticeably calmer when she came in at half-time against Wales in Tallaght.
As Ireland face a huge challenge against the might of France in Metz, the experience of Quinn will be vital. Like Hayes, she also poses a goal threat - being Ireland's 4th highest all-time goalscorer from centre-back continues to amaze.
LCB: Anna Patten
The boldest call in this XI, but fans should not be at all surprised should Gleeson pull the same trick as she did with Caitlin Hayes and throw Anna Patten in from the start on Friday.
Aston Villa defender Anna Patten was the surprise inclusion in Eileen Gleeson's Ireland WNT squad announcement this morning ☘
Eileen Gleeson said today that once Patten's switch from England is rubber-stamped, she'll be right in the mix for selection💪 pic.twitter.com/jBHNOprTev— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) March 28, 2024
Patten was the surprise inclusion in the Ireland squad named by Eileen Gleeson last week, with the Aston Villa defender having lined out for England right up to U21 level.
Her eligibility has now been confirmed, and she is available for selection. As a pacy week-in-week-out starter in the WSL, she will compliment Quinn and Hayes well in a three-player defensive setup.
RWB: Heather Payne
It is a tough call down the right flank between Heather Payne and Jess Ziu, but we're going with Payne here.
The Everton star has enjoyed more regular game time in the WSL this season and was impressive throughout Ireland's flawless Nations League campaign.
CDM: Tyler Toland
Tyler Toland returns to the camp after missing the February window through injury, and we expect her to slot right back in at the base of midfield.
1 December 2023; Tyler Toland of Republic of Ireland in action against Bernadett Zágor of Hungary during the UEFA Women's Nations League B match between Republic of Ireland and Hungary at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
In the defeat to Wales in Tallaght in late February, the absence of Toland was sorely felt in midfield, as the Welsh overran Ireland and created plentiful opportunities in the first half. The Blackburn midfielder has been impressive since returning to the fold under Gleeson, and it's hard to see her missing from the team named by the head coach on Friday.
CDM: Megan Connolly
There are only a handful of "locks" in the Ireland XI, but Megan Connolly is pretty well one of them. The Bristol City captain passed 50 caps during last year's Nations League campaign, and her newfound partnership with Toland at the heart of the Irish midfield was one of the best elements of the six-game winning streak at the back-end of last year.
Her adaptability as a centre-back is enough endorsement of her defensive abilities, while she also offers plenty in terms of progressive passing.
LWB: Katie McCabe
As captain, Katie McCabe will be the first name on Eileen Gleeson's team sheet, fresh off the back of a triumphant Conti Cup final with Arsenal.
In case you needed a refresher on McCabe: in 2023, she scored Ireland's first-ever goal at a World Cup finals, five goals in six games in the Nations League, became only the second Irish women's player to score two international hat tricks, was named in the Champions League team of the tournament, and finished 15th in the Ballon d'Or. As nailed-on a selection as can be.
CAM: Denise O'Sullivan
The second name on the teamsheet will undoubtedly be the returning Denise O'Sullivan.
It is perhaps unsurprising that Ireland failed to score in O'Sullivan's absence in February, given how pivotal she is to the attacking setup under Gleeson.
As she displayed at times during the Nations League and (notoriously) at the World Cup, she also has the ability to drop deep and will likely have to do so on Friday night against France if Ireland are to have any hope of getting a result.
ST: Lucy Quinn
5 December 2023; Lucy Quinn of Republic of Ireland celebrates after scoring her side's first goal during the UEFA Women's Nations League B match between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Another player with the ability to drop deeper than they are named on the teamsheet, Lucy Quinn quietly went under the radar as one of Ireland's more impressive performers during the Nations League romp last year.
Goals in both games against Northern Ireland were her just reward, and she was among the outstanding players on the pitch on both occasions. Her ability to drop into more of a false nine or even CAM role will be important when Ireland need to shift to a 5-4-1 out of possession.
ST: Kyra Carusa
Another near-assured starter, Kyra Carusa tied with Katie McCabe as Ireland's top scorer during the Nations League, with five goals across the six games.
The San Diego Wave striker's physicality and tenacity out of possession will also be a useful asset on a night when Ireland will not expect to see too much of the ball.
The team in full
There are a few unfortunate to miss out, or who are on the verge of selection - Diane Caldwell, Izzy Atkinson, and Jess Ziu immediately spring to mind.
But, for us, this is the team that will give Ireland the best chance of achieving a memorable result against France on Friday.
The Ireland WNT face France at 8:10pm Irish time on Friday night. The game will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2.
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