Ireland face Sweden in the Aviva Stadium on Friday night in the first leg of a crucial double-header of EURO 2025 qualifiers.
Eileen Gleeson's side were on the losing side of both of April's games against France and England, though they may be buoyed by memories of Gothenburg in 2022.
En route to the 2023 World Cup, a draw away to the Swedes was crucial in securing a play-off place - any points in this double-header will go a long way on the road to the EUROs.
Gleeson will have learned much from her side's performances in Metz and against England, and has spoken about the positive end to the season many of the squad have had.
We've picked the Ireland starting XI we would like to see Gleeson put out against Sweden at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night. The Ireland head coach confirmed at Thursday's presser that Denise O'Sullivan is still doubtful to play any part in Dublin, so we've left her out of our selection.
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The Ireland XI we want to see for Aviva clash v Sweden
Formation: 5-3-2
GK: Courtney Brosnan
A lock in the team at this stage, Brosnan was the standout Irish performer across the first two games of the qualifying campaign.
She came up with big saves late on in both games to keep the scoreline more respectable, and her presence in the box was as commanding as ever. No question about who will be between the sticks on Friday.
LWB: Katie McCabe
Similarly, there is no doubt that Katie McCabe will be involved from the start on Friday, with Gleeson confirming on Thursday that she has recovered from Arsenal's controversial post-season trip to Australia.
The main question with McCabe in the past has been where on the pitch the captain will be deployed, though she has consistently been used at left wing-back by Gleeson. With a five-at-the-back likely once again against the world's #6 side, we don't expect to see any change to that trend.
LCB: Anna Patten
9 April 2024; Alessia Russo of England is tackled by Anna Patten of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Anna Patten was the surprise inclusion for April's internationals, with the Aston Villa defender's switch of nationality from England confirmed the day she was named in the Ireland squad.
Though there were some ropey moments, she was generally a positive addition to the team. For a balanced back five, she is the best fit on the left hand side of central defence.
CB: Louise Quinn
Another lock who was particularly strong in Metz against the French.
Late on against England, Quinn was effectively redeployed as a centre-forward and came close on more than one occasion to getting a goal back for the Girls in Green. As Ireland's fourth-highest goalscorer of all time, it was perhaps no surprise - and it would be no surprise to see the same tactic deployed if the team are chasing the game late on on Friday.
RCB: Caitlin Hayes
Hayes was uncharacteristically nervy in both of April's internationals but she has generally been outstanding since coming into the camp during last year's Nations League campaign.
30 May 2024; Caitlin Hayes and head coach Eileen Gleeson during a Republic of Ireland women's media conference at Castleknock Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The 28-year-old is coming into this camp off the back of a terrific club season with Celtic which saw the Hoops claim the Scottish title in dramatic fashion and was in good spirits when facing the media on Thursday afternoon. Reliable.
RWB: Aoife Mannion
Mannion was poor in Ireland's last home game against England but just about everything else she has done this season has justified her place in this team.
Ireland defender Aoife Mannion was definitely making the most of the Manchester United FA Cup celebrations yesterday 🏆pic.twitter.com/isSeIvBoPp
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) May 13, 2024
After significant injury issues caused much time on the sidelines in recent years, Mannion became a crucial part of the Manchester United side this year and came off the bench in their victory in the FA Cup final earlier this month.
With Heather Payne out injured, Eileen Gleeson will need a deputy at RWB, and we believe Mannion to be best suited to the task.
CDM: Megan Connolly
One of Ireland's best players, Connolly has strangely found herself in and out of the starting XI under Eileen Gleeson, as evidenced by her starting in Metz before being dropped for the England game.
There are few if any in the squad better suited to anchoring the midfield and Connolly's passing game will be crucial if Ireland are to exploit their chances on the break.
CM: Tyler Toland
A player whose absence was felt during the first window of internationals. Ireland lacked any form of control or composure deep in midfield for large portions of April's games and, as evidenced by last year's Nations League games, Toland can shore up those issues against Sweden.
Should form the crux of a balanced Irish midfield.
CM: Jess Ziu
27 May 2024; Jess Ziu during a Republic of Ireland Women's training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Admittedly, this XI does have Jess Ziu slightly out of position but, with Sinead Farrelly announcing her retirement and Denise O'Sullivan likely to miss out through injury, Eileen Gleeson will need to improvise somewhat in midfield.
Ziu was a regular starter for West Ham in the WSL this season, showing impressive form and returning to the Ireland squad for the first time in 17 months for February's friendly games.
She was impressive in the game against Italy in Florence earlier this year and, in O'Sullivan's absence, can inject some pace and creativity into Ireland's game in a 10-esque role.
ST: Kyra Carusa
Carusa's hold-up play has become crucial to how Ireland set up under Eileen Gleeson, and she burst into goalscoring form during last year's Nations League campaign.
The San Diego Wave striker is another pseudo-lock in the team and it would be a huge surprise to see her excluded. April's qualifiers did, however, see her extremely isolated up front, which is why we would prefer to see her play alongside a strike partner.
ST: Leanne Kiernan
5 April 2024; Leanne Kiernan of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between France and Republic of Ireland at Stade Saint-Symphorien in Metz, France. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
It's been great seeing Leanne Kiernan back to her best in a Liverpool jersey this season, and her pace and unpredictability are what make her the ideal strike partner for Carusa.
She will be eager to get on the field after a mixed window in April but her brilliant close to the season has proven she is ready to step up.
The team in full
Amber Barrett and Izzy Atkinson have both had outstanding individual seasons and should play a crucial role off the bench, while there is every chance Eileen Gleeson may plump for Ruesha Littlejohn, Lucy Quinn or Diane Caldwell from the off.
Nonetheless, this is the Ireland XI we think has the best shot of getting a major result against Sweden on Friday night.
Ireland v Sweden takes place at the Aviva Stadium on Friday 31st May. Kick-off is at 7:30pm, with the game live on RTÉ 2. Tickets are still available via Ticketmaster
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