Vera Bau admits the Republic of Ireland could be knocked out of the playoffs on Tuesday this week as wins over Scotland or Austria do not guarantee qualification for the World Cup.
A complicated and complex qualifying system means that Ireland will have to win and then wait for Switzerland or Iceland to lose a play-off match on the same evening to automatically book a place at next summer’s tournament in Australia in New Zealand.
Should Ireland, Switzerland and Iceland win, the Green Girls, the lowest-ranked team of the three, will likely head to the Confederations Cup play-offs in New Zealand, where 10 teams will compete for the three available qualifying spots. . .
The standings are so tight that goal difference could be a factor.
Ireland are also likely to start their play-offs before Iceland and Switzerland, as UEFA allowed the host associations to set kick-off times.
RTÉ will broadcast the tiebreak, and Tuesday night’s Champions League clash will add another layer to the match puzzle.
The National Broadcasting Corporation is in ongoing dialogue with the FAI and television companies in Scotland and Austria regarding the timing of the launch. The match is currently expected to start at 18:00 Irish time if the opponent is Austria. If Scotland win, the start time is still uncertain, but maybe later.
On the pitch during Ireland’s Nations League defeat at Hampden Park last Saturday, the Scottish Football Association announced a tie-break with Ireland as a possible two goals against Austria.
It’s huge, and we need you at Hampden.
our ticket #FIFAWWC The playoff games are already on sale.
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Scottish National Team (ScotlandNT) 12 September 2022
“Surprisingly the three games didn’t coincide because there could have been a goal difference and we might have had to play an hour early,” said Pau.
“I don’t understand. Every last round of the competition takes place at the same time. And I asked for it [UEFA] Why but they didn’t give me an answer. So one of the teams may know that they need an extra goal and can bet. This is a very unfair game.
“But to be honest, the whole arrangement wasn’t the best. It hasn’t been adjusted by UEFA. It’s very strange”.
“To be fair to RTÉ, they want our game but they also have a contract. This is not your problem. RTÉ is doing the best it can.”
Ireland will meet in Abbotstown on Tuesday to begin their preparations, which will again include a game against a youth team.
On Thursday evening, the group will sit down to watch the first stage match between Scotland and Austria, after which preparations for their big clash will be intensified.
“If you are an elite sport, you grow to a certain level and the process is very beneficial for everyone involved; for players who feel they have better control of situations, for employees who see what all work brings to the team,” added Bao.
“But at the end of the day, if you don’t win, you have nothing. It’s an elite sport. It’s a very double feeling. I’m proud of where we are, but I’m fully aware of the fact that we’re not.” I don’t have anything yet.
«[Pressure] It’s a good thing. We’ve grown so much, we’ve worked really hard to be independent and we like pressure at the highest level, not being afraid of it.
Expanding on the wider impact on Irish women’s access to the World Cup, she said: “You can’t imagine what you will do because I have seen it in other countries and I have experienced it in the Netherlands.”
“Now we are where we were in 2009 when I was the coach there and we broke it and reached the semi-finals. [of the Euros, where they lost to England]; Four more minutes and we are in the final [Jill Scott’s 116th-minute goal earned England a 2-1 victory]. The whole country was turned upside down.
“This is football. It is the most important sport here. It will make a huge difference, not only in the game, not only because of the excitement people feel, but especially because of the thousands of girls who come after it.”
“This is the biggest Cup final we have ever played.”
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