Carla Ward offered a fascinating insight post match on Friday night stating that Ireland ‘have a togetherness like a family’ and a ‘clear identity.’
Ward was speaking after Ireland fell to FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying defeat to France but can console themselves with the prize of a seeded spot in the play offs.
The Ireland head coach spoke to the media post match and The Halfway Line was there to hear from her.
‘Carla with the ball and Ireland without’ the perfect combination says Ward
Ireland finished second in League B this time last year. Fast forward a year and Ireland have finished ninth in the overall UEFA Nations League standings a place ahead of Sweden. Ward was asked to identify a turning point in her tenure,
“I’d say the summer, after the campaign” Ward said. “I looked at where we’re at, what we’ve got, what we do well, how I want to play, but what are Ireland really good at?
“I think some of you were in that press conference, when I said it needed to be a little bit of Carla with the ball and Ireland without the ball.
“And I sat down with Katie [McCabe] in London actually and we had a really long conversation about a lot of things.
“I remember thinking, if we can bring an Irish off the ball mentality and a Carla Ward mentality with the ball, this could be quite exciting and I think it has been.”
‘Massive growth’ for Ireland since Wales defeat says Carla Ward
All those enamoured with Irish football will bear the scars of defeat in Dublin in the play offs for UEFA EURO 2025 to Wales in 2024. Ward was asked how the team have come on since then,
“Massive growth” Ward exclaimed. “If I’m being really brutally honest. I think that we’ve developed a clear identity, we’ve raised standards, we’ve built a togetherness which is like a family.
“I said that to the group this morning. We have a character about us where, if we go behind, we have to fight to get back in front. We have to ensure that we continue to build on our identity.
“Somebody asked me a similar question earlier. It was actually John Martin [Director of Football at the FAI] we were out for a walk. He said, how different is it to the group you picked up?
“I said, yeah, I picked up a group that was hurt. Lots of players had left. Transition time. There was a lot of work to do. It’s not been easy and it’s not happened overnight.
“It’s happened over a period. That’s why it’s really important that we continue that work because this group can get better and better. I believe that. I fully believe that.”
‘We’ve earned the right’ to be called favourites says Carla Ward
In the play offs, there will be more expectation on Ireland. With Carla Ward’s team likely to no longer be considered the underdog, that was put to Ward,
“Yeah, I’ll keep telling them they’re the underdog!” Ward laughed. “No, but we’ve earned the right, haven’t we?
“Let’s be really honest, I think a lot of people around the world have been talking about this group this week and they’ve earned that right through their performances, their attitudes, their character.
“There will be the flip side of it. We’re expected to win. Let me tell you now, we’ll give you everything to try and make that happen.”
Ward praises ‘outstanding’ Anna Patten and Caitlin Hayes
When asked to comment on the French quality in attack, and whether the Irish defence should have done more to stop it, Ward was effusive in her praise,
“It’s an unbelievable finish” Ward said. “I can’t criticise my team, I can’t. I think they deserve nothing but credit.
“It’s a moment against a top side, a top player that has hurt us in that moment, but we’ll learn from that, we will. We learn from every moment and we’ll definitely learn from that.”
Two players who shone for Ireland in this window but especially away in Grenoble were Caitlin Hayes and Anna Patten. Ward was asked for her thoughts on the latter’s performance,
“She was unbelievable” lauded Ward. “Her and Caitlin were outstanding. It’s funny. I said in the team meeting actually, the other day, I wanted to highlight the centre-halves because they don’t get enough credit, you’re right, and there isn’t enough said about them.
“Patsy [Anna Patten]Â I have obviously worked with at Villa, I signed her at Villa and had a few years with her and she is outstanding. Unbelievable human being, a wonderful footballer and she showed that again tonight.”
