Eileen Gleeson 's Ireland left the crowd cheering as they beat Albania 5-1 on Friday night in what was an epic show of strength and diverse play by the girls in green.
The team is no doubt hoping to continue this winning streak as they are set to play Albania’s team today yet again, but this time, on their home turf.
MATCH DAY!
🇦🇱 vs 🇮🇪
🏆 | @WEURO Group B1
⏰ | KO 17:00
📍 | Loro Borici Stadium
📺 | LIVE on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player#COYGIG | #WeAreOne | #OUTBELIEVE pic.twitter.com/KVc7YLqmdY— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 31, 2023
At the front of the mission is Ireland’s interim manager, Eileen Gleeson who has made her mark as a coach, as evident by Ireland’s several victories over the course of the Nations League Campaign.
Addressing the press in a pre-match conference on Monday, she spoke about the player who stole the show, scoring a hatrick for her country, Ireland’s captain and Arsenal star Katie McCabe.
“Well I mean she’s in her prime right now as we can all see" she says.
"You know, hugely influential for us as you said scoring, Ballon D’Or award, you know top player for her club so, it really is her time to shine right now and we’re just super happy that she’s with us.”
McCabe was essential in triumphing over Albania and as a captain she has an added responsibility of leading her team on to the pitch and keeping morale high.
“Katie is a huge influence in the dressing room, she’s the player on the level that other players aspire to and she demonstrates that on the pitch" she says.
"She’s a great work ethic, she’s able to guide younger players, she’s able to support, she’s able to challenge, so she has all the attributes of a really good leader and she’s demonstrating that with us and the players look up to her so yeah she’s a really strong leader”, says Gleeson on McCabe’s position as captain.
There has been a huge contrast between Ireland’s performance at the World Cup under Vera Pauw and that of the Nations League under Gleeson, albeit against poorer quality opposition.
To achieve such outstanding results, Gleeson believes each player has exceeded their potential. Furthermore, it was Gleeson as manager, who had the responsibility of unlocking that potential.
“It’s the girls that are doing it, obviously you say it’s the potential that they had in them" she says.
"We’re playing a little bit higher up the pitch, these games allow us to do that and we’re using players in different positions and just working on different areas.
"That allows them to have a bit of freedom then in their play and make their decisions and use their creativity that they always thought that they had.”
It can be argued that part of Ireland’s success on the pitch is a direct result of changing formations. This was displayed on Friday night with Abbie Larkin and Izzy Atkinson becoming two breakout stars on the wing, allowing McCabe to play in the centre, contributing to her goal count.
😁😌#COYGIG | #OUTBELIEVE | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/yFwdUOopGa
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 28, 2023
On the accession of these two young players Gleeson says “they’re very important in it and they do give us that width and they give us that little bit of excitement, they want to go 1 v 1, they want to dribble, they want to get crosses in and that’s what we’re looking for in how we’re playing now."
"We wanted to play around and use spaces and they give you that option and you know we also have the option of Katie out left so it’s another option and it’s a great strength.”
Being at the top of the Nations League B table gives Ireland a good chance at being promoted to Nations League A, which in turn, would give the side the chance at qualifying for the Euros in 2025. Gleeson maintains that this is her main long term goal as manager.
"Yeah I mean we don’t have to do too much to motivate the girls I mean they’re very motivated”, Gleeson insists.
“We want to get the win tomorrow, we want to have a good performance from the start to the finish of the game, we want to get three points, we want to top the group for the UEFA Nations League we want to get to the Euro 2025 qualifications so it’s not too much that you need to do to drive that message with the girls so yeah we just have to help them you know to put that into action.
"It’s the girls on the pitch and it’s their performance and it’s them that are getting the results and you know giving people a good spectacle to watch.”
The Ireland manager also emphasised that constant wins were a by-product of how important it is to have adaptability as a team. Being adaptable means that players should be able to thrive in new positions which Ireland has proved again and again.
“We consider all options and you know one of the things is our values is we’re promoting adaptability so I mean the answer is yes because we consider all things but we’ll see tomorrow”, says Gleeson on the importance of this concept.
Newcomer Erin McLaughlin's take on the Irish WNT under Gleeson
Republic of Ireland's Erin McLaughlin in Shkoder during some down time ahead of her side's UEFA Women's Nations League B1 match against Albania tomorrow.
📸 @sportsfilesteve https://t.co/6bTxKhyblO pic.twitter.com/iL6y7O4NMe— sportsfile (@sportsfile) October 30, 2023
Another newcomer to the squad is Donegal native Erin McLaughlin who has had a successful season with the Irish Women's Premier Division playing for Peamount United. Talking to the media on Monday, McLaughlin spoke about what it was like to not be at the World Cup but "redeem" herself at the Nations League.
"I think being part of that World Cup preparation was like a huge experience for myself and obviously not getting to go to the world cup was a disappointment but for me the experience was just amazing and I feel like now it is my second chance to come and redeem myself and show what I can do so yeah, just pushing on from now and hopefully it’s a fresh start," she says.
She went on to discuss what it was like to see the girls in green at the World Cup from afar and to not be with them in person at the tournament.
"I suppose a bit of disappointment creeps in because you know how close you were to going," she says.
"You kind of feel that a little but I feel watching the girls you’re just so proud of them like because it was incredible they were there in Australia playing in the World Cup and you’ve trained with them players like you know some of them, you’re friends with them, it was just really unreal and I was at home watching with my family as well which was nice."
Channelling that energy McLaughlin is hoping to make her impact felt with this opportunity in the WNT.
Today, Ireland will show what they are made of as a team yet again come 5pm, and if their projected trajectory is set to continue, the girls in green may have a secure shot at a promotion.
MATCH DAY!
🇦🇱 vs 🇮🇪
🏆 | @WEURO Group B1
⏰ | KO 17:00
📍 | Loro Borici Stadium
📺 | LIVE on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player#COYGIG | #WeAreOne | #OUTBELIEVE pic.twitter.com/KVc7YLqmdY— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 31, 2023
