REPUBLIC OF Ireland manager for the women's team Vera Pauw has today confirmed that all of her squad have received the Covid-19 vaccine ahead of the World Cup qualification opener against Sweden.
A media storm erupted in the men's team when West Brom forward Callum Robinson gave his stance on the vaccine. Robinson clarified it was his choice as the sole reason for not taking it. Robinson wasn't the only player to have not taken up the jab, 40% of Stephen Kenny's 26 man squad has followed suit.
The women's team hasn't been the case; it's reported that only one player, not included in Pauw's 27-player squad, has not taken vaccines for medical reasons. The squad has been named today for the double header that includes a trip to Finland on October 26th.
Dublin , Ireland - 14 September 2021; Ciara Grant and manager Vera Pauw (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)“She cannot have any vaccinations, including others like yellow fever, because of her allergic reactions to that,” explained Pauw.
“It would not be a reason to leave her out. We would protect her in our bubble."
Ireland played a formidable Swedish team, who are second in the world rankings and won silver at the Olympic Games. They ended a seven-game losing streak in spectacular fashion by beating Australia 3-2 in a friendly last month.
Their first scheduled qualifier of the campaign to reach the 2023 was postponed due to red list restrictions for passengers returning to the UK from Georgia.
“I never lost my trust in this process because this group showed that we’re stepping up and stepping up and stepping up, and this would come,” she said.
“Performance is never constant so after a huge high, it’s so difficult to get that high again.
“I think that the pressure of playing the second-best team in the world will give the awareness that we have to perform at that level again. That there’s no way that we can even think for a moment that it’s an automatic process.” Injuries rule out Keeva Keenan, Claire O'Riordan, Megan Campbell, Alli Murphy, Clare Shine (ankle), Ruesha Littlejohn (foot), Isibeal Atkinson (quad) and Hayley Nolan (shoulder).
CONFIRMED | WNT Squad ☘️
2️⃣7️⃣ players selected for @FIFAWWC qualifiers against Sweden & Finland#IRLSWE now SOLD OUT!!! 👍
🇮🇪 v 🇸🇪
Thursday, Oct 21
KO 19:00
Tallaght Stadium
LIVE on RTÉ2
🇫🇮 v 🇮🇪
Tuesday, Oct 26
KO 16:15
Helsinki
LIVE on RTÉ2#COYGIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/EvkAwlzLN8— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) October 15, 2021
The squad will begin their preparations at the FAI National Training Centre this Sunday.
Grace Moloney (Reading), Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Eve Badana (DLR Waves), Amanda Budden (Shelbourne).
Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Diane Caldwell (North Carolina Courage), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Savannah McCarthy (Galway WFC), Éabha O'Mahony (Boston College), Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United).
Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Niamh Farrelly (Glasgow City), Ciara Grant (Shelbourne), Aoibheann Clancy (Wexford Youths), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne), Katie McCabe (Arsenal).
Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Rianna Jarrett (London City Lionesses), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge), Saoirse Noonan (Shelbourne), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City).
