Ireland's Amber Barrett has confessed that she isn't bothered with the label of being Ireland's supersub ahead of the Girls in Green's game against Australia tomorrow.
Before the qualifiers, many people who don't follow Ireland's women's team would not have heard of a name like Amber Barrett, but after her exploits in Scotland, she has flipped that narrative on its head.
The Donegal native scored the only goal in Ireland's crucial World Cup qualifier against Scotland last autumn. Barrett's solo goal ensured that Ireland would make history by making it to their first-ever Women's World Cup, and the goal also ensured that Barrett would become a legend in women's football in Ireland for years to come.
Ireland will play co-host Australia tomorrow in Sydney, and it is likely that Vera Pauw will stick with her tried and tested team that got the side to the World Cup.
Barrett has netted seven times in 36 appearances for Ireland, with six of those coming in 25 appearances from the bench, compared to one goal in 11 starts. Two of these came in the game against Zambia in the 3-2 friendly win.
🗣 "They're a world class team."
🗣 "They have a bit of pressure on their shoulders as well."
Amber Barrett talks about how she is handling the pressure of facing hosts Australia in their opening game of the World Cup | ☘
🎙 @kathleen_mcn pic.twitter.com/C156rKewjY— Off The Ball (@offtheball) July 19, 2023
Despite being a sub for Ireland in the past, Barrett would like to start the World Cup opener instead of coming off the bench. However, the 27-year-old admits she isn't put off by the 'supersub' tag that has made her famous.
“Of course, I want to start,” said Barrett to reporters this week. “So would I rather not start and not play, or would I rather come off the bench in as many games?
“People feel a wee bit insecure about the supersub label, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t bother me one bit. I think I have proven – six of the seven goals I have scored for Ireland I have scored off the bench, so I will take that with me, and that is something that I will improve on and continue working on.
“I will keep striving to be the striker that she wants to start, but if I can’t do that, I will make sure that I am ready to go when called upon.”
Ireland's game against Australia starts at 11 Irish time."
IRELAND WNT SQUADGoalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion) Defenders: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Áine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Claire O’Riordan (Standard Liege), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Izzy Atkinson (West Ham United) Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Sinead Farrelly (NY/NJ Gotham) Forwards: Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers)
MATCH DETAILSFIFA Women’s World Cup 2023Group BAustralia v IrelandThursday, July 20Stadium Australia, SydneyKO 20:00 (11:00 Irish Time)LIVE on RTÉ2
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