Ireland's Niamh Fahey has openly admitted that she hasn't made a final decision regarding her retirement from international football. Nevertheless, she also expressed contentment with the idea of stepping down if she chooses to do so.
At 35 years old, Fahey boasts an impressive record of playing over 100 matches for her country. She recently participated in all three of Ireland's World Cup games during this tournament. Considering her age, it would be understandable if the veteran defender decided to retire this year. The next World Cup will be four years away, and there is no guarantee that she will be part of the squad or if the team will even qualify.
Fahey confirmed this week that she has yet to make up her mind about her future with the Irish team. She stated, "I haven’t made a decision. If it’s my last game and I go out like that, I’m happy enough," expressing a sense of contentment regardless of the outcome.
She also mentioned that she hasn't really given the matter much thought at the moment. She plans to enjoy the tournament, look back on her experiences, and take her time in making the right decision for herself.
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"I haven’t made a decision. If it’s my last game and I go out like that, I’m happy enough,” said the Galway native. “I haven’t even thought about it to be honest. Whether I make a decision now, it’s something I’ll go home and enjoy the tournament, look back on it and when the time is right, yeah, have a good think about it.
Despite Ireland's early elimination from the tournament, with the team being knocked out in the second game, Fahey, who plays for Liverpool, expressed her pride in the team's efforts.
She commended her teammates for giving their all and leaving nothing behind, emphasizing that they should be proud of their performance.
“I just really enjoyed the experience and all the rest of the girls, we gave it absolutely everything and we left it all behind. We have to be proud of the effort.”
Ireland's devoted supporters have been praised multiple times during the tournament, and Fahey joined in expressing her gratitude. She found the support from the fans to be incredible and unprecedented, particularly playing in front of such a large crowd in the Irish jersey.
“It’s been unbelievable, it’s been amazing, I’ve never played in front of that size crowd before in the Irish jersey,” added Fahey. “The support was phenomenal, it kept us going at times and just there is nothing…I’ve never experienced anything like it.
The Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team, there will be a public reception on August 3, Thursday evening. The event will take place on O’Connell St in front of the GPO, starting at 6:30pm.
See More: 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Football, Niamh Fahey
