Ireland's Katie McCabe has requested that anyone holding a ticket for the Ireland vs. England match tomorrow come and support the team at the Aviva
Eileen Gleeson's side lost their opening game against France in Metz 1-0. They will be aiming to secure their first victory of the qualification process against England on Tuesday.
McCabe, the captain, wants everyone in possession of a ticket for the blockbuster event to come and cheer the Irish team on at the Aviva Stadium.
“That buzz that the fans create for us, whether in Tallaght or at the Aviva, is so special to us, and we feel that when we step onto the pitch, we feel that we’ve got a stadium behind us, and it’s going to be massively important for us tomorrow night," she said.
“So if you do have a ticket, make sure you’re coming and watching us, because it will be crucial in helping us tomorrow.”
Dublin , Ireland, April 8, 2024: Head coach Eileen Gleeson and Katie McCabe during a Republic of Ireland women's media conference at the Castleknock Hotel in Dublin. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Ireland's manager, Eileen Gleeson, was also asked about how important the home crowd would be on Tuesday night and responded, "Huge, absolutely huge. We’re hoping it’ll be nice and loud. Sing along with the anthem with us. I don’t know if you could hear the stadium the other night in Metz, but it was absolutely phenomenal—the whole stadium singing La Marseillaise.
"I think it’s a real boost, definitely, that support for us when we’re in Tallaght, when we were at the Aviva for the Northern Ireland game. It makes a real difference."
For many in Ireland, the game against England is one that matters more than most. Due to the historical aspect and relationship between the sides, the game holds different weight for Ireland's fans and players. McCabe isn't buying into the narrative that the game means more and has said the game is no different from any other fixture they will and have played.
“It’s just another game for us,” McCabe added.
“We know it’s going to be tough; that’s what we’re made of; we’re made of strong stuff as Ireland and as a nation, and we are at home. As Eileen said, over 30,000 tickets were sold."
Republic of Ireland v England
European Qualifier, UEFA Women's EURO 2025
7.30 BST, Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Live on ITV and RTE Two
The Aviva Stadium, Dublin
