Republic of Ireland 0-2 England: Women's Euro 2025 qualifier – live ...

Wowzers.

Katie McCabe talks to ITV as well: “First-half I felt like we were too passive at times, we gave them a lot of space in the central areas. I’m proud of how we applied ourselves in that second half. I haven’t seen the peno back but it’s obviously frustrating for us. They’re avoidable goals.”

She doesn’t think the second penalty should’ve been awarded. “Louise [Quinn] is trying to balance, it’s come off her body, the football gods redemeed themselves off the post.”

Leah Williamson on her return after a difficult year: “I just really, really love playing for England. When I put this badge on I feel 10 times taller, 10 times stronger. The girls are such a great group and I loved every second of that. I had my eyes set on this. These days, an ACL, you comeback hopefully in a healthy way but I wanted to be good enough to play for England again. The standards are so high … Today is sort of a completion of that journey.

“It says a lot about our standards that we all think that is [the 1-1 draw against Sweden] a setback now. And so we knew we had to come here tonight and win. I know it wasn’t a convincing last 20 minutes but I’m very, very happy with three points.”

Ireland were terrifically old-school in that second half, pumping it long through McCabe’s left foot and Campbell’s magnificent long throws. Ultimately, the damage was done in the first half with Lauren James’ fine finish and Alex Greenwood’s penalty. England have their first victory of these Euro 2025 qualifiers. Ireland have their second loss, but they caused plenty of trouble, too.

McCabe sends in a cross from the left but it’s behind all of the green tops in the box. The whistle blows and England can breathe.

View image in fullscreen

90+3 min: England have done just about enough to calm Ireland down in these last minutes. Kelly crosses in from the right, and it’s deflected before finding the hands of Brosnan.

90+2 min: A yellow for McCabe as she commits a foul out on England’s left-hand side.

90 min: England have a free-kick by the halfway line that Greenwood thumps across the pitch towards the right-hand side. Four minutes are added on.

89 min: Chloe Kelly is on for England and can’t win a corner out on the right, having been swamped by two green shirts who safely dispossess her.

87 min: Williamson pulls off an excellent clearance while facing her own goal; she’s had a fine return to international ranks. Now it’s just about seeing off these final waves of attack from Ireland.

85 min: Madness! Hampton’s dropkick is blocked on the edge of the box by McCabe, who then races onto the ball to have a shot at net … but Hampton is back in position to save. Hampton wanted a free-kick, with McCabe right in front of her when she went to have her kick.

83 min: Hampton saves from close range as Hayes make a fine run into the box to get a head on the corner from McCabe. Ireland’s pressure is significant.

82 min: Ireland are really giving it their all in these last few minutes, pushing plenty of numbers forward. Campbell tries to go outside Mead and wins a corner out on the left for Ireland.

81 min: Kirby nearly finds Beth Mead with a cracking through ball, but it’s just off, allowing Brosnan to collect.

80 min: McCabe launches another ball into the England box and Hayes gets a head on it, leaping high into the air, but can’t direct it towards goal.

79 min: Campbell’s long, flat, vicious, frankly terrifying throws and McCabe’s punts into box are Ireland’s best bet here.

77 min: McCabe opts for a cross from the left, and finds Louise Quinn at the back post who sends in a delicious low ball across goal … but somehow it’s not bundled in! Ireland’s best attacking play of the game and they really should’ve had someone slotting that into the back of the net.

76 min: Ireland have a free-kick from shooting range after James brings down Kiernan. McCabe lines it up …

75 min: Hampton misplaces a pass and Kiernan drives forward on the right, but is dealt with; Ireland have a throw. Stanway is on for Toone as England make another sub.

73 min: Carter recovers and England move forward with Lucy Bronze out on the right … but her punt downfield is poor and not to anyone in particular.

72 min: Walsh tries an ambitious ball forward to Russo, but Brosnan collects. Hampton clears the ball away out of play; Carter is down and in a bit of bother.

70 min: What looks promising from Ireland turns quickly into nothing, as Mannion hits a simple pass out on the right for an England throw. They’ve offered little when in possession.

67 min: Greenwood sends in a free-kick from the right which is headed away. Toone responds with an effort from range that goes over the bar.

65 min: A brilliant save from Brosnan! James won the ball out on the right and sent in an early cross for Hemp to head across goal … and the shot followed from the advancing Kirby, surely to make it 3-0, but Brosnan somehow kept it out from very close range.

64 min: England play some neat touches on the edge of the box but Toone can’t squeeze though the killer ball to Russo inside it.

63 min: England break from the corner, but Mead is sent back by Connolly as both sides regain their shape.

62 min: Campbell has another long throw to send in … and she delivers from the left. Walsh heads it out for a corner. I reckon Ireland would prefer a throw.

61 min: Megan Campbell delivers a staggering long throw to trouble the England defence, but they just about get it away. That’s Ireland’s weapon for the rest of the game.

60 min: Ireland are readying up some subs, and here they come: Payne is replaced by Kiernan; Lucy Quinn is off for Campbell.

58 min: Walsh really is delightful on the ball, navigating her way with ease through the pressure of the incoming Irish shirt.

57 min: Kirby and Mead get their first touches, and the latter is fouled before some neat play on the edge of the box sets Toone up for a shot. It’s blocked.

56 min: Park is replaced by Kirby, Hemp by Mead. England want more goals tonight.

View image in fullscreen

55 min: James launches into a dribble, plays the ball to Toone who turns well on the edge of the box and slots in a pass for Hemp, whose cross from the left can’t find a teammate.

54 min: All a bit turgid at the moment; Ireland just can’t seem to string a sequence of passes together. England can but Ireland’s off-the-ball work is solid enough to keep the visitors at bay.

53 min: Hemp just about keeps the ball in after a punt into the left channel … or not, with the whistle going.

51 min: England retreat to Hampton who, facing the Irish press, thumps long to James, who heads out for an Ireland throw.

50 min: Lauren James is down and in a bit of bother after a McCabe challenge … and now she’s up. The show goes on.

48 min: Ruesha Littlejohn is the player who’s gone off, by the way. England have much of the ball early on in this second half; Ireland need to up the ante, maybe with a crunching challenge or a defence-splitting pass, anything that gets the crowd going. They’re just a bit flat at the moment.

46 min: We’re back again, with Megan Connolly on for Ireland. England are unchanged.

England have had a comfortable first 45 but will feel they should’ve wrapped this up with that second penalty. Greenwood, however, couldn’t find the net for a first-half brace, and so Ireland remain in this game even if they’ve barely threatened Hannah Hampton.

45+1 min: There’s a bit of pinball in the box before England eventually clear. The half-time whistle blows.

45 min: Corner for Ireland after Walsh and Lucy Quinn battle for the ball out on the left.

44 min: A stray pass from McCabe is picked up in midfield by England, setting up a promising attack … but Russo is offside.

41 min: James dinks a ball from the right towards Russo, who sets up Bronze for an ambitious effort … that sails high into the Dublin sky.

38 min: Williamson launches a crunching slide tackle on Carusa, setting up an England break. James tries her luck from outside the box but finds the hands of Brosnan.

37 min: James picks up the ball in midfield from Williamson and embarks on an adventure … but her subsequent pass is intercepted accidentally by the referee.

36 min: Walsh splits the Ireland midfield with a thudding pass but Hemp, the receiver, is cut off from causing any damage.

34 min: Carter, England’s left back today, is pressed back by a couple of Ireland shirts and is forced into committing a foul.