Republic of Ireland target automatic World Cup spot in vital France clash
Republic of Ireland striker Amber Barrett insists her team have nothing to lose when they face group leaders France in Grenoble on Tuesday with an automatic World Cup qualification spot at stake.
The forward recently came off the bench in the 76th minute to score a dramatic late winner against the Netherlands in front of a 12,000-strong crowd in Cork.
That crucial victory means Carla Ward’s side have guaranteed at least a seeded play-off place, officially avoiding a bottom-place finish in their qualification group.
However, an away win against the French would completely bypass those play-offs and secure their passage to back-to-back international tournaments.
Targeting automatic qualification
Speaking to RTE following the momentous win over the Dutch, the match-winner emphasised the squad’s fearless mentality heading into the vital fixture.
“We do not have anything to lose,” Barrett stated.
“When we started the group, what everyone was looking at was not finishing fourth.”
“We avoided that tonight and we have nothing to lose on Tuesday, we are going to give everything we have.”
The Irish squad travel to the continent on a three-match unbeaten run, determined to avenge the 2-1 defeat they suffered against Laurent Bonadei’s team at Tallaght Stadium earlier in March.
‘Tuesday is a cup final’
Despite the safety net of the upcoming October and December play-offs, the attacker revealed that their manager has instilled a relentless winning mindset within the camp.
“Before, if you were 2-2 against the Netherlands, you would probably be rubbing your hands together and saying ‘we will take this’, but Carla [Ward] said from the start of the week, let everyone know we will be going to win the game,” she explained.
“Tuesday is a cup final.”
“Against the Netherlands, we were for it and we were trying to win that game, there was no doubt about it.”
France currently sit comfortably at the top of the group, posing a formidable challenge for the travelling side.
“It is a massive game on Tuesday, we will enjoy tonight but we are not taking for granted the French, they are an unbelievable side,” the striker concluded.
“Recover, get ready and let’s go again.”