Kenny - 'One big win puts us right back in it'
World Cup qualification and a spirited showing in each of their three games at their first major finals wasn’t enough to keep Vera Pauw in charge of the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team.
In the extremely late hours of Tuesday night, it was finally confirmed that Pauw’s near four-year stint in charge of the Girls in Green was over as the FAI’s board voted against extending her contract, which expired once they arrived back from Australia.
Stephen Kenny’s future could be the subject of a similar meeting in the coming weeks and months but qualification for Euro 2024 would certainly see him avoid a similar fate to Pauw, whom he spoke to on the phone on Thursday morning.
Unfortunately for Kenny, it’s not quite as simple as that. Yesterday, the Irish boss named the 25-man squad that he hopes will secure a vital three points from the six on offer in their upcoming double-header to at least keep their dreams of reaching Germany next summer alive.
Standing in their way though will be a full-strength and therefore star-studded France side in Paris followed by a talented Netherlands team arriving at a sold-out Aviva Stadium with a point to prove.
Despite the pressure Kenny’s currently under, those matches offer challenges he will enjoy because in his words; “you have to, why wouldn't you?
“I know from our point of view they are tough games, against two of the top teams in Europe, France, one of the top two teams in the world, world class players all over.
“It's a brilliant week to be involved in football, that's a very special week, to play France in Paris and play Holland here in front of a full house, a sell-out against Holland in a European Championship qualifier, really big games, very exciting for everyone involved.
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