Katie McCabe insists her Ireland team can handle the pressure that comes with breaking their major tournament drought when they embark upon their ‘showcase’ on Saturday.
Ireland welcome neighbours Northern Ireland to the Aviva Stadium (1pm) for the first part of a six-game Nations League campaign they’re tipped to reign supreme in.
That tag stems from reaching the World Cup in the summer and their elevated standing in the FIFA rankings compared to the North, Hungary and Albania.
Arguably the degree of expectation has ramped up since the vast majority of the squad called for manager Vera Pauw to be replaced during a review exercise the FAI initiated following their odyssey in Australia.
Diane Caldwell’s blistering attack on the Dutchwoman at the start of the week has polarised opinion within a public who held Pauw as a hero for her integral part in the unprecedented feat.
Familiar face Eileen Gleeson – a former assistant of Pauw’s and manager of Peamount and UCD Waves at home – is in caretaker charge until her employers source a permanent successor.
Unlike the trip Down Under, when Ireland faced co-hosts Australia and Olympic champions Canada as well as African powerhouse Nigeria, Ireland are favourites to sweep to the top of this pool.
A crowd of 38,000 for the first-ever women’s international at the national stadium is forecasted by the FAI.
Winning the group would facilitate progression to League A for next year’s Euro qualifiers, a smoother path to a potential first qualification.
“Look, there is going to be expectation on us now,” said McCabe, who will win her 77th cap at the Aviva.
“We are a team that has qualified for our first-ever major tournament.
“With that, there are more eyes on us, more people
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