McCabe's Oz trip with Arsenal 'far from ideal'
Eileen Gleeson has raised concerns over the timing of Arsenal’s trip to Australia, scheduled a week for Ireland’s vital women’s Euro qualification double-header against Sweden.
As it stands, skipper Katie McCabe will join a flock of fellow internationals in travelling Down Under for an exhibition match against Allstars team in Melbourne on May 24.
Sarina Wiegman, who manages an England side also in Ireland’s group of death, last week expressed her reservations: "I think for all the players with an already complicated calendar, it’s not good for them to go to the other side of the world very short term, not having time to adapt and play a game against France home and away.”
Gleeson’s team face the Swedes home and away on May 31 and June 4, the middle window of a testing campaign which begins on Friday week in Metz against France. The Ireland manager today released her 26-player squad for a pair of matches that includes hosting Euro champions England at Lansdowne Road on Tuesday, April 9.
“Well, I mean it’s far from ideal,” said Gleeson, upgraded in December from interim to permanent head coach for this campaign, in which Ireland are already guaranteed a playoff route to the 2025 tournament in Switzerland.
“Sarina Wiegmann and other coaches have mentioned it in their squad announcements and public conversations.
“It’s a long travel trip with a quick turnaround so it’s directly post the end of the season, straight into a really long travel trip with a really quick turnaround directly before a qualifier.
“So yeah, it poses a real challenge for the player and for us as well. If it happens, we will have to manage it and best prepare for it if she is involved.” Unlike Wiegman, Gleeson has yet to discuss McCabe’s involvement
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