Vera Pauw sidesteps question on Ruesha Littlejohn’s apparent handshake snub of Australia’s Caitlin Foord
Ruesha Littlejohn of Republic of Ireland and Caitlin Foord of Australia tussle after the match
Ireland boss Vera Pauw has refused to elaborate on what was apparently a deliberate pre-match handshake snub of Australian Caitlin Foord by Irish midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn on Thursday.
Littlejohn made no eye contact with Foord and did not shake her hand before the match while the Ireland player was also pictured confronting Foord after the match.
Asked a question about the incident at a new briefing today, Pauw was reluctant to speak directly about the alleged snub.
“I’ve only got one answer, I’m so proud of Ruesha, I’m very proud of Ruesha, that is my only answer.”
Ireland fly into Perth on Sunday evening ahead of their second Group B clash with Canada, from which they will need to get something in what is developing into a tight group, following the Canadian side’s scoreless draw with Nigeria in Melbourne on Friday.
Ruesha Littlejohn and Caitlin Foord appear to avoid handshake before Australia vs Ireland game
Meanwhile, Denise O’Sullivan has revealed her anguish when it seemed like her World Cup dreams might be shattered.
The Cork midfielder was rushed to hospital in agony eight days ago after suffering a painful shin injury in the now infamously abandoned pre-tournament friendly against Colombia in Brisbane.
Scans and X-Rays revealed there was no serious damage but as she waited for the results in St Andrew’s Hospital in Slacks Creek, the North Carolina Courage star was seized by the most pessimistic scenarios.
“At the time it happened, I thought there could have been a chance for sure because I was in so much pain from the challenge,” she said when asked did the thought of missing the World Cup cross her mind after
Read on belfasttelegraph.co.uk
