Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward says nothing can distract her from reaching the Women's World Cup, despite speculation linking her to the vacant Aston Villa post. "Nothing is tempting when I'm in this job," Ward said. "My heart and my focus, I came here to try and get to a World Cup." Ireland face a play-off against Kazakhstan, with a potential final against Belgium or Poland to secure a spot at next summer's finals in Brazil. Ward replaced Eileen Gleeson in January 2023 and led Ireland to their first-ever World Cup in 2023. The two-legged tie against Kazakhstan begins in Astana on 9 October, with the return in Cork.
Ward will be without captain Katie McCabe, Marissa Sheva, Denise O'Sullivan, Tara O'Hanlon, and Saoirse Noonan, but says it is an opportunity for others to step up. Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft has been called up for the first time.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing