Ahead of the World Cup 2027 qualifying double‑header, Ireland face a striker who has turned every club she’s joined into a scoring machine. Ewa Pajor arrived at Barcelona in 2024 and has already netted 43 goals in 46 league games, winning the Pichichi Trophy. Her 70‑goal haul for Poland makes her the nation’s all‑time top scorer and a lethal threat in Gdańsk.

Ireland’s defensive blueprint hinges on a disciplined back five that has already kept France and the Netherlands at bay. Coach Sean Ward favours Aoife Mannion at right wing‑back, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes and Chloe Mustaki as centre‑backs, with captain Katie McCabe on the left. Three of these defenders ply their trade in the WSL, routinely marking elite forwards such as Alessia Russo and Vivianne Miedema, giving Ward a seasoned unit to chase Pajor’s runs.

Stopping Pajor will demand more than just a clean sheet; it requires denying her space on set‑pieces and tracking her drops deep to launch attacks. Ireland’s recent success against top sides shows the system works, but neutralising a player who scores in varied ways could be the difference between a draw and a win in this crucial tie.