Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe is already looking ahead to the decisive World Cup play-off with Poland after a comprehensive 4-0 win over Kazakhstan, which took the tie to a 12-0 aggregate scoreline.
McCabe was clear that the upcoming fixture will be a different test. Poland, who defeated Belgium on penalties after a 3-3 draw over two legs, are a dangerous side, largely thanks to Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor. Ireland did beat them twice during qualifying in April, but McCabe stressed that the November meeting will be a fresh contest with a World Cup place at stake. "We know there's a World Cup place at stake so we need to be ready. It's an exciting one," she said.
McCabe also reflected on her summer move to Chelsea after her contract at Arsenal ended. She described the switch as a "breath of fresh air" and said the time had come to start a new chapter. Working with Sonia Bompastor and the squad at Stamford Bridge has been brilliant, she added, and she is enjoying her football again.
For now, McCabe says the focus is on taking it game by game and being in the best position to qualify. She pointed to Ireland's historic first World Cup appearance in Australia in 2023 as proof that the squad knows what it takes. "We've had some highs and lows over the years," she said. "We'll be doing everything we can to get over the line and get this country to the World Cup again."
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing