FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

From the Bunker · July 20, 2023, 12:14:57 PM

Quote from: gallsman on July 20, 2023, 12:00:29 PM
Intriguing enough first half. Problem is McCabe and O'Sullivan are leagues above everyone else in the team. Hard to see them lasting the pace.

You'd have Louise Quinn in that bracket also.

From the Bunker · July 20, 2023, 12:16:23 PM

Cheap penalty given away by Sheva after all that good work. Australia looked empty of scoring chances up to that!

gallsman · July 20, 2023, 01:03:20 PM

Good response to the goal. Played much better football after it. They're "just missing that little bit of quality" up front. Surprised Carusa wasn't brought of earlier and that Barrett didn't come on. Larkin and Quinn coming on had big impacts.

ONeill · July 20, 2023, 01:09:58 PM

Pure panic set in when Ireland had a chance to get a shot off.

Capt Pat · July 20, 2023, 01:12:18 PM

I don't see what Carusa brings to the team that Barrett doesn't.

Ireland were too negative early on. They showed after the goal that they could compete with the Aussies.

The penalty was unfortunate as Australia didn't threaten Brosnan either before or after it.

From the Bunker · July 20, 2023, 01:19:55 PM

Quote from: Capt Pat on July 20, 2023, 01:12:18 PM
I don't see what Carusa brings to the team that Barrett doesn't.

Ireland were too negative early on. They showed after the goal that they could compete with the Aussies.

The penalty was unfortunate as Australia didn't threaten Brosnan either before or after it.

Barrett is one of those who can do the lone striker stuff and is good on the break one on one. She has no threat in the air . When we were pushing on, the Australian backline was crowded. We were only going to score from a deflected shot, dead ball or a header.

gallsman · July 20, 2023, 01:20:49 PM

Quote from: Capt Pat on July 20, 2023, 01:12:18 PM
I don't see what Carusa brings to the team that Barrett doesn't.

Ireland were too negative early on. They showed after the goal that they could compete with the Aussies.

The penalty was unfortunate as Australia didn't threaten Brosnan either before or after it.

Australia sat back after the goal which allowed Ireland to play a bit more, McCabe was freed up etc. Don't be fooled, Australia are much superior side, even without Sam Kerr in the lineup. The reason the game was so tight is down to Ireland playing so well defensively.

weareros · July 20, 2023, 01:46:57 PM

It's a tough group with two top 10 teams and two potential winners in Aussies and Canada. Need a shock win over Olympic champions Canada to have a chance to progress. Realistically it's looking like a first round exit. Can't fault their battling qualities and deserved a point today.

Never beat the deeler · July 21, 2023, 01:07:06 AM

Will be there next week to cheer them on against Canada. Hoping for a Giants stadium-esque 1-0

Unlucky with the penalty, listening to the Aussie commentary you would think it was stone wall.
Similar incidents happen every time the ball goes in the box, if the player goes down they can all be given.

Pity one of the chances at the end couldn't just have fallen nicely. Them's the breaks

bogball88 · July 21, 2023, 07:09:18 AM

It was like watching soccer in slow motion

gallsman · July 21, 2023, 08:22:35 AM

Quote from: Never beat the deeler on July 21, 2023, 01:07:06 AM
Will be there next week to cheer them on against Canada. Hoping for a Giants stadium-esque 1-0

Unlucky with the penalty, listening to the Aussie commentary you would think it was stone wall.
Similar incidents happen every time the ball goes in the box, if the player goes down they can all be given.

Pity one of the chances at the end couldn't just have fallen nicely. Them's the breaks

It was absolutely a stonewall penalty.

An Watcher · July 21, 2023, 08:32:16 AM

Stonewall my @rse. See plenty of them not given. She got caught on the wrong side and it was clumsy more than anything. Girl didn't need to be asked twice to go down either. That's the breaks though.
Big break with this mornings result though. If they can draw v Canada, big ask I know, then a win against Nigeria would be enough

gallsman · July 21, 2023, 08:51:54 AM

Stonewall. Clattered into her and knocked her to the ground while ball (that she never had a chance of getting) was still coming in.

The fact it was clumsy is completely irrelevant. Since when has "ah sure I didn't mean to do the clear and obvious foul I did" ever been an excuse?!

Hound · July 21, 2023, 09:52:51 AM

I thought it was stonewall too. She had her hands up on her back too. Clear pen. Sheva was poor throughout, was was Carusa.

But the response after going 1-0 down was much better than I expected. Unlucky not to snatch what would have been a deserved equalizer. Not having a good enough striker is the clear weakness in the squad unfortunately and tbh I was expecting a little more from Denise O'Sullivan and Littlejohn, but Katie was superb.

Capt Pat · July 21, 2023, 10:23:38 PM

I am not sure about the penalty. I have seen them given but I have also seen them overlooked. Their legs come together which causes the Aussie to fall. A bit of a hometown decision.

Abbie Larkin looked good during her time on the park. I would start her and Amber Barrett. Barrett apparently can't head the ball but she is a good player and might score a goal. I don't know what Carusa does or Sheva apart from giving away penalties.