Ireland must focus on player development and improving skillset after Euro heartbreak 

The Republic of Ireland women lost 3-2 on aggregate to Wales in the Euro 2025 qualifying play-off second leg on December 4.

It was supposed to have been the next step in the team’s journey of reaching a major tournament for the first time, and an opportunity to build on the momentum of the squad after their adventures in Australia.

Instead, the home fans were stunned in Dublin. Wales scored twice and hung on to qualify at the expense of an Ireland side that were hell-bent on getting the win and going to Switzerland next summer.

The first casualty of defeat was Eileen Gleeson, the coach, who had taken over from Vera Pauw last year, and her departure was followed by Colin Healy’s.

So, how did a perceived homecoming end with a snatch-and-grab win for the visiting team? And what happens to an aging squad, with the next major tournament three years away, and the next Euros five away?

The players coming through will be tasked with stepping up and easing the transition, in addition to making sure that the country remains in the mix for qualification.

All the while, other European nations will develop their infrastructure for coaching and player development, which tightens the window of opportunity following the World Cup.

This is well known, as midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn personally mentioned in an interview after the game with Wales.

“In Irish football, we need to look at the grassroots,” she told RTÉ, just minutes after the full-time whistle at the Aviva Stadium.

“Change our game, change our style. 

Look at the best teams: They’re all so comfortable on the ball.

“I think that’s the journey we’re on now and it starts with the young ones. Everyone has to get better on the ball.

“Yeah, we can be hard, we can be resilient, we put our bodies on the line.”

LEADERSHIP

To improve on the ball requires a plan and that means leadership, which is a sore subject with the FAI as Gleeson’s original role was head of women’s and girls’ football. The Dubliner left that position to be senior manager on a permanent basis in December 2023, and the vacuum has yet to be filled, despite the sport’s visibility and accepted place in the mainstream.

There is still movement, however glacial in the grand scheme of things.

Cork can attest to that, with €156,229 recently awarded to the CWSSL for the development of a women’s and girls’ centre of excellence at Casement Park. 

Cobh Ramblers are also building towards a team in the Women’s Premier Division under FC32, meaning further regional representation at the sport’s highest level in Ireland.

All of this is positive on a microeconomic scale, the next thing being a cohesive plan designed to move everyone in the same direction, almost mirroring the shift to academies by the FAI creating the underage National Leagues in 2011.

Other nations are already doing this, and qualification is being seen as a boost, as opposed to an end goal.

Wales started their process in 2021, with the launch of a ‘For Her’ campaign designed to increase participation numbers, fan-base sizes, and to attract investment. Scotland launched a similar programme, with their inspiration the success of Glasgow City at home and in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the performance of their national team at Euro 2017 and FIFA World Cup 2019.

Northern Ireland are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Their version of ‘For Her’ concluded with an appearance at a first major tournament and the lingering feeling, according to Julie Nelson, that investment is still needed.

Does that mean a moment has ed? Does it mean starting all over again after going so high and seeing what is possible?

Ireland could soon find out as the clock ticks towards World Cup qualification and the Nations League campaign. The game will move on, but will Ireland move with it?