Chelsea women’s coach Lisa Fallon was on Off The Ball and spoke about Ireland’s agonising draw against Greece in the 2021 Euro qualifiers.
Ireland took the lead through a goal from Amber Barrett after 12 minutes and looked set to secure the win over the Greeks.
However, a 93rd-minute equaliser from Anastasia Spyridonidou secured a draw for Greece in the dying seconds of the game.
Fallon was optimistic after the game and hoped Ireland would employ a more attacking style of play than they have done in the past.
“If you look back at Ireland historically over the last couple of campaigns we probably have been a team that tends to sit in and try to frustrate teams and maybe hit them a bit on the counter-attack.
“But I know from speaking to Vera [Pauw] a few weeks ago that she wants more from this team. Look, to be fair we’ve got players that are capable of that. We’ve got serious attacking dimensions in our front players.
“Like Denise O’Sullivan, and I know Vera [Pauw] has mentioned it, but she’s one of the best Number 10s in the world. That’s not an overstatement. Then Leanne Kiernan, with her pace to get in behind.
“Amber Barrett was very good today. Niamh Fahey was excellent in midfield today and Jamie Finn. And young Emily Whelan as well playing off the left,” Fallon commented.
The former Cork City coach believe Ireland are much improved over previous campaigns and that although they failed to get the win today, they are showing more killer instinct.
“We have really, really good players. Albeit now Katie McCabe played at us for left-full back today and people wouldn’t be used to seeing Katie playing in such a deep position.
“But we did have a problem at left-back today and Katie, in fairness, has been playing for Arsenal pretty much all this season in that position. She gives them a real attacking dimension.
“I probably said it and applauded after the Ukraine game when we were 2-0 up and we came back to 2-2.
“That’s probably in previous terms, that probably would have been a game we might not have won,” Fallon commented.
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