European Elite Round
14.04.2007 at 15:00 - France, Stade Omnisports.
Both nations have won their first two matches of the group against Portugal and the Netherlands. The victor of the group will be decided over 90 minutes tomorrow.
Ireland opened their campaign on Monday with a 1-0 victory over Portugal, thanks to Aine O'Gorman's first-half winner. Holland were the next nation for Ireland to overcome two days later and substitute Diane Caldwell netted the only goal with 16 minutes of the contest remaining.
Ronan declared her 18-player squad fully fit after Friday morning's training session and is looking forward to naming her strongest team later this evening that she hopes will topple the in-form hosts.
The prize on offer for the winner is qualification into this July's European Championship Finals in Iceland. The French require a draw to clinch the group as they have a superior goal difference to the Irish.
Whilst the French are regarded as one of the superpowers of Women's international football, Ireland are aiming to reach the Finals of a Major Championship for the first time ever.
Ireland need three points to take top spot in the group but could still secure a passage to the Finals as best runner-up from the six Elite phase groups.
As well as the six group winners advancing to the Finals to join hosts Austria, a seventh qualification slot is on offer for the team which finishes second in the group with the best record against the first and third placed nations.
All six groups are being contested this week and Ireland's Group D is the only pool where two of the four competing nations have a 100 per cent record from their two opening fixtures.
Ireland manager Sue Ronan is taking nothing for granted and wants her team to focus of getting something from the game tomorrow, "France are a formidable team but not unbeatable," she said on Friday. "I've studied their play this week and I know we can pose them a threat if we play to our potential.
"Our standard of performance improved against Holland from the Portugal game but the players still have more left in the tank," said Ronan.
"That's good to know because we'll have to be at our best to defeat them. France came runners-up in the European Finals last year and have a team who are almost fully professional. They'll need to have an off-day for us for us to capitalise and catch them out," she added.
Republic of Ireland squad:
Lyn Dowling – Bradley - Raheny United
Elaine Murray - Raheny United
Grace Murray - Dundalk City WFC
Louise Quinn - Peamount United
Susan Hackett - Stella Marris
Meabh De Burca - Salthill Devon
Áine O'Gorman - Stella Marris
Seana Cooke - Arsenal FC
Noelle Murray - Raheny United
Diane Caldwell - Hofstra University
Jennifer Critchley - Lifford
Christina Byrne - Raheny United
Leona Archibald - Mullingar Athletic FC
Mary Barrett - Douglas Hall
Niamh Reid-Burke - St.Mochtas
Aoife Herbert - Ballina Town
Niamh Mulcahy - Aisling Anacotty FC
Stephanie Roche - Stella Marris
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