The Ireland squad has been named for the crucial Women's World Cup qualifiers at the beginning of September.
Ireland host Finland before travelling to Slovakia in their final qualifying group games, knowing that a win against the Finnish team would be enough to guarantee them a play-off place for the 2023 World Cup.
It would be the first time Ireland would ever qualify for a major tournament, and so all eyes will be on Tallaght Stadium on September 1.
Ireland manager Vera Pauw named her squad on Friday to take on the massive fixtures at the start of the month.
Ireland squad: Vera Pauw names players to take on crucial World Cup qualifiers
Vera Pauw has named her 28 strong Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifiers next week.
Ireland squad for World Cup qualifiers
CONFIRMED | WNT Squad
Vera Pauw calls up 28 players for @FIFAWWC qualifiers
Sep 1 | 🇮🇪 v 🇫🇮
Sep 6 | 🇸🇰 v 🇮🇪
Both games LIVE on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player#IRLFIN | #COYGIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/jFBA4T55TV— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) August 26, 2022
When are Ireland's World Cup qualifiers?
Vera Pauw's Ireland squad will host Finland in Tallaght Stadium on September 1, with kick-off in Dublin at 7pm. A win in that game would guarantee Ireland a play-off place for next year's FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
A draw would still leave Ireland's fate in their own hands, and they could then seal a play off place away to Slovakia in Senec on September 6. Kick-off in Slovakia is at 5pm Irish time.
Both games will be shown live in Ireland on RTÉ 2.
How are Ireland's chances?
Ireland's fate is in their own hands, and they have earned it through excellent performances in the group stages so far.
The highlight was a win away to their Finnish rivals last October, while two massive wins over Georgia came either side of a famous draw in Sweden. Ireland held Sweden - ranked third in the world - to a 1-1 draw in Gothenburg.
They have more than earned their shot at a World Cup play-off, and have climbed to 26th in the world rankings as a result - the team's highest ever position. They sit three places ahead of Finland, and 17 places ahead of Slovakia, so Vera Pauw's team will be hopeful ahead of September's qualifiers.
The potential for an Irish team at a World Cup is a hugely exciting one, and Vera Pauw will hope that the Ireland squad she has named is the one to take us there.
COYGIG!
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