Ireland 0Sweden 3 Katie McCabe of Republic of Ireland and Julia Zigotti Olme of Sweden exchange words during the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying match at the Avia Stadium. Photo: Sportsfile Ireland’s Euro 2025 qualifying chances were never going to be decided against three of the world’s leading nations. Late-year play-offs will decide their fate; the less damage sustained in these rarefied climes of the elite Nations League will help, though.
Ironically, this was their heaviest defeat against the lesser-ranked of their three world-class group rivals. They had started better here than in their opening two defeats to France and England, but after a bright opening half, they still trailed for the third game in succession and struggled to produce a late salvo. Had they taken either of two glorious first-half chances, perhaps the script might have been altered; instead, a slick Swedish side displayed much more composure and deserved their comprehensive win.
Energised by fresh legs, Ireland threw as much as they could at the night late on – and Megan Campbell’s limb-thrusting throws – but compared to the best they could muster early on, it was more bluster. That they lost a third on the break, with captain Katie McCabe clearly struggling after her frantic fortnight, undid their early brio. Ireland have had enough difficulties developing any semblance of midfield cohesion that losing two of their veteran central pairs within hours of kick-off was hardly.
