Every team we come up against underestimates us
Emily Murphy has no problem leaning into the Republic of Ireland's underdog status ahead of a World Cup qualifier double-header that will be the true litmus test Carla Ward's reign to date.France arrive in Tallaght Stadium tomorrow night ranked as the seventh best team in the world; the Netherlands, who host Ireland in Utrecht on Saturday, are just four places lower.This is the sharp end of international football, but Murphy - who turns 23 today - is ready for it. She made her debut in a friendly against Wales two years ago and has developed into a key figure under Ward, her pace and appetite for graft proving valuable assets.Twenty-four months ago Murphy was studying political science at Wake Forest University, where she played college football. Now she's a full-time footballer at Newcastle United."I'd say the biggest learning individually is that every team we come up against underestimate us," she said at FAI HQ."And for us, that only fuels the underdog mentality, but also it gives us that added edge, that added bite of… you're fine to underestimate us, but you'll be sorely mistaken afterwards."It's definitely an Irish thing. It's definitely something that at the end of the day, we've earned this."We've put ourselves in this position and we crack on from there. It's going to be hard. There's going to be times we don't have the ball, but this is what we're about. Celebrating every tackle and celebrating every progressive pass, this is what we're about and this is what we're here for."Murphy clicked with forward partner Kyra Carusa in the two-legged Nations League play-off defeat of Belgium in October. That success lifted Ireland into League A and the reason they're in such a tough group alongside the French, Dutch and Poland.It also earned the safety net of a guaranteed place in the play-offs, even if they finish bottom of the four-team group.There is, however, a bullish optimism within the squad."There's a buzz around camp for sure," Murphy went on. "It's always nice coming in. A lot of the girls have mentioned how we love coming away with each other."There is that buzz off the Belgium win but also excitement really for what's to come in the games ahead."I think (making the World cup) is the ambition. That's the end goal right now. And everything we do from here on out goes towards that."As for her own increased influence in the side, Murphy offered an honest assessment of her growth."I think 12 months ago, I was an eager player that wanted to get on the end of everything and go after everything."I'm a bit more mature about my football now, and will definitely be just a bit more disciplined about what I do and how I play, which I think has only really benefited the team and myself. I've just grown up a bit, really. I think my football's matured."I've absolutely loved it. I think you're always going to enjoy it a little bit more when you're playing more. That's only human. And I think that as competitive as the squads keep getting, each window, each time I'm selected, I'm over the moon."Then it's just about the work you put on the pitch. Thankfully, Carla has appreciated that. I feel as though that when I've come on, I've impacted and done well and hope to continue that."Murphy is facing into an exciting finish to the club season, with Newcastle one of a cluster of clubs chasing promotion from WSL2. They're currently fifth, but the expansion of the WSL from 12 to 14 teams from the start of next season has made the race to go up much more interesting, given there's potentially two extra places on offer at the top table.Charlton Athletic, the runaway leaders of WSL2, reportedly made a January bid for Murphy, who revealed: "There was there was an opportunity for me to be on the move. But as I said, that's club football. I think I'll focus on international football here."Carla’s squads get more and more competitive each camp, each campaign. And for me, playing top-flight football in the WSL is where I want to be."
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