Preview: Girls in Green braced for tough night in Utrecht

FIFA Women's World Cup Group A2 qualifier

Netherlands v Republic of Ireland, Stadion Galgenwaard, 7.45pm ko

(Live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1)

It might be mischievous to suggest it, but there's perhaps a touch of complacency evident in the Netherlands' plans to honour 16 former internationals after the game tonight.

The current Dutch side will give some old servants a guard of honour, and while it's a nice touch, there doesn't seem to have been much thought given to how flat the whole thing might be if the hosts fails to win.

After drawing 2-2 in their opener against Poland, Arjan Veurink knows his team can't afford to slip again or France could have this group wrapped up by April.

Veurink was Sarina Wiegman's assistant when Ireland miraculously held the Netherlands to a 0-0 draw in a World Cup qualifier back in 2017, and he was by Wiegman's side in the dugout when England came to Aviva Stadium in 2024.

Now he's the man in the hot seat having succeeded Andries Jonker almost a year ago.

"He's a top guy and a very, very good coach," was Carla Ward's assessment of the 39-year-old.

Veurink returned the praise when he said: "I think we both try to contribute to the women's game and always with a bigger purpose of course. We do our best to perform really well with our teams and that's of course what I want with this team and that's what I wanted with my previous teams.

"So there's always, let's say, a deeper purpose to try to contribute to the women's game. And of course I wish Carla all the best, but I wish myself a bit more luck tomorrow!"

While the Dutch have a clean bill of health, confirmation that Denise O'Sullivan is out for Ireland was no great shock. The extent of her knee injury will have Ward sweating as she looks towards the World Cup qualification double-header with Poland in April.

"There's a problem with her MCL (medial collateral ligament)," Ward said when pushed on the details.

"That’s all I’ll say for now. She’s seeing a consultant in Liverpool today. We’ll know more then."

It's a headache Ward could have done without. O'Sullivan leaves an enormous void in the middle of the park, her work rate without the ball matched by a rare class on it.

When the Cork 32-year-old initially went down with her injury midway through the first half, Ward ordered Abbie Larkin to get stripped. O'Sullivan ended up finishing the game, but Ward possibly intended to station Larkin at right wing-back, shift Aoife Mannion into the central defensive three and nudge Anna Patten into the middle of the park.

That would have given Ireland a real physical presence in midfield; Patten and Megan Connolly are tall, mobile players with strong defensive sensibilites. They'd also liberate Marissa Sheva to be more creative, acting as bridge between midfield and the Emily Murphy/Kyra Carusa double act up top.

It's an option, though Ward could also just roll the dice on Ruesha Littlejohn, who's had very little competitive football under her belt over the last three months but is trusted and admired by her head coach.

Ward gave little away yesterday.

"We'll consider plenty of different options," she stressed. "Pattsy did tremendously well (in defence against France). I thought the back five were excellent. France had very, very minimal box entries, and that said a lot about the way that from front to back we defended, so there's plenty of options, plenty to consider."

There's loads of quality in the Dutch ranks but the name that will jump out to Irish fans is Vivianne Miedema, who had her pocket picked in the build-up to Poland's first goal on Tuesday. It's fair to say the Manchester City striker has credit in the bank: she's scored 104 times for her country.

"They play a different way, you know," added Ward. "They're very, very clear in the way they play and I think it depends on whether Kerstin Casparij is fit or they go with Lynn Wilms.

"Naturally that will give you the height on the right and whether it's Esmee Brugts on the left that will probably give you the width down the left. So I think it's really clear with the way they play, certainly under Arjan, they have a clear identity and they're very good at that by the way."

Ireland are guaranteed a place in the World Cup play-offs even if they finish bottom of the four-team group, but there's a deep desire to avoid that fate. They want a third-place finish that would benefit their seeding for the play-offs and preserve hopes of remaining in Legue A of the Nations League.

Losing O'Sullivan is such a massive blow that it might put the task of nabbing a point here beyond them. Another energy-sapping night's work awaits.

Predicted team: Courtney Bosnan; Aoife Mannion, Jessie Stapleton, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki, Katie McCabe; Megan Connolly, Anna Patten, Marissa Sheva; Emily Murphy; Kyra Carusa

Prediction: Netherlands 2-1 Republic of Ireland

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