Amber Barrett has called Tuesday's trip to Grenoble a "cup final" and insists the Republic of Ireland will attack the game with nothing to fear as they chase automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
The striker came off the bench in the 76th minute on Friday evening and scored a late winner against the Netherlands in Cork, in front of more than 12,000 supporters, to keep Ireland's automatic qualification hopes firmly alive. The result leaves Carla Ward's side second in Group A2, one point behind France, who top the table.
The stakes in Grenoble
Victory in France would secure back-to-back World Cup appearances for Ireland. Even a draw or a defeat would not end their campaign entirely — the side would retain a seeded play-off berth — but Barrett made clear the squad has no intention of settling for that safety net.
"We do not have anything to lose," Barrett told RTÉ after the Netherlands match. "When we started the group, what everyone was looking at was not finishing fourth. We avoided that tonight and we have nothing to lose on Tuesday — we are going to give everything we have. Whatever happens, we still have the play-offs in October and December."
No complacency against a formidable French side
France, managed by Laurent Bonadei, are unbeaten group leaders and beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 at Tallaght Stadium back in March, so Ward's squad are under no illusions about the scale of the task. Barrett was quick to stress that the momentum from three unbeaten matches will not breed complacency.
"It is a massive game on Tuesday. We will enjoy tonight but we are not taking the French for granted — they are an unbelievable side. Recover, get ready and let's go again," she said.
Barrett also highlighted how Ward's mentality has driven the group's ambition. "Before, if you were 2-2 against the Netherlands, you would probably be rubbing your hands together and saying 'we will take this', but Carla said from the start of the week, let everyone know we will be going to win the game."
Why this matters for women's football on the island of Ireland
A crowd of over 12,000 in Cork underlines the growing appetite for the women's international game on the island. Back-to-back World Cup qualifications would cement Ireland's standing as one of Europe's emerging forces. The play-off route remains available should Tuesday not go their way, but the dressing room's message is unambiguous: they are travelling to Grenoble to win, not to manage a result.
Tuesday's qualifier in Grenoble kicks off at 19:00 BST.
Frequently asked
- What do Republic of Ireland women need to qualify automatically for the World Cup?
- Ireland need to win away against France in Grenoble on Tuesday to secure automatic World Cup qualification as group winners or runners-up. A draw or defeat would still leave them with a seeded play-off place.
- When is Republic of Ireland women vs France and where is it being played?
- The match is played on Tuesday in Grenoble, France, with a 19:00 BST kick-off. It is part of the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying campaign.
- Who scored the winner for Republic of Ireland women against the Netherlands?
- Amber Barrett came off the bench in the 76th minute and scored a late winner to beat the Netherlands in Cork, keeping Ireland's automatic qualification hopes alive.