Ireland’s hopes of automatic Euro qualification in tatters after loss to Sweden

THERE was passion and aggression – but Swede FA to show for it.

Ireland fell to a third Euro 2025 qualification defeat in a row as Sweden left the Aviva Stadium with a 3-0 victory. 

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s scored twice and Fridolina Rolfo one to keep last year’s World Cup semi-finalists in the hunt for qualification alongside France and England. 

Ireland are as good as out of the hunt for a top two spot in the four team group of death, though have the safety net of a play-off. 

But those play-offs will be seeded – and chances of actually making it through the two play-off rounds are greatly enhanced by being ranked.

For Ireland to be seeded, they know all they have to do is avoid being the worst team of the four ‘League A’ groups. 

Boss Eileen Gleeson acknowledged that on Thursday admitting that she had to be mindful of ensuring Ireland’s goal difference does not get too bad if she cannot get the points.

But the way results are panning out elsewhere, Ireland are going to need a result over the next three group games. 

The Girls in Green are currently one of three teams in League A who have failed to pick up a point along with Poland and the Czech Republic.

Poland occupy that worst spot with a goal difference two worse off than Ireland. But the Girls in Green are the only side in League A who have yet to score a goal. 

Ireland have not hit the back of the net since last December when Caitlin Hayes put a sixth goal past Northern Ireland. 

Including friendlies, they have now played five games since with only a few chances to make the net bulge. 

And that will need to change in Stockholm on Tuesday or in July when facing England in Norwich or France in Cork to pick up that all-important seeding. 

Last night did see them threaten more than previous games as the passiveness of the previously two games was replaced by some aggression. 

But balancing the passive and the aggressive was a problem. 

The Girls in Green were too passive when they looked to keep the ball and often gave it away. 

And the aggression and front foot football lacked the cool head at the crucial moment as a series of great chances were spurned. 

Lily Agg will rue how she side-footed a lovely Amber Barrett cut back agonisingly wide of a gaping goal after Caitlin Hayes’ long ball over the top created the opportunity on 22 minutes. 

And Barrett herself will wonder about her own two first half opportunities, in particularly a close range header that she put over the bar. 

She headed a brilliant Jess Ziu cross over from three yards and later had a heavy touch when a long ball was missed by Sweden and put her through one-on-one with the keeper.

The second half saw other moments too, whether an early half chance for Barrett, a late one when Emily Murphy tested Musovic, or the chaos caused by Megan Campbell’s long balls.

But it counted for nowt as Sweden showed the killer touch when it mattered as they punished Ireland for defensive lapses. 

Were it not for Courtney Brosnan, it could have been more as she made two fine one-on-one saves, while Ziu also saved her blushes when she allowed one shot squirm beyond her.

And Sweden were full value for their three goals that were a combination of Sweden’s clinical play and Irish mistakes. 

The opener on 27 minutes was a bad one for Ireland as it took Sweden three passes and ten seconds to rip them apart. 

Sweden won the ball in midfield and quickly moved it from Rolfo to Madelen Janogy to Kosovare Asllani with, with all the Irish dragged to the ball, teed up unmarked right winger Rytting Kaneryd to clip the ball beyond Brosnan. 

Rolfo’s goal on 62 minutes was all about their class. Sure, you could wonder about how much time Rolfo was given 25-yards from goal but her curled finish was stunning. 

The third was also one where Ireland were caught napping as substitute Matilda Vinberg waltzed through, and while her shot was saved, Rytting Kaneryd was on hand to tap home the rebound. 

Sun Star Player: Kosovare Asllani (Sweden)

Ireland: Brosnan 7; Hayes 7, Louise Quinn 6, Patten 6 (Campbell 73, 6); Ziu 7, Agg 6 (Kiernan 73, 6), Stapleton 6 (Toland 60, 6), Connolly 6, McCabe 6; Carusa 5 (Mannion 73, 6), Barrett 6 (Murphy 84, 6)

Sweden: Musovic 7; Bjorn 5 (Lundkvist ht, 6), Sembrant 7, Eriksson 7, Andersson 7; Angeldal 7, Asllani 8 (Vinberg 66, 6), Zigotti Olme 7; Rytting Kaneryd 7, Janogy 7 (Hammarlund 66, 6), Rolfo 7 (Kafaji 89, 6).

Referee: K Kulcsar (Hungary) 6.