Ireland are set to face the Netherlands on Tuesday, November 28th, with kick-off at 7pm (8pm local time), at De Goffert in Nijmegen.
The Netherlands won the UEFA European Championships in the summer and are set to face Ireland in front of a sell-out 12,000 crowd after they started their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Norway in October.
Ireland go into the game against the European Champions unbeaten in their campaign so far having picked up two impressive 2-0 wins over Northern Ireland and Slovakia in the first two games of the qualifying campaign.
With the team unbeaten, head coach Colin Bell has named a squad which sees just one change with Cork City WFC goalkeeper Amanda Budden recalled to the squad after she missed the trip to Slovakia due to college comittments, replacing fellow Cork City WFC goalkeeper Eve Badana.
The squad includes 10 Continental Tyres Women’s National League players who’ve have been training at FAI HQ, Abbotstown in home-based sessions, with a selection of Under-19 and Under-17 internationals since the WNL season ended at the start of November.
Republic of Ireland Head Coach Colin Bell said: “When the draw was made, the game against the Netherlands was always one which is going to excite the players and the staff.
“Since the draw, they won the European Championships in the summer and also beat the top seeds Norway in their first qualifying game so we know we’re set to face one of the best teams in the world at the moment.
“However, we’ve demonstrated in our first two games of the campaign how good we are and we need to carry that confidence into the game. We’ve kept two clean sheets, both away from home, and we’ll need to show those same qualities in the Netherlands to get a result.
“The players will report in on Monday so we can take advantage of the full international window and have the best preparation ahead of what will be one of the most difficult tests of our campaign.”
Republic of Ireland WNT squad to face Netherlands
Goalkeepers: Marie Hourihan (Manchester City), Amanda Budden (Cork City WFC), Amanda McQuillan (Shelbourne)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Reading), Megan Campbell (Manchester City), Sophie Perry (Brighton and Hove Albion), Diane Caldwell, (SC Sand), Louise Quinn (Arsenal), Claire Walsh (UCD Waves).
Midfielders: Tyler Toland (Maiden City), Niamh Fahey (Bordeaux), Karen Duggan (UCD Waves), Denise O’Sullivan (NC Courage), Roma McLaughlin (Shelbourne).
Attackers: Katie McCabe (Arsenal, on loan at Glasgow City), Leanne Kiernan (Shelbourne), Heather Payne (Peamount United), Amber Barrett (Peamount United), Claire O’Riordan (Wexford Youths), Isibeal Atkinson (Shelbourne), Ruesha Littlejohn (Celtic).