Vera Pauw’s squad have travelled to Athens to take on Greece on Tuesday, November 12th with the intention of building on the wins over Montenegro and Ukraine.
This is the first away game of the campaign for Ireland and the final one of the year. Victory would move them onto nine points, but still remain behind group leaders Germany who have won four games so far.
The nine group winners and the three best runners-up (not counting results against the sixth-placed team) qualify directly for the final tournament, while the remaining six runners-up advance to the play-offs.
TEAM NEWS
Ireland travelled with 23 players as defender Claire Walsh aggravated an old injury, but otherwise every player is available for selection.
QUOTES
Republic of Ireland Manager Vera Pauw
"We go into this game aiming to get the win but also knowing that a draw does not kick us out of the qualification race. We have to be realistic where we stand in order to have success and that means being aware of how strong Germany are and that we are fighting for second place.
"That is not to suggest that Greece will be an easy opponent. They are very dangerous on the counter attack and at set-pieces, plus they have some influential players who can make a difference. We know that we will have to play well in order to get the win.
"We have been dealing with a few injuries coming into camp, but we can only get stronger from this. It is an opportunity for others to step up and for players to get a chance in the starting line-up. It is up to the talented players to show themselves.
"The week building up to this game has been very good. We had to travel but that is part of football and we planned for it. Everything went very smoothly and we have settled in very well. We trained at the stadium on Monday and now we are ready for the game.
"It would be very positive to follow on from our previous games with another win, but we are taking everything game by game."
SQUAD LIST
Republic of Ireland
Goalkeepers: Marie Hourihan (SC Braga), Grace Moloney (Reading), Niamh Reid Burke (Peamount United)
Defenders: Keeva Keenan (Celtic), Diane Caldwell (SC Sand), Claire O'Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Louise Quinn (Arsenal), Chloe Mustaki (Shelbourne), Eabha O'Mahony (Cork City WFC)
Midfielders: Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Stephanie Roche (CF Florentia), Tyler Toland (Manchester City), Hayley Nolan (University of Hartford), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne), Jamie Finn (Shelbourne), Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Julie-Ann Russell (Sydney University)
Forwards: Rianna Jarrett (Wexford Youths), Leanne Kiernan (West Ham United), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Emily Whelan (Shelbourne), Clare Shine (Glasgow City)
Greece
Goalkeepers: Zoi Nassi (PAOK), Anthi Papakonstantinou (PAOK), Dimitra Giannakouli (Atromitos)
Defenders: Irini Nefrou (PAOK), Danai-Eleni Sidira (Apollon Ladies), Michaela Paraschou (Aris Salonica), Natalia Chatzigiannidou (PAOK), Kiriaki Kinossidou (Apollon Ladies), Anastasia Gatsou (PAOK), Vasileia Kidonaki (OFI), Stela Kotsaki (Ergotelis), Athanasia Moraitou (South Alabama), Danai Kaldaridou (Diosgyori VTK)
Midfielders: Eleni Markou (Apollon Ladies), Veatriki Sarri (Sheffield United), Charoula Dimitriou (PAOK), Eleni Kakambouki (PAOK)
Forwards: Grigoria Pouliou (PAOK), Christina Kokoviadou (Aris Salonica), Anastasia Spiridonidou (Zaragoza), Despina Chatzinikolaou (Napoli), Sophia Koggouli (UPC Tavagnacco), Thomai Vardali (PAOK)
CAPS LIST
Goalkeepers: Marie Hourihan (21 caps / 9 clean sheets), Grace Moloney (2 caps / 0 clean sheets), Niamh Reid Burke (5 caps / 0 clean sheets)
Defenders: Keeva Keenan (1 cap / 0 goals), Diane Caldwell (73 caps / 1 goal), Claire O'Riordan (15 caps / 0 goals), Louise Quinn (76 caps / 11 goals), Chloe Mustaki (0 caps / 0 goals), Eabha O'Mahony (1 cap / 0 goals)
Midfielders: Niamh Fahey (87 caps / 0 goals), Denise O'Sullivan (74 caps / 10 goals), Stephanie Roche (54 caps / 13 goals), Tyler Toland (13 caps / 1 goal), Hayley Nolan (0 caps / 0 goals), Jessica Ziu (3 caps / 0 goals), Jamie Finn (0 caps / 0 goals), Katie McCabe (42 caps / 8 goals), Julie-Ann Russell (57 caps / 4 goals)
Forwards: Rianna Jarrett (8 caps / 1 goal), Leanne Kiernan (18 caps / 4 goals), Amber Barrett (15 caps / 1 goal), Emily Whelan (2 caps / 0 goals), Clare Shine (5 caps / 0 goals)
STATS
2 games played
5 goals scored
1 clean sheet
33 attempts on goal
10 attempts on target
15 attempts off target
8 attempts blocked
13 corners won
24 fouls committed
17 fouls suffered
1 yellow card (Katie McCabe)
RESULTS
September 3: Republic of Ireland 2-0 Montenegro
October 8: Republic of Ireland 3-2 Ukraine
October 8: Greece 0-5 Germany
November 6: Montenegro 0-4 Greece
NOTES
- Ireland and Greece have both yet to qualify for the UEFA Women’s European Championships
- Denise O’Sullivan followed up being voted Team MVP for North Carolina Courage by winning the PFAI Women’s International Player of the Year award
- Jamie Finn (Shelbourne) and Rianna Jarrett (Wexford Youths) are nominated for the Só Hotels Women’s National League Senior Player of the Year, while Emily Whelan & Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne) are in for the Young Player of the Year
MATCH DETAILS
Greece v Republic of Ireland
Tuesday, November 12
Group I
Panionios, Athens
Kick-Off: 13:00 (Irish Time)
Live on TV: RTÉ2
Referee: Henrikke Nervik (Norway)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Game Hashtag: #GREIRL
Ireland Team Hashtag: #IRLWNT