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<\/p>\nIreland\u2019s World Cup qualification hopes received a massive boost after Saturday\u2019s win over Poland and the draw between France and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s Marissa Sheva celebrates her winner against Poland with Katie McCabe and Chloe Mustaki(Image: INPHO\/Ryan Byrne)<\/p>\n
Carla Ward says she is \u201cobsessed\u201d with leading Ireland to the World Cup.<\/p>\n
The Girls in Green took a big step towards qualification on Saturday when they made it six points out of six against Poland, which has all but guaranteed a third place finish in Group A2.<\/p>\n
Marissa Sheva\u2019s first-half goal was enough to secure the win in front of more than 18,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium<\/a>.<\/p>\n That win, along with the draw between France and the Netherlands, means there are just two points between first and third ahead of the final two games in June.<\/p>\n And Ward<\/a> confidently declared after the Poland win that it would be a case of \u201cwhen\u201d and not if Ireland<\/a> would be at the World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n When it was put to her that it was quite a bold statement to make, Ward explained: \u201cI took the job on the basis that there was something to build for us to get to major tournaments.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have taken the job if I didn\u2019t believe we had the potential to get there.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we have to believe that we have to get there, and I am obsessed with it, that is what we work for.\u201d<\/p>\n Ireland have two more games to play – at home to the Netherlands on June 5 and away to France four days later – and then a likely October play-off series.<\/p>\n This window has been crucial in all but securing a slightly easier play-off route.<\/p>\n And it means Ireland – barring an unlikely pair of Poland wins against France and the Netherlands in June – will be back in League A for the next Nations League campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s huge,\u201d said Ward. \u201cWe want to compete with the best teams in the world. A big goal of mine is maintaining that status.<\/p>\n \u201cThat result puts us in a really strong position, which is massively important for me.\u201d<\/p>\n When the new FIFA World Rankings are announced, Ireland will at the very least achieve an all-time joint-best standing of 22nd in the world. And with Saturday\u2019s win, they could climb even higher.<\/p>\n It\u2019s evidence of the progress that has been made under Ward over the last 15 months.<\/p>\n The manager said: \u201cThe players feel that [progress]. We\u2019ve a great environment, a strong tight culture where we look after each other and run through brick walls. We execute what we want for each other.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople should look at Ireland and say \u2018you know what , they\u2019re not just resilient but a bloody good footballing team as well.\u201d<\/p>\n There is still the matter of the June window to come, and Ireland\u2019s final two games against the Netherlands in P\u00e1irc U\u00ed Chaoimh and France in Grenoble.<\/p>\n Ward will be eager to build on the narrow late defeats in March against the two European football giants.<\/p>\n But she will have to do without Denise O\u2019Sullivan and Emily Murphy for the visit of the Dutch, as both players picked up their second yellow cards of the campaign on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cAre there plenty of players who can step into that team? Absolutely, so I have an idea,\u201d said Ward.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a very, very clear way of playing without the ball and with the ball and that doesn\u2019t change. All that will change is players.\u201d<\/p>\n One player who has emerged as key under Ward has been midfielder Marissa Sheva.<\/p>\n The Sunderland player scored her fourth and fifth Ireland goals in the two games against Poland, including the winner on Saturday when he slid home Kyra Carusa\u2019s cross in the 42nd minute.<\/p>\n At one point after the 2023 World Cup, it seemed as though Sheva\u2019s time with Ireland had come to an end.<\/p>\n Her renaissance under Ward has been staggering, with Ward saying: \u201cWhen I came in, I liked what I saw with Maz. I really did. Loads of energy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had to do a lot of work with her, just holding spaces. It sounds daft, but standing still at times, as the play continues, to try and find those little pockets of space.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she called me the other day to say, I wish I knew that. I wish I knew that before last year, because it’s really helping my game.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is as well. I think that when she manages just to go and hold those spaces, she finds pockets, she picks it up.\u201d<\/p>\n Pennsylvania native Sheva isn\u2019t the only US-born member of Ward\u2019s squad – another important player is Californian striker Kyra Carusa.<\/p>\n She missed the Gdansk win with a bug, but was back on Saturday and set up Sheva\u2019s winner.<\/p>\n Carusa believes the two wins can act as a catalyst for Ireland.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was huge for us today,\u201d she said. \u201cMore than just the game and the result, but big moments where you are in the match, how many minutes are left, transitional moments, just that maturity amongst the team, it was great to see that from everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n