Goal-hero Barrett: ‘It only takes one chance - and thank God I was there’
Amber Barrett’s late winner against the Netherlands in Cork means the Republic of Ireland remain in the fight for automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil
Amber Barrett says the Republic of Ireland’s final World Cup qualifier away to France on Tuesday is now a “cup final.”
Milford native Barrett etched herself into Irish folklore four years ago when she struck the vital goal against Scotland at Hampden Park to seal the side’s first-ever appearance in the World Cup finals and on Friday she pounced for a last-gasp winner to keep the hopes alive for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Barrett, who plays her club football with French Première Ligue club Strasbourg, poked home in the 90th minute against the Netherlands at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork to seal a dramatic 3-2 win in the rain.
So, if Ireland can defeat France on Tuesday at 8pm, in Grenoble, they will finish top of Group A2. France’s 2-0 win in Poland on Friday means the team that finishes third in the group is guaranteed a play-off at least.
“I always have this unbelievable self-belief in myself that I only need one chance in any type of game and you know sometimes it falls for you and sometimes it doesn't,” Barrett told RTÉ afterwards. “But I think it's the resilience to keep going and it doesn't matter what kind of form I'm in; I'm always really confident I'll have a chance to score and again, luckily tonight I was able to get one.
“It was probably harder to miss than it was to score, but I'll definitely take it! Everybody who pulls on the green jersey absolutely loves playing for their country. I'm one of the very, very few people that gets to wear a green jersey to represent their country,
“It's an honour to have it on your back and for whatever amount of time you get it, you wear it with pride, you wear it with everything you have in your body and I love winning games more than anything in the world.”
With five of the six matchdays now completed, Ireland, on nine points, sits one point behind the French in second place, with the group winner gaining automatic qualification and second and third getting a play-off. The Netherlands are on eight points and welcome Poland, who are on one, in the last set of fixtures, which will run concurrently.
Despite early Dutch dominance, Ireland took the lead when Abbie Larkin poked the ball to Kyra Carusa, who slotted home a low, first-time finish past goalkeeper Lize Kop on 19 minutes.
The Netherlands equalised in the second half on 70 via a Dominique Janssen penalty after Aoife Mannion fouled Jackie Groenen in the box. Just a minute later, Ireland responded instantly as Marissa Sheva sent in a cross, and Larkin timed her run perfectly at the front post to score via a deflected strike.
The Dutch threw everything forward, and substitute Victoria Pelova equalised from close range to make it 2-2. Then Anna Patten, who qualifies for Ireland through her Falcarragh-born grandfather Donald Coyle, flicked on a corner, and super-sub Barrett prodded the ball home at the back post.
Substitute Leanne Kiernan was sent off after picking up two quick yellow cards. Despite being reduced to 10, Ireland defended heroically through a tense stoppage time to seal the win.
The Netherlands were European champions as recently as 2017 and runners-up at the 2019 World Cup, losing 2-0 to USA.
Barrett added: “That was bloody mental, I must say, but I think how resilient we were that last 20 minutes, like I think them equalising us going straight back up the other end and scoring and then just making it 2-2 and then you just, you're just looking for something. It only takes one chance, and, honestly, thank God I was there at the back post.
“That's where the difference and the change have come over the years. I think that before you're 2-2 with the Netherlands, you'd probably be rubbing your hands, saying ‘we'll take this’. But Carla said from the start of the week: ‘let everybody know that we will be going to win the game on Friday, because if you win tonight, Tuesday is a cup final.’
“We all knew what we were going to do because we'd have to win that game, and there was absolutely no doubt about it. It'll be a massive game on Tuesday, but we're not taking it for granted. The French - they're an unbelievable side, so recover, get ready and let's go again.
“We just don't have anything to lose. Ultimately, when we started the group, I suppose what everybody was looking at was not finishing fourth. We avoided that today with our results and obviously the French result today, so we have absolutely nothing to lose on Tuesday.
“We're going to absolutely give everything that we have. Whatever happens, we still have the play-offs to have in October and December.”