Cork's Denise O'Sullivan: 'We must be switched on for every minute and not switch off at all'

Everywhere in Metz, including the Stade Saint-Symphorien, the sight of the fortified German Gates bridge castle is visible and it represents a metaphor for Ireland’s task.

Eileen Gleeson’s side are anticipating being besieged by the aristocrats, a team packed with star quality but lacking a major tournament triumph to justify the hype.

Third in the world rankings is reflective of their standing in the global game but the fact the two teams ahead of them, England and Spain, are Euro and World Cup holders rankles with Les Bleues.

Slipping up against the lowest ranked team in the group tonight is incomprehensible for the French despite all the niceties they gifted during the pre-match press activity.

Erecting walls and a moat around goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, similar to the gothic structure hulking over the city, is the probable tactic employed by the visitors.

That worked when eking out draws during previous campaigns from trips to Netherlands and Sweden. 

There was little to disguise the plan of containment from the Irish camp yesterday, albeit they were keen to stress the importance of maximising moments of respite.

“I think getting a draw would be massive for us,” confessed Denise O’Sullivan, the Corkwoman available to start in midfield after recovering from a knee injury.

“That’s definitely something we can do.

“We must be switched on for every minute and not switch off at all. For the times we do get on the ball, we must do something with it because you don’t get many opportunities against these teams. Hopefully, we can put one of those away.

“We’re realistic. I don’t think we’ll change the way we play but will be well-organised.” 

 Since that 1-1 draw in Gothenburg against the Olympic silver medalists, Ireland have been to a World Cup and changed manager.

What they haven’t done is repeat the trick against opponents within the top coterie.

Co-hosts Australia and Canada shaded tight contests at the tournament and the standard they faced during their romp to promotion from Nations League B was vastly inferior.

Wales inflicted the first defeat of Gleeson’s eight-game reign last time out in February.

Such was the stroll Ireland enjoyed in that Nations League series that they could afford to push O’Sullivan and captain Katie McCabe into advanced berths behind sole striker Kyra Carusa.

Tonight’s mission will require McCabe to revert to a defensive role. If O’Sullivan starts in the No 10 position, her brief will entail tracking back to flood a midfield area the French are renowned for dominating.

“When we played France before the World Cup, they just had that presence,” O’Sullivan recalls about the Tallaght friendly which the visitors won 3-0 with plenty to spare.

“Because they’re so fast and strong, to complement all that technical ability, it’s very difficult against them.” 

 Not as difficult to countenance as before they experienced nullifying favourites.

“I feel we’ve grown since then as a team since that Sweden result,” she added. “We’ve had a lot of new players coming in which I think is excellent as well.

“We’re more mature as a team and capable of going into these games and getting something out of them.” 

Those additions O’Sullivan refers to were sourced principally through the ancestry rule.

Sceptics contend it’s no coincidence that Ireland breaking their tournament qualification hoodoo provoked sudden interest by a flood of English players in declaring.

Caitlin Hayes has started every game since last year pledging her allegiance, while Aoife Mannion’s trajectory was disrupted by injury.

It’s likely one of that pair will be part of this rearguard action, with the latest recruit, Anna Patten, also slotting in beside Louise Quinn in the backline.

Patten jumped ship after captaining England’s U23s team and her status as a WSL regular for Aston Villa will edge out Jessie Stapleton, operating on loan at Reading in a lower tier, for the spot vacated by the injured Niamh Fahey.

It promises to be a testing debut foiling French finesse before she comes face to face with her homeland on Tuesday at Lansdowne Road.

“Our team has come on in leaps and bounds,” summarised O’Sullivan, captain of North Carolina Courage.

“We had the World Cup, did well in the Nations League but we know now what we have ahead.

“This is a massive challenge because France are a really good side but we’ve wanted this for a long time. We’ll be ready too.”