Ireland must beat France for World Cup spot says Barrett

Republic of Ireland striker Amber Barrett insists the team will leave nothing on the pitch when they face France in Dublin on Tuesday. Barrett stated the match is a must-win to secure automatic qualification for the 2025 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Ireland currently sit second in their qualifying group, two points behind France. A win for Ireland would guarantee top spot and direct qualification, while a draw would extend the group’s suspense. France, ranked 5th in FIFA’s world rankings, are heavy favorites. Manager Noel King has named an unchanged starting XI for the high-stakes fixture. Barrett has scored six goals in the qualifiers so far, including a brace against Greece. France midfielder Grace Geyoro missed training on Monday with an unspecified issue, but is expected to feature. Ireland’s last competitive home defeat came against Germany in 2022. The match kicks off at 19:30 local time at the Aviva Stadium.