The Irish Women’s Football team, also known as “The Girls in Green” (or “Na cailíní i nglas” if you’re feeling particularly Gaelic), has been kicking goals and taking names since 19731. Their journey began with a hat-trick from Paula Gorham, securing a 3-2 win in an away friendly game against Wales1. Talk about making an entrance!
Fast forward to 2023, and they’ve made their debut in the FIFA Women’s World Cup1. That’s right, they’ve gone from kicking around in the park to competing on the world stage. And you thought your glow-up was impressive!
Legends in the Making
The Irish women’s football team has produced some of the most iconic players in the sport, including legends like Emma Byrne, Stephanie Roche, and Katie McCabe. These women have not only inspired a generation of young girls to pick up a ball but have also put Irish women’s football on the global map.
Ten Quirky Facts about the Irish Women’s Football Team
- Nickname: They’re known as “The Girls in Green”. So, if you’re watching a match and see a sea of green, you’re in the right place1.
- First International Game: Their first international game was against Wales in 1973, and they won 3-21. Not a bad start, eh?
- Biggest Win: Their biggest win was an 11-0 victory over Georgia in 20211. Now that’s what I call a smashing success!
- Biggest Defeat: Every team has its ups and downs. Their biggest defeat was a 10-0 loss to Sweden in 19921. But hey, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?
- World Cup Debut: They made their World Cup debut in 20231. Better late than never!
- Top Scorer: Olivia O’Toole is the team’s top scorer with 54 goals1. Talk about a goal machine!
- Most Caps: Emma Byrne holds the record for the most caps with 1341. That’s a lot of football!
- Head Coach: The team is coached by Eileen Gleeson1. Behind every great team is a great coach!
- Home Stadium: Their home stadium is the Tallaght Stadium1. Home is where the heart is, and for the Girls in Green, that’s Tallaght Stadium.
- FIFA Ranking: As of August 2023, they’re ranked 24th in the world1. Not too shabby for a team that started from scratch in 1973!
Irish Women Football Team Winning Stats (as of 25 November 2023):
| Games | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | Win% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 302 | 128 | 111 | 10 | 53 | 42.35% | |
| Friendly | 173 | 75 | 57 | 10 | 31 | 43.35% | |
| UEFA Women’s Championship Qualifying | 64 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 10 | 42.19% | |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying | 24 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 45.83% | |
| UEFA Women’s Championship | 15 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 13.33% | |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Algarve Cup | 22 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 22.73% |
As you can see, the Irish Women’s Football Team has a respectable winning record, with a win percentage of over 42% across all formats. The team is particularly successful in friendly matches, with a win percentage of over 43%.
Here are some of the Irish Women’s Football Team’s most notable wins:
- 2017 UEFA Women’s Championship Qualifying: 1-0 vs Scotland
- 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying: 3-0 vs Northern Ireland
- 2023 Algarve Cup: 2-1 vs Norway
The Irish Women’s Football Team is a team on the rise, and they are sure to continue to achieve great things in the years to come.
