Gleeson: 'We're learning against the best in the world'

Republic of Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson took the positives from her team's gutsy second-half showing against England on Tuesday night, and admitted they are having to learn quickly against elite opposition.

The Lionesses came away from Dublin with a 2-0 win in an entertaining Euro 2025 qualifier. Sarina Wiegman's world No 2-ranked team are the reigning European champions; a star-studded outfit that reached the final of the World Cup last summer.

They looked a class apart in the fist period, but the Girls in Green stuck to their task and created some good chances in a rousing final 20 minutes. A more direct approach, sparked by a few big Megan Campbell throw-ins and the pace of substitute Leanne Kiernan, asked questions of England, who had looked very comfortable for the first hour.

Gleeson was pleased with how her players finished the contest, and outlined the issues Ireland are facing as they try to compete with the likes of England and France in a nightmare qualification group.

"Do we start like that and then we can’t sustain it in the second half when your legs are gone a bit?" she said when reflecting on the improved display on the turnaround.

"Leanne comes off the bench and she gives us a good running option. We try to affect the changes like that - really energetic, really aggressive.

"We had a few chances there where you think, 'oh, go on', and it doesn’t happen. But, yeah, we’re learning all the time and we’re learning against the best in the world."

Ireland didn't create a chance of note in last Friday's 1-0 loss to France in Metz. Against the English, they at least fashioned a few good moments that were sound-tracked by a passionate Lansdowne roar.

They have a double-header against Sweden next, in late May/early