Ireland still trying to figure out their perfect blend

Down in the mixed zone of the Aviva Stadium, just after the Republic of Ireland had lost 2-0 against England, everybody looked drained.

Louise Quinn described the clash as "physically and mentally tough"; Eileen Gleeson said it was "a game of cat and mouse"; Denise O'Sullivan felt "exhausted".

And little wonder. It's been quite a week for the Girls in Green.

In the space of four days Ireland have taken on two of the top three-ranked teams in the world. Three goals conceded, no goals scored, zero points on the board but a tonne of lessons learned and enough positives to sustain morale ahead of May/June's double-header against Sweden.

Last Friday, an effervescent France defeated Ireland 1-0, stretching Gleeson's unit mercifully and relentlessly in front of a partisan crowd in Metz. Then came England, the reigning European champions, a star-studded squad supremely marshalled by Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman.

This is life at the top table for the Republic of Ireland. There'll be no prisoners taken in a ridiculously tough Euro 2025 qualificiation group that at least offers the consolation prize of a guaranteed place in the play-offs, even if you finish bottom.

"This is the level that we're at now," O'Sullivan stressed. "We have to stay positive, we had a go at them but being without the ball for 90 minutes is mentally tiring. We'll keep pushing on, we’ve a quick turnaround to camp in a few weeks."

Ireland showed commendable spirit in both games having conceded soft early openers.

In France, they were one down after seven minutes and being absolutely bombarded by Herve Renard's assortment of dynamic attackers. It looked like they'd collapse; but they hung tough.

Last night England were two to the good by 19 minutes and then missed a