Louise Quinn confident Ireland ready to reach new level

Louise Quinn believes the Republic of Ireland are ready to prove they can take games to Europe's elite after ending a brilliant UEFA Nations League campaign with an emphatic win against Northern Ireland.

The Girls in Green wrapped up a highly encouraing few months with a 6-1 victory that sets them up nicely for a huge 2024. Having comfortably won their Nations League group, Ireland will be in with the top seeds for the spring's Euro 2025 qualifiers, when a more expansive approach will receive its biggest test.

By then they'll have a new permament manager in place, but interim boss Eileen Gleeson has laid down the foundations for an ambitious squad to reach the next level.

"We are really setting some standards this year, getting to a World Cup, six from six here, but we know what we will be getting ourselves into," said Quinn, who chipped in with a fine headed goal against the North.

"That means raising the levels, a higher ranking as well when it comes to the Euros pot but we have set standards now, we have shown what kind of possession team we can be.

"It's about keeping it for slightly longer periods of time, getting that control when we are in possession, knowing when to turn them, do we go out, do we go out to go in. There's so much going on, but that's the fun of it."

The stats prove that Quinn and her central defensive comrades are playing very differently to how they operated under Pauw. Gone is the low defensive block that offered up possession and challenged opponents to break Ireland down.

Now, they start with a higher line that demands more control and running from deep. Caitlin Hayes [9,995m at home to Albania], Quinn [9,710m away to Hungary] and Diane Caldwell [9,693m away to Hungary] have clocked up more