Louise Quinn: Stakes are too high for complacency

Louise Quinn says complacency will never be an issue for the Republic of Ireland because "there's too much to play for".

Centre-half Quinn has been around the Ireland set-up since 2008. She was in the squad for the Euros play-off against Iceland in 2008, which Ireland lost 4-1 on aggregate. It's taken 14 years but the Girls in Green are back in a play-off again, this time for the World Cup.

Having endured so many lows, Quinn doesn't need anyone to put into perspective the magnitude of the Irish team's rise under Vera Pauw.

They have the chance to make a seismic breakthrough by making the 2023 finals in Australia and New Zealand, but there's work to do.

First, they must beat Slovakia on Tuesday evening to earn a bye to round 2 of October's play-offs. And it wont be easy.

"For us there's plenty to play for," the 32-year-old said. "Also in the team there's plenty to play for in terms of making sure you're in the next starting 11 for a potential play-off, wherever that maybe, for Vera to see us and the coaches to see.

"We're constantly competing and constantly trying to send messages to other teams about the strength and depth of our team.

"We’re thrilled to get in the play-offs but we have another chance to make it even better… get that extra bonus for all the hard work we’ve done and to keep pushing through this group like we always have.

"There's never complacency in the games, there's always so much to play for as a team and personally."

Quinn has been a mainstay of the campaign but her defensive partners have chopped and changed, mainly due to injuries. Savannah McCarthy, Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell and Megan Connolly have all had recent stints beside the Birmingham City player at the back, but Quinn says it's not been a big