Play-offs part of the journey - not the destination

There's understandable excitement at the prospect of the Republic of Ireland sealing a place in the World Cup play-offs in Tallaght on Thursday night.

Three points against Finland would make absolutely sure of second spot with a group game to spare, and send Ireland into the play-offs for a major tournament for the first time since 2008, when Iceland beat the Girls in Green 4-1 on aggregate to deny them a place at Euro 2009.

But even if Ireland do put the Finns to the sword, it's no cakewalk to make the 2023 finals in Australia and New Zealand thereafter.

The World Cup play-offs are a convoluted minefield. Depending on their final points tally, Ireland may have to win as many as four play-off matches to get over the line.

Yes, a victory over Finland at a sold-out Tallaght Stadium would guarantee second spot in Group A behind Sweden, but then things get complicated.

Here's how it works:

So, Pauw wasn't kidding when she warned: "In Dutch we say, 'don't sell the skin of a bear before you shoot him'. It's a very hard and long road to go."

It also means they could really do with beating Slovakia in the last match even if they are already qualified for the play-offs because it would enhance their ranking.

First though, the Finns.

Ireland's 2-1 win in Helsinki last October pumped belief into the players who had been badly scarred by their failure to make Euro 2022.

It was a hard-earned, gutsy performance in front of around 6,000 supporters who had been in carnival mode.

The Finnish FA moved the match to the Olympic Stadium as part of celebrations marking 50 years of women's football in the country. Ireland spoiled the party, and now Finland will look to do the same in Tallaght.

However they aren't exactly coming to Dublin on the crest of a