Silky Sweden make Ireland pay for missed chances

All guts, no glory at the Aviva Stadium as the Republic of Ireland fell to a 3-0 Euro 2025 qualifier defeat against a tough, silky Sweden on Friday night.

The hosts spurned some golden chances in the opening half, with Lily Agg and Amber Barrett (twice) both fluffing their lines.

In an incredibly difficult group, such profligacy simply never goes unpunished and the Swedes duly settled the contest thanks to a Johanna Rytting Kaneryd brace – one in each half – and Fridolina Rolfo's terrific strike.

As they did against France and England, Ireland ended with a flourish, Megan Campbell’s blockbuster throw-ins their chief attacking spark.

But this game – as most games are – was decided by a difference in quality in both boxes. The Swedes had class up top and elite experience at the back.

Ireland face them again in Stockholm on Tuesday night still pointless and yet to score a goal in qualification. Already the focus is shifting to the autumn play-offs, with pride and some tangible tactical progress now the only realistic motivators for the Girls in Green.

The FAI had hoped for a crowd of 30,000 but, with Leinster playing Connacht across the road in the RDS and a full round of League of Ireland fixtures ongoing, the attendance fell well short of that: 22,868 was the official figure given.

The Swedes had repeatedly aired their expectation that this contest would be physical and they were not disappointed in a high-octane opening.

Kyra Carusa charged down a Nathalie Bjorn clearance; Lily Agg somehow escaped a booking after steaming into a two-footed tackle on Fridolina Rolf; then McCabe tangled with Nathalie Bjorn, who was left wincing in pain on the Lansdowne Road turf.

The Girls in Green were fired up, but there was cohesion in