'We will not collapse' - Pauw ready for Swedish battle

A defiant Vera Pauw has said the Republic of Ireland "will not collapse" no matter what happens as they prepare to enter a Gothenburg cauldron in just under two weeks' time.

Ireland take on group leaders Sweden in a crunch World Cup qualifier on Tuesday 12 April [live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, 5.30pm] with their dreams of making a first ever major tournament delicately poised.

The Swedes - ranked No 2 in the world - have won all five of their games in Group A and are eight points ahead of second-placed Ireland, who have a game in hand. If the hosts beat Georgia on 7 April, they will know victory against the Irish at the 18,000-capacity Gamla Ullevi stadium will send them to the World Cup.

For Ireland, second spot and a play-off berth has always been the target. After Sweden they have a trip to Georgia in June before massive September games against Finland in Tallaght and Slovakia in Bratislava.

"Every game is crucial in this campaign because we are on the fringe of stepping up," Pauw said at the FAI's HQ in Abbottstown on Thursday.

"Sweden are ranked second in the world, that's not for nothing. They are very solid in the execution of their tasks. They're so determined to just do their task without any ego. That is very difficult to make a plan against. We have our plan of course, but it is a very, very tough task."

Part of that plan involves playing a League of Ireland boys' Under-15 side. Pauw confirmed her team will take part in a practice match next Thursday against the unnamed opponents who will be asked to mimic Sweden's formation and approach.

Ireland have played a Shelbourne underage outfit in the past to fine tune things, and with Sweden looking even stronger now than they did when they won 1-0 in Dublin last October,