VERA PAUW says Ireland are Finn it to win it - in September’s crucial double-header.
While a draw in Tallaght Stadium against Finland could be enough to secure a play-off berth, given the Finns face Sweden in their final match, Pauw will entertain no such thought.
She was speaking in the wake of Ireland’s stunning demolition of Georgia in Gori when she declared: “We need to beat Finland.
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“That is our true belief because otherwise it goes to the last game and we all know what can happen there.
“If you go for a draw, it gives the last minute outcome a chance.
“We want to press forward, perhaps as a compact group, and we will need to be deeper against Finland, but we will be on the front foot.”
Pauw was proud as punch last night as Ireland made it 20 goals in two games against Group A minnows Georgia - after their 10-day training camp in Turkey.
Katie McCabe’s hat-trick may be a headline grabber, but Pauw wasn’t interested in individual plaudits.
“We have done this with the whole group, including the players in the stands,” she said.
“We have worked so hard over the past two weeks to get to this point.
“The majority of our players are out of season but we managed to keep a fantastic team performance, scoring nine goals away is outstanding.
“The players executed the game-plan and this was the way to break this wall down.
“The framework of the team gives the individuals freedom but only if others are disciplined.”
Pauw made some key changes during the second-half and they paid off, with 17-year-old Abbie Larkin coming off the bench to score her first international goal.
Lily Agg was denied one by a handball decision.
“We changed things because we needed new energy and we needed power so that was why we brought in Lily Agg and Lucy Quinn,” said the Ireland boss.
“Abbie for her mobility and Lily with her pressing, Lucy with her power and pace.
“Heather (Payne) had done very well but we decided to change it and it worked well. But it had started well for us too.”
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