‘We know it was tough but we need to keep pushing’ – Katie McCabe insists Ireland must stay focused on Euro mission

The Arsenal player also feels that the three goals her side have conceded in their opening two qualifying defeats have been “avoidable”, as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to European champions England at Lansdowne Road on Tuesday night, following Friday’s 1-0 loss away to France.

Two early strikes from Lauren James and Alex Greenwood saw Sarina Wiegman’s side leave Dublin with three points and with a pair of clashes against world number six side Sweden to come in seven weeks time, McCabe insists the Girls in Green must hold on to the belief that they can take points off the world’s best in League A.

“I think the goals we have conceded over the last two games are avoidable goals. We know that and that's why we need to be better,” said McCabe, who picked up Player of the Match in the defeat to England, ranked second in the world.

“We have got threats going forward in our team. We need to keep pushing and keep believing that we can get something out of this group.

“We are in a group with three of the top teams in the world, and (played) against the European champions tonight. We know it is going to be difficult, but if we want to be playing at this level and qualifying for tournaments, this is the level we have to be at. We know it was tough but we need to keep pushing.”

Ireland started well but two concessions within six minutes gave Eileen Gleeson’s side an uphill battle and although the hosts were improved after the break, McCabe says her side must not focus on the negatives going forward.

“It was a difficult first half. It felt like we were too passive at times and allowed England too much space in dangerous areas,” added the Kilnamanagh native.

“Coming in at half time we looked at that and tweaked a few things. We stepped up a little higher in the second half and had a right go at them. We pushed them towards the end and created some good chances, we could have pinched a goal or two but we need to keep pushing and keep believing.

“We created one or two really good chances. We know the threats we pose from set pieces, you saw Megan (Campbell’s) impact and the impact from the girls off the bench. It was difficult but we need to keep pushing.

“There are four games to go. It’s not ideal opening the two games with zero points but we cant concentrate on the negatives, we need to keep working and we will do that for sure.”

The Arsenal star also paid tribute to the 32,742 in attendance for the Dublin 4 clash. The crowd was still short of the team’s all-time record of 35,994 (last September against Northern Ireland) but McCabe said her standout moment was singing Amhrán na bhFiann before kick-off.

“It was really special,” she smiled.

“Someone asked me if I had a moment, in terms of taking it all in. For us, signing the anthem in front of 32,000 people on a Tuesday night is really special. It was incredible.

“It's not an easy thing to do in midweek with people travelling and kids in school, so we really appreciate all the support.”