Katie McCabe's Extraordinary Journey: Captivating Moments from her Republic of Ireland Career as Women's World Cup Beckons
Katie McCabe reflects on her extraordinary Republic of Ireland career in captivating images, from her early days as a determined 15-year-old preparing for U19 Euros, to becoming the youngest ever captain She shares the heartbreak of past disappointments and the joy of captaining her team to World Cup qualification Don't miss the inspiring journey of the Republic of Ireland women's team as they kick off their Women's World Cup campaign against co-hosts Australia in an electrifying sold-out match, with Canada and Nigeria also in Group B Find out more about the World Cup schedule now!
Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe reflects on her international career so far in pictures, ahead of their first Women's World Cup game on Thursday.
Picture One: 15-year-old McCabe preparing for U19 Euros
A photo of Katie McCabe at 15 years old brings a joyful expression to the face of the captain of Ireland. "It evokes pleasant memories. I recall that photoshoot taking place prior to our U19 Euro qualification, and we ultimately succeeded in advancing from the group. Unfortunately, I suffered a leg injury near the end and was unable to participate in the final match," she reminisced.
McCabe first encountered her future Arsenal teammate, Vivianne Miedema, at the Euro U19 championships. Recalling their initial interactions, McCabe humorously remarked, "I was aware of her as the player who eliminated us from the tournament with a hat-trick in the semi-final. I never missed an opportunity to remind her of that."
Picture Two: Republic of Ireland's youngest ever captain
At 21 years old, McCabe became the youngest captain in the history of the Republic of Ireland. However, when manager Colin Bell approached her with the news, it took her by surprise. Reflecting on the moment, she thought she was in trouble, considering her youthful nature and playful personality.
When Bell approached McCabe to assume the role of Ireland captain after Emma Byrne's retirement, McCabe initially perceived it as a joke. She was rendered speechless and didn't hesitate to accept the offer, expressing that it would be a tremendous honor. Being relatively young at the time, McCabe experienced profound pride during that significant moment.
I have always had a strong sense of confidence in my ability to handle challenging situations like that. However, starting at such a young age was tough and I could have easily lost my way. Thankfully, the support of senior figures around me played a crucial role in helping me achieve success.
Not long after taking on the captaincy, I had the privilege of leading out my talented younger sister, Lauryn, who is making waves in the world of football, at Tallaght Stadium.
"It remains a significant and cherished moment for me. Having the honor of captaining the girls is one of the utmost sources of pride in my life."
Lauryn, who is 15 years old, recently made her debut as a bench player for Shamrock Rovers' first team in Dublin. McCabe expressed her excitement, envisioning a remarkable day where both of them could represent Ireland together.
Picture Three: 'That was heartbreak'
Ireland's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2022 were dashed as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Ukraine, placing them in third position in their group, trailing Ukraine by a mere two points.
Expressing her disappointment, McCabe reflected, "It was truly heart-wrenching, especially considering how near we were. I personally regret missing a penalty during that match."
A mistake at the rear involving Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan and Shamrock Rovers' Aine O'Gorman resulted in Ireland scoring an own goal. Reflecting on the incident, McCabe expressed deep disappointment and heartbreak for both Aine and the team, recognizing her significant role in the squad even before his tenure.
Picture Four: McCabe captains ROI to World Cup qualification
We recall the sensation of pain, which undeniably forged stronger bonds within our team during those challenging times. Such experiences ignite a fiery determination when gearing up for the next qualification round, particularly for the esteemed event of the World Cup.
From the heartache of not qualifying for the Euros, the Republic of Ireland channelled that pain and qualified for their first major tournament - the 2023 World Cup.
Amber Barrett made history with a goal in the 72nd minute as the Republic of Ireland defeated Scotland 1-0.
"It was a moment of pure happiness and joy, like a weight lifted off my shoulders. It felt surreal, like an out of body experience," expressed McCabe.
Picture Five: Republic of Ireland celebrate
"Me - front of centre of the party as always!"
The Republic of Ireland begin their World Cup campaign against co-hosts Australia on July 20 at a sold-out Stadium Australia.
Due to the high demand for tickets, the venue has been changed. McCabe will lead the Girls in Green to a crowd of 80,000 fans. "Although we have all taken different paths, our ultimate goal has always been the same," she mentioned.
What is the World Cup schedule?
The group stage will commence on July 20 and span over a fortnight, culminating on August 3. It will determine the group winners and runners-up who will advance to the round of 16, scheduled from August 5 to August 8.The quarter-finals are set to take place on August 11 and 12 in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney.
The opening semi-final will be held on August 15 in Auckland, while the second semi-final will be played on August 16 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. The final match will also be hosted by the Accor Stadium on August 20.
A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.
