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Albion quartet face Euro qualifiers crunch

O'Sullivan, Jarrett, Green and Heroum face crucial qualifiers this week.

By Bruce Talbot • 30 November 2020

By FA Ireland
The Republic of Ireland face Germany.

A quartet of Albion players face must-win games as the battle to qualify for the European Women's Championships intensifies this week.

The tournament takes place in England in 2022 and three games will be staged at the Amex.

By far the toughest task faces midfielder Denise O’Sullivan and striker Rianna Jarrett as the Republic of Ireland take on Germany at Tallaght, near Dublin, on Tuesday.

The Germans have already won the group and boast a 100% record and have lost just two Euro qualifiers in the last ten years. Victory would secure Ireland's place in the play-offs, but if they lose they will be relying on Ukraine dropping points to Group I minnows Montenegro.

“We're looking forward to the game but we know how tough it's going to be,” said O'Sullivan, who is on loan at Albion until the end of December from American side North Carolina Courage. “Germany are one of the best teams in the world and hopefully now they have qualified they will relax a bit!

“We know what we have to do. We are definitely capable of getting a result if we play at our best.”

Things are almost as clear-cut for Kayleigh Green's Wales, who need to beat Belarus in Newport on Tuesday to give themselves a chance of progressing from Group C.

Even that might not be enough, as they also need Northern Ireland to drop points in their two remaining games. Cecilie Fiskerstrand's Norway have already won the section.

Midfielder Nora Heroum has linked up with the Finland squad ahead of their game against Scotland at Hibernian's Easter Road on Tuesday. Finland beat the Scots last month and a repeat would ensure they qualify from Group E. Defeat would leave them in a three-way battle with the Scots and Portugal for two places.

In contrast, Danique Kerkdijk and Inessa Kaagman have linked up with defending champions Holland in the knowledge that their qualification has long since been secured. The Dutch tackle Kosovo in Breda looking to finish Group A with a 100% record from ten games in which they have already scored 40 goals.