Ireland face Kazakhstan in Astana on Friday in World Cup playoff semi-final first leg

The fixture and the absences

Ireland, ranked 21st by FIFA, play Kazakhstan (98th) in the first leg of their World Cup playoff semi-final at the Astana Arena on Friday at noon Irish time, with live coverage on RTÉ2. Katie McCabe and Marissa Sheva are suspended, and Jess Ziu is out with a shin injury, though she could recover for the second game. Denise O'Sullivan has a knee problem and is being rested until the return leg on Tuesday at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in her native Cork. The Irish Times judged that the emergence of Emily Murphy and Abbie Larkin significantly reduces the concern over the missing players. The same newspaper noted that the benefit of facing a country ranked 98th makes it easier to spare O'Sullivan from a 22-hour round trip to Astana.

Ward on her future and the Villa speculation

Carla Ward is linked with a return to Aston Villa after the club dismissed Natalia Arroyo, and Brian Sorensen, the club's technical adviser, has been placed in interim charge. Sorensen had been set to assist Ward for this playoff window but was unable to take up the role, so Stephen Neligan, a former Everton assistant coach from Australia, has joined as her new assistant. Ward's Ireland contract expires at the end of the World Cup campaign, and she declined to say whether she would have preferred a new deal before the playoffs. Her situation contrasts with that of men's manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, who signed a new contract until the end of the Euro 2028 campaign. Asked about the speculation, Ward told RTE that her focus is on the next four games.

My concern right now is four games. I'm obsessed with getting to a World Cup, obsessed with the next four games.

Hopcroft and the squad

Shanade Hopcroft, a 29-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder, could earn her first Republic of Ireland cap on Friday after a family link to Sligo through her grandmother. Ward said the new midfielder has settled in quickly during the short training period. Ward said of her:

She's tidy, and she is someone I think will add good value to the squad.

The squad travelled on a chartered plane on Monday for a 10-and-a-half-hour journey to Astana. Stephen Neligan works alongside Amber Whiteley, Emma Byrne and Jasmine Mander, and performance nutritionist Olivia Patel is advising on meals during the trip. Ward is expected to field players in new positions because of the absences, and the artificial surface at the Astana Arena has been one reason she left O'Sullivan at home.

Kazakhstan and the tactical threat

Ward described the opposition as a team that attacks quickly, saying:

They have threats on the transition and they are very direct.

Kazakhstan finished second in League C, two tiers below Ireland's League A, and most of their players operate in the Kazakhstan Super League, which is ranked 36th by UEFA coefficient. The SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division, by comparison, is ranked 24th. RTE's preview pointed to young scorers Kazyna Norbayeva and Amina Bibossynova, and to a preferred 4-3-3 formation. The weather in Astana is forecast to be hazy sunshine with temperatures around 10C and a breeze.

The route to Brazil

The winners of the two semi-finals meet in a two-legged playoff final, and Ireland would have home advantage for the second game if they reach it. Belgium host Poland on Friday evening before meeting in Gdansk on Tuesday. The seven best-ranked playoff winners advance to next year's World Cup in Brazil, while the remaining winner must still win the inter-confederation playoff. Ireland expect the playoff final to take place between late November and early December.