Ireland goal hero explains why she will train with boys' team ahead of Euro play-off final
Julie-Ann Russell scored the third goal of her incredible Ireland comeback in Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Georgia.
Julie-Ann Russell says it would be a dream to play at next summer’s European Championships - but the new mum plans to work extra hard to realise that ambition.
The Galway United star continued her incredible return to the international scene with her third goal in four games, as the Girls in Green booked a play-off decider against Wales next month, with the first leg in Cardiff on November 29 and the return at the Aviva Stadium on December 3.
Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Georgia secured a 9-0 aggregate scoreline, while Wales needed extra-time to get past Slovakia.
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Russell celebrated afterwards with her 16-month old daughter Rosie - and then revealed how she would keep herself at the top of her game ahead of the games against Wales in four weeks’ time.
Her club season is at an end, so she said: “For me, I will train with the boys team at my local club, Salthill Devon, to stay fit and sharp for the next couple of weeks.
“It's so important and training with boys who are fitter and faster and stronger than girls genetically.
“I am looking forward to staying sharp coming into the next game, and a bit of crossfit in Moycullen and a bit of running, I can't sit still.”
For Russell, a spot at next summer’s Euros would mean the world - after she watched Ireland’s World Cup adventure last summer with Rosie, not thinking she would ever experience tournament football at international level.
“I vividly remember watching the first game against Australia. [Rosie] was about two weeks old. I was watching on the couch,” said Russell, who won 60 caps before a four-year absence from the Ireland set-up.
“I was so emotional watching the girls, so happy for them. I know the hard work and grit and determination they put in and some of them were my best friends that were playing.
“I was so proud and never in my life did I think I'd be back playing again.
“It's phenomenal and it'd be my dream to play in the Euros.”
Did she even picture herself being two games away from qualification just a few months ago, prior to her sensational return?
“No, absolutely not, it's just been a total whirlwind,” replied Russell. “It would be an absolute dream to qualify, I will just keep going and keep trying and hopefully we will do it in the next two games.”
Meanwhile, Ireland boss Eileen Gleeson reckons Ireland are in a better place now than they were in February, when they lost 2-0 to Wales in a friendly.
“I think they are the same team that we played them last, we’ll be a different team than when we played them last,” she said.
“You know came in on the back on playing against Italy, we’d players missing. You know we’re positive, I think it will be very tight and we’re very excited about it.
“We had some of our senior players missing (in February), we played some of the younger players, it was a learning experience, it stands to us now coming into the play-offs, it was a learning moment.”
Playing the second leg in the Aviva Stadium will be an advantage, according to Gleeson.
“That was also part of the being seeded, so to be in your home crowd at the Aviva, you can’t ask fo ra better finish off to the campaign. Hopefully we’ll win,” she said.
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