FOOTBALL DAILY: So close yet so far for Ward's Ireland | O'Sullivan on a tough night at the office | Byrne on Israeli debacle

Ireland’s hopes of automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup were ended by a narrow 1-0 defeat to France in Grenoble, with Melvine Malard’s first-half strike proving decisive.Despite the setback, Carla Ward’s side secured a seeded place in the upcoming World Cup playoff draw after finishing third in their Nations League group.Ward reflects on Ireland’s impressive campaign, praising the progress and resilience shown by the Girls in Green throughout the competition.Denise O’Sullivan shares her disappointment after the defeat, while also offering an honest assessment of her own performance on an emotional night in France.Rising star Emily Murphy discusses her frustration at falling short, having been one of Ireland’s standout performers during the campaign.Captain Katie McCabe remains optimistic about the future, insisting there is strong momentum within the squad ahead of the playoff challenge.A look ahead to the playoff draw and potential opponents, with Ireland set to face a League C nation before potentially meeting higher-ranked European sides.Ireland climb to a record-high FIFA world ranking of 21st, highlighting the significant progress made under Ward’s leadership.Debate continues over Ireland’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixture with Israel, as Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne argues the match should be cancelled rather than moved abroad.Plus, World Cup build-up from around the globe as Scotland prepare for their first tournament appearance in 28 years and England boss Thomas Tuchel outlines his expectations ahead of the competition.Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join Football Daily on Off The Ball, brought to you by Lynx, “A Proud Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026“. Smell Your Best When You Look Your Worst