The Republic of Ireland Women's team is scheduled to depart Australia today and fly home following their World Cup journey.
The side earned plaudits with their performances against Australia and Canada, ending with a hard-earned point against Nigeria.
However, following a memorable week of action, focus has been placed on the relationship between manager Vera Pauw and captain Katie McCabe.
A power struggle, or at least a perceived one, between the Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw and captain Katie McCabe is playing out in the public eye. pic.twitter.com/jA414vbPfO
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 31, 2023
The Arsenal star publicly questioned her manager's decision not to make substitutions during Monday's draw (July 31).
Furthermore, Pauw has openly questioned the FAI over the process of handling her new contract.
The clash with the Arsenal star has added further uncertainty to the manager's future.
Speaking in her post-match press conference, Pauw responded to queries about the public exchange. “If Katie McCabe wants a change, it doesn’t mean - she’s not the coach - yeah?
"Why would we change? Everybody was doing so well. So I said, 'What do you want, Katie, taking the best player off?'"
When asked for details on what McCabe requested, Pauw was keen to back her decision
“She wanted fresh legs on her side. Everybody was doing so well,” she added.
"Sinead Farrelly was arguably the best player on the pitch at that moment, so I was not prepared to take the best player off.”
🤐
— Katie McCabe (@Katie_McCabe11) July 31, 2023
A special homecoming event is scheduled for Dublin on Thursday, with a large crowd expected to acknowledge a tremendous achievement from the Girls in Green.
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