Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward is calling for her team to receive their due credit after a thrilling 3-2 away victory over Poland in Gdansk. This crucial win in the UEFA Women's Nations League marks a significant turnaround for the Irish, who had faced tough defeats against powerhouses France and the Netherlands earlier in the campaign.

The match started perfectly for the visitors, with Emily Murphy and captain Katie McCabe finding the net early to establish a commanding lead. Poland fought back with a goal from Tanja Pawollek before halftime, but a stunning strike from Marissa Sheva restored Ireland's two-goal cushion. Despite a late goal from Polish star Ewa Pajor and a missed penalty by McCabe, the Irish defense held firm to secure a massive three points.

"It was a well-deserved victory," Ward stated in her post-match interview. "For 90 minutes, we were the better team and executed our plan to hurt them in the spaces we targeted. While we're disappointed to concede two goals, this group of players deserves an enormous amount of credit. To compete with three top nations and turn the result our way tonight, in a tricky away fixture, speaks volumes about their character."

The result propels Ireland into third place in Group A2, leapfrogging Poland and putting them in a strong position for a World Cup play-off spot. With the return fixture at Dublin's Aviva Stadium this Saturday, Ward has issued a clear challenge to her squad.

"We must adopt a world-class mindset from this moment forward," she emphasized. "Everything we do between now and the next match—our recovery, our analysis, our behaviors—must be at an absolute elite level. Our target is maximum points from this window, and we need to be better to achieve it."

This hard-fought win not only boosts Ireland's qualification hopes but also showcases the resilience and tactical growth of a team on the rise, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch this weekend.