Ward's side suffered two 4-0 friendly defeats against the United States in four days Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward said she had players "begging to come off" due to the heat in Ohio in their 4-0 friendly defeat against the United States. Temperatures reached 30C during the game at the TQL Stadium and, despite cooling breaks in each half, the Republic struggled with the heat. Whilst Emma Hayes named a completely different starting 11 from the first friendly between these two sides four days ago, Ward made just four alterations due to the Republic missing a host of regular starters. She said she was forced into more changes during the game to protect her players' health. "On 22 minutes we had players asking to come off, unfortunately, we couldn't make those changes, then at half-time, three enforced changes as players were physically fatigued and some unwell," she told RTE. "In the second half players were almost begging to come off and we couldn't do anything about it. "We can't do anything about the heat, but it is dangerously hot out there and with humidity at 94%, I have never felt anything like it." Given the concerns about the conditions, the heavy nature of both defeats and the depleted squad, Ward was asked whether the decision to play two end of season friendlies in the USA was beneficial to the Republic, who face a Nations League play-off against Belgium in October. The former Aston Villa boss was adamant that the camp and the two fixtures against the number one-ranked side in the world have provided valuable learnings for her under-strengthened squad. "We've looked at two different systems and ways of playing, we have added a couple of layers to what we are trying to do, and it has been such a positive camp overall," she added. "Naturally, these two defeats hurt, but there has to be some reality to this. "We played the best in the world, in extreme heat, something I struggled in without even moving, they're in season and we're not, there are many factors, but to still compete across two games, they can take a lot of heart."
'Players were begging to come off' - Ward on Ohio heat
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Republic of Ireland Manager Discusses Player Health Concerns Amidst Heat in US Friendlies"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
In a recent friendly match against the United States, Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward revealed that several players were pleading to be substituted due to the oppressive heat conditions in Ohio. The match, held at the TQL Stadium, saw temperatures soar to 30 degrees Celsius, compounded by a high humidity level of 94%. Despite the provision of cooling breaks during each half, the Republic struggled significantly with the environmental conditions. Unlike her counterpart Emma Hayes, who fielded a completely different starting eleven from the previous game, Ward made only four changes due to a depleted squad missing several regular starters. She indicated that player health was a primary concern, necessitating enforced substitutions at halftime as players experienced physical fatigue and some reported feeling unwell. Ward stated, "On 22 minutes we had players asking to come off, unfortunately, we couldn't make those changes," illustrating the dire situation faced by her team during the match.
Despite the heavy 4-0 defeats in both friendlies, Ward maintained a positive outlook regarding the experience gained from competing against the top-ranked team in the world. She emphasized that the two matches provided valuable insights and opportunities for her under-strengthened squad to explore different tactical systems and improve their overall gameplay. Looking ahead, Ward expressed confidence in the lessons learned during this challenging camp, stating that the experience would be beneficial as they prepare for an upcoming Nations League play-off against Belgium in October. While acknowledging the disappointment of the losses, she remarked on the importance of competing against a world-class team under extreme conditions, highlighting that the players could still take heart from their efforts despite the circumstances. Ward's commitment to her players' development and health remains a priority as they continue their preparations for future competitions.
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