Denise O'Sullivan is awaiting scan results from her injured lower leg. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
What was supposed to be a friendly practice match for the Women's World Cup between Ireland and Colombia had to be canceled after just 20 minutes on Friday night after what the Irish felt was “overly physical”. » start of the match, which left one of their star players, Denise O'Sullivan, in the hospital.
It was understood that Republic of Ireland head coach Vera Pau intervened and asked the referees to stop play after what sources said was seen as an overly heavy tackle by an unnamed Colombian player that required Sullivan's North Carolina Courage midfielder an O' health care. suspected ankle injury. Now she will wait for the results of the leg scan on Saturday.
World Cup debutants Ireland are said to have felt it was not in the spirit of what was planned as a friendly meeting to help both teams get back in shape ahead of the World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday, the day Ireland face rivals. accepts Australia. Another source told Telegraph Sport that the Colombian player was shown a yellow card in the first 10 minutes of the friendly.
The Colombian Football Federation said the match “has been suspended because the Irish National Team, opponents in practice this Friday chose not to continue the game when 23 minutes of the first half had already expired.
The statement added: “While all the processes and training of our teams are organized within the framework of the rules of the game, healthy competition and FairPlay, among other things, we respect the decision of our opposing team.”
“The game behind closed doors between the women's Ireland and Colombia on Friday night ended after 20 minutes of play,” the FAI said in a statement.
Vera Pau asked to cancel match due to concerns for the safety of its players. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
“The game, which was played in Meakin Park, Brisbane, became overly physical and after consultation with the match officials it was decided to end the game.
“Then the Ireland team had a full training session. continue preparations for the first match against Australia in Sydney on 20 July.”
O'Sullivan's problem added to an unsettling night of injuries, more widely before the start of the tournament, which occurred the same evening as French full-back Selma Bacha was wheeled out on a stretcher in agony at the end of their friendly defeat against Australia. appears to have suffered an ankle injury, which now puts her participation in the tournament in serious doubt. The incident left her Lyon teammate, Australian right-back Ellie Carpenter, in tears. Earlier in this friendly, the Australian hosts saw former West Ham United midfielder Tameka Yallop limping for fear of a knee injury.
This international match between the Matildas and France in Melbourne attracted 50,629 spectators, a new record for the Australian women's national team. It's a record they're set to break again when they face Ireland on the opening night of the World Cup at the sold-out Australia Stadium in Sydney.
In England, meanwhile, the evening was more subdued. , drawing 0-0 in a friendly match behind closed doors against Canadian Olympic champions in Queensland. As with Ireland, the media was not allowed to attend this game as it was not registered as an official international match and both teams used alternate substitutions.
Unlike the match against Ireland. , there are no reports of casualties. Sarina Weigman lost 21 members of her team, while the only ones left out were substitute goaltender Ellie Roebuck and forward Bethany England. Captain Millie Bright, back from injury, has been playing to hasten her recovery and bolster her hopes of taking part in England's first leg against Haiti on 22 July.
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