Rejuvenated Marissa Sheva inspired by 'incredible' Katie McCabe
Marissa Sheva is having a growing influence of this Republic of Ireland team under the stewardship of Carla Ward.
The US-born 27-year-old was a World Cup bolter back in 2023 when Vera Pauw brought her into the camp just a few months before the tournament.
A highly accomplished cross-country runner in her younger days, Sheva's stamina and pace were valued by Pauw, but she fell out of favour once Eileen Gleeson took the reins.
A 15-month exiled followed, with Sheva returning to the squad in October 2024 for the Euro 2025 play-off semi-final against Georgia. A well-taken goal in the away leg of that tie has been the catalyst for a real upswing in Sheva's Ireland fortunes.
Ward is an obvious admirer; she's trusted Sheva to play more centrally in the Nations League and has been rewarded with displays of industry and creativity.
The 28-year-old, who moved to Sunderland in March, has never looked more comfortable in a green shirt.
"I've really been enjoying Carla and the entire new staff here," Sheva said ahead of Friday's game against the Turks in Istanbul.
"I think her style of play fits my style of play really. That's been a good transition for me personally. She's been very helpful with specific things about my game which are helping me here at Ireland but also back at club.
"Jessie is a gem, she was super helpful."
"There was almost an overhaul of tactics of what we were previously playing. I think we're being encouraged to build out from the back more, we're being encouraged to be a little bit more aggressive from the get-go, trying to utilise our midfield more and you can't change that overnight.
"You can't change that in one camp, I think that takes a little bit of time, especially with a new staff and new players in some of those positions. Even though this is a tightknit group and a lot of us and girls, excluding myself, have played together for so, so many years, it's just a new style of play. It's really tough to implement that in one, or two, or even three camps."
Sheva is benefiting from playing in England for the first time in her career having made a spring switch to the Black Cats, where Jessie Stapleton - on loan from West Ham - was a familar face and a generous driving buddy.
"Jessie is a gem, she was super helpful," smiled Sheva. "I haven't sorted a car yet in England, so she was picking me up for training and I was exchanging flat whites for a ride to training most days. She's been amazing. I'm sad that she's been recalled (to the Hammers) but I am excited for her.
"My idea was, because I knew I was only going to be there for a couple of months and my apartment isn't too far from the training ground, I was like, I can figure this out. I can bribe Jessie into driving me or figure out public transport and then I will sort a car for pre-season, because I knew I was going to be away all summer. So, now, it is time to sort out that car, and I don't want to do it, but we will get it figured out at some point."
There's certainly been some teething problems under Ward. Any winning formula requires the right alchemy; and the head coach looks like she's still searching for some key ingredients. The surprise call-up of Australia-based Erin Healy is the latest evidence that Ireland are trying to get more athleticism into the team.
Still, they were lifted by the arrival of skipper Katie McCabe into camp on Tuesday evening. The Dubliner was allowed to come in a little later as she celebrated Arsenal's brilliant Champions League triumph.
For Sheva, the captain is a huge inspiration.
"You've just given me goosebumps," she said when the scale of McCabe's journey was relayed to her.
"It hasn't even sunk in. I can't even imagine how she feels. She won the Champions League. That is one of the top things you can do in our sport. It's just incredible.
"She's been with Arsenal for so long, she's proven herself on the biggest stages in the world now. It's so impressive. We're excited for her to come and join us but she deserves this moment to celebrate with her teammates and really soak it in.
"Hopefully she has many, many more opportunities to make it back to the Champions League final... I think she'll be back many times. But yeah, she's just incredible. She deserves this moment."
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