Latest news with #Sheva
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Marissa Sheva may be driving on ‘wrong' side of the road but believes Ireland are on the right track
MARISSA SHEVA is psyching herself up to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road, having quickly come to grips with her new challenges with Ireland. The Sunderland midfielder, 28, is in Istanbul preparing for Ireland's Nations League clash with Turkey on Friday and the home game with Slovenia in Cork next Tuesday. But by July she will be back in England for pre-season training, with her off-the-field priority to buy a car. Signed from Portland in March, the US-born star has been settling into life in England easily with the help of Ireland club-mate Jessie Stapleton. But knowing the English season ended in April and that she would then be on international duty, she put off her car search until July. Instead, Stapleton has been her chauffeur, with payment in flat whites. Read more on Irish football Sheva said: 'My apartment isn't too far from the training ground. So I was like, 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.' But getting wheels will mean driving on the left side of the road — the opposite to what Sheva is used to, having been brought up in Pennsylvania. She said: 'I have driven my auntie's car in Ireland before, I think I was 18 the last time I drove and it mentally scarred me. 'Because she kept hitting me because I was trying to drive on the right side of the road every time I had to turn! Most read in Football 'I think I will be a little bit better now that it's ten years later and I have been spending a bit more time in Europe.' But adapting to driving on the other side should be easy for Sheva, who has quickly adjusted to the new demands on her with Ireland. Katie McCabe slides on the floor in Arsenal dressing room after Champions League final Capped by Vera Pauw and Eileen Gleeson since her first call-up in 2023 — when she played in the World Cup — Sheva has featured in all four games to date under Ireland's latest boss Carla Ward. And the midfielder reckons that the team will only get better with each camp under Ward as they adapt to her more attacking tactics. Sheva said: '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. 1 Sheva has had a bright start to her international career 'I think you can't change that overnight. 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 tight-knit group and a lot of us girls have played together for 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.' Ward's first camp in February was a mirror of this one as Ireland faced Turkey in Tallaght, in soggy underfoot conditions, and travelled to Slovenia, where they suffered a 4-0 humbling. Sheva added: 'Turkey and Slovenia were two tough teams to implement those tactics with, but we're better for it now that we've had a few camps. 'We're looking forward to playing them on hopefully a harder pitch — Tallaght was an absolute mess in that first camp. 'We're in a better position now to implement how Carla wants to play. This will be a better camp than the first one against the same opponents.'
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘You can't make this up' – Irish fans in stitches at Ruesha Littlejohn's playful prank upon Katie McCabe's camp arrival
KATIE McCABE received a champion's welcome - and a bottle of water - as she linked up with her Ireland team-mates in Istanbul. The Ireland captain clearly played a leading role 2 The 29-year-old played the showwoman as she happily held it up to great applause 2 Littlejohn, 34, is known for possessing a keen wit That's what made Ruesha Littlejohn handing her the water as she was serenaded upon her arrival into camp so funny. The amusing allusion to McCabe's draining Tami laughed: "Ruesha giving her the water you can't make this up!" Similarly, Ally quipped: "Ah she's alive (laughing emoji)." Read More On Irish Football Lastly, journalist Adam Moynihan remarked: "The world would be a better place if everyone got this kind of reception when they turned up for work late and visibly rattled after three hard days on the beer." Hopefully McCabe maintains that winning feeling in the Nations League against Turkey on Friday. Ahead of Friday's clash, Marissa Sheva told SunSport how she is psyching herself up to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road, having quickly The Sunderland midfielder, 28, is in Istanbul preparing for the clash on Friday and the home game with Slovenia in Cork next Tuesday. Most read in Football But by July she will be back in England for pre-season training, with her off-the-field priority to buy a car. Signed from Portland in March, the US-born star has been settling into life in England easily with the help of Ireland club-mate Jessie Stapleton. Shocking moment Chelsea fans brawl & throw glasses as violence erupts in Poland ahead of Conference League final But knowing the English season ended in April and that she would then be on international duty, she put off her car search until July. Instead, Stapleton has been her chauffeur, with payment in flat whites. Sheva said: 'My apartment isn't too far from the training ground. "So I was like, 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.' But getting wheels will mean driving on the left side of the road — the opposite to what Sheva is used to, having been brought up in Pennsylvania. She said: 'I have driven my auntie's car in Ireland before, I think I was 18 the last time I drove and it mentally scarred me. 'Because she kept hitting me because I was trying to drive on the right side of the road every time I had to turn! 'I think I will be a little bit better now that it's ten years later and I have been spending a bit more time in Europe.'
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
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."
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Meet the Ireland star inspired by Katie McCabe's rags to riches story
There is not one footballer who hasn't experienced a sliding doors moment, one door opening the way to a disaster, the other to a Champions League final. For Katie McCabe, her career-changing incident happened eight years ago when a loan move to Glasgow City reminded her of everything she had but showed her everything that could be lost. Now look at her, the fourth Irish woman to win a Champions League, and just the 14th Irish player in all to pocket the most coveted medal in club football. Marissa Sheva has stood at that crossroads junction, too. Read more: Former Down GAA star and Irish Cup winner has message for fans after joining Shamrock Rovers 'Yeah, you've just given me goosebumps thinking about what Katie achieved,' Sheva, McCabe's fellow Irish international said. 'I can't even imagine how she feels. I don't think it's sunk into the rest of us as winning the Champions League is one of the top things you can do. "It's just incredible. She's proven herself on the biggest stages in the world now. 'And we're excited for her. Hopefully she has many, many more opportunities to make it back to the Champions League final, and I don't doubt for a second that she'll be back many times. I hope she's celebrating hard right now.' Yet Sheva is also drinking the moment in. The Sunderland and Ireland midfielder said: 'It gives the whole team confidence to be able to say we play with Katie. I would never put myself on Katie McCabe's level but just knowing we get to train with her, we get to see just how she operates pretty consistently should give all of us confidence. We can all strive for a little bit more.' From the start, she has never settled for being ordinary, making her way initially through athletics where she was a champion middle distance runner, before she won a football scholarship to Penn State university. Success followed there too - a NCAA title being the highest prize any college athlete could hope for in the United States. That said, college football has a short shelf-life as well as being amateur, and when she was 21, Sheva knew she had to make the right decision: get into the rat race or follow the dream. It was an easy choice. Moves to Deportivo La Coruna, Utah, Washington and Portland followed but the option of transferring to Sunderland in March was too good to turn down, getting her closer to home and within Irish boss, Carla Ward's, sights. Thirteen times she has been capped by Ireland under three different managers, Vera Pauw, Eileen Gleeson and Ward and it's only now she is beginning to feel confident in her surroundings, which is often the case with footballers who break through late. Sheva says: 'Carla's style of play fits mine. 'She's been very helpful with specific things about my game; Carla is seeking me to turn forward and drive with the ball, to be more confident. 'It's crazy just how her bringing that to my attention has made such a huge difference. I'm nowhere near a complete midfielder so I'm willing to take any and all information she has to give me. 'Composure is something that every midfielder kind of aspires to have. I look at someone like Denise O'Sullivan who is a complete midfielder, tactically aware, and one of the best technical players I have played with. I am just kind of trying to be more like Denise.' She gets her chance to continue her impersonation of O'Sullivan - who is arguably on McCabe's level in terms of quality if not profile - when Ireland face Turkey and then Slovenia over the next week. Currently second in their Nations League group, behind Slovenia, Ireland need two wins to have any chance of topping their group and earning promotion to the top tier. A visit to the play-offs is likelier. But Sheva says: 'We have a lot of work to do. We need to beat Turkey and then need to handily beat Slovenia. "If that doesn't happen, there are play-offs, a bunch of things that would have to happen for us to potentially get back into group A. "We are not even thinking about that, we just know that we have a lot of work on our hands here and it starts in Turkey (on Friday). That's our first goal, beat Turkey and get back to Cork and prepare for Slovenia.'
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Marissa Sheva helping fellow American Erin Healy settle into Ireland setup
Success attracts talent and it was inevitable the American diaspora would awaken from Ireland's World Cup watershed. Courtney Brosnan and Kyra Carusa had declared before qualification was secured in 2022, Sinéad Farrelly and Marissa Sheva pledged their allegiance in time for the trip to Australia, while Erin Healy became the latest convert. US-born players pursuing international exposure through ancestry is more prevalent in the women's game due to the status of the national team as Fifa's top ranked nation. Farrelly has since retired and Sheva was omitted from the squad for a period when Eileen Gleeson succeeded Vera Pauw as boss but she's back in favour under Carla Ward. The attacking midfielder has moved closer by joining Sunderland towards the end of the season and is pushing for a start in Friday's penultimate Uefa Nations League fixture against Turkey at the Esenler Stadium in Istanbul (6pm, Irish time). Healy could make her debut in attack and Sheva has been mindful about ensuring the newcomer feels at home in her new habitat. Ward last week flagged a move to England for the striker but her club Adelaide United yesterday announced a contract extension. 'I definitely remember my first camp in Spain,' said 28-year-old Sheva, resonating with Healy's experience this week. 'That always changes things and it's not a home camp in Dublin where everybody feels a little bit more at ease and comfortable. 'I'm trying to just make sure she feels comfortable and is able to perform the way she can and not feel any unnecessary stress outside of being on the pitch.' Turkey may be bottom seeds in the four-team pool that also includes Slovenia and Greece but they almost embarrassed Ireland in Ward's first game at the helm. Sheva is adamant progress has been made since that unconvincing 1-0 win at Tallaght in February. 'Hopefully we can beat Turkey by more than one goal,' said the Pennsylvania native. 'I think this will be a better camp than the first camp against the same opponents. 'There was almost an overhaul of tactics of what we were previously playing. It's really tough to implement that in one, two, or even three camps. 'We're being encouraged to build out from the back more, to be a little bit more aggressive from the getgo, trying to utilise our midfield more. You can't change that overnight.' Once Turkey is done, the squad travel back to Cork for the visit of Slovenia to Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Unless the group leaders drop points against Greece, then Ireland's mission will be to equal or surpass the 4-0 victory the Slovenians achieved in Ward's second match. 'We've good memories from beating France in Cork last year,' she said about returning to the home of Cork GAA.
