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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.<\/b><\/p>\n
Temperatures reached 30C during the game at the TQL Stadium and, despite cooling breaks in each half, the Republic struggled with the heat.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She said she was forced into more changes during the game to protect her players’ health.<\/p>\n
“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. <\/p>\n
“In the second half players were almost begging to come off and we couldn’t do anything about it.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n