WOMEN'S SOCCER - Republic of Ireland v Iceland:THE REPUBLIC of Ireland women's senior international squad will bid to open up an historic new frontier for women's football in this country by qualifying for the first time for the finals of the European Championship over the next week.

Team manager Noel King yesterday appealed to the Irish fans to back the team tomorrow when they face Iceland at Richmond Park in the first leg of a play-off in the Euro 2009 Championship.

The game represents the biggest occasion for women's football in the association's history, with qualification to the European Championship finals in Finland next year at stake.

"I would appeal to everyone in the football family to come along and support us in this vital encounter. Getting a big crowd along on Sunday would be great," said King. "We've never been as well prepared and we've never had a stronger team in the history of Irish women's football.

"Now, if we can get through, the spin-off could be massive because these championships would be televised live in nearly ever country participating."

Ireland qualified for the play-offs by finishing third in Group Two, behind Italy and Sweden. They enjoyed four impressive victories over Hungary and Romania in the group. Iceland are currently ranked 18th in the Fifa World rankings and were runners-up in Group Three, which included, France, Greece, Serbia and Slovenia.