Wisconsin Soccer Central

Shannon Smyth (Mequon/Milwaukee DSHA) and the Republic of Ireland resume UEFA Women's World Cup qualifying Saturday with an enormous challenge.

They'll play host to reigning European champion Germany on Saturday at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, looking to pull off a massive upset.

Ireland – ranked 30th in the latest FIFA women's rankings – is off to a fine start in its 10-game qualifying schedule, with a 2-0-1 mark in Group 1 and has outscored opponents 6-1. But the Germans, ranked second in the world, have steamrolled foes by a combined 40-0 margin in winning all five of their matches.

The seven group winners in UEFA qualifying will earn berths in next year's Women's World Cup in Canada, while the top four runners-up will play off for the final spot. Russia (No. 21), Slovakia (No. 47) and Slovenia (No. 58) are tied for third behind Germany and Ireland in Group 1 with three points apiece, while Croatia (No. 62) is last with one point.

Smyth, a dual American-Irish citizen who has earned 30 caps, and Ireland play host to Russia on May 7 and Croatia on June 14. Qualifying wraps up in September, with the playoffs in October.

• University of Wisconsin midfielder Rose Lavelle is one of 25 players called in by U.S. Under-20 women's national team coach Michelle French for a training camp from April 13 to 20 in Chula Vista, Calif. The team, which is preparing for this summer's Under-20 Women's World Cup in Canada, will scrimmage UCLA and Southern Cal on April 19 to close out the camp at the Olympic Training Center. French will oversee another camp in May at the OTC, take the team to Europe in June and hold a final domestic training camp in July before heading to Canada. The Americans will face Germany, Ghana and Brazil in Group B play at the Under-20 Women's World Cup, which is Aug. 5 to 24.