Ireland host France in the opening game of their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Carla Ward’s side will go into the game as underdogs — they are 20 places below tonight’s opponents in the latest Fifa rankings.
However, Ireland have shown they can do it, overcoming France 3-1 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in July 2024, albeit against a weakened side that had already qualified for the Euros and topped the group anyway.
Tonight, the Girls in Green will be aiming to show that it was not a one-off freak result.
Kick off for tonight’s game at Tallaght Stadium is at 7.30pm.
4 hrs ago
6:58PM
Confirmation of Ireland’s starting XI, which is more or less as expected
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 3, 2026
4 hrs ago
7:04PM
The other game in Ireland’s group has already finished with Poland drawing 2-2 at home to the Netherlands.
Much of the talk ahead of this campaign had been of Ireland aiming for third place ahead of the Poles, with the French and the Dutch favourites to take the top two spots.
But that result emphasises how Poland — ranked three places above Ireland by Fifa — won’t be easy to take points off either.
4 hrs ago
7:05PM
Confirmation of the visitors’ starting XI for this evening…
Leanne Kiernan, Jessie Stepleton, Tara O'Hanlon and Grace Moloney inspect the pitch ahead of the game. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
Ireland’s Katie McCabe celebrates after she scores. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
3 hrs ago
7:55PM
21 mins: Diani gets a sight at goal from a tight angle but blasts wastefully over.
We’re halfway through the opening period, and France have yet to seriously test Brosnan.
It’s been a frustrating opening quarter for the visitors.
3 hrs ago
7:59PM
26 mins: Karchaoui takes a pot shot from distance that sails a couple of inches wide.
France are coming more into this game and starting to dominate possession and territory, but Carla Ward will be relatively happy with what she’s seen so far.
3 hrs ago
8:04PM
32 mins: After a period of France pressure, Ireland are looking more comfortable now.
In recent minutes, there’s also been movement from Abbie Larkin on the Irish bench, but no change has been made yet.
3 hrs ago
8:06PM
Here’s a look at the Connolly free kick from earlier…
🇮🇪 0-0 🇫🇷
Megan Connolly forces Constance Picaud into an early save
Having only come on 10 minutes ago, she has turned this game on its head.
Ireland only half clear a corner. An attempted shot falls fortuitously into the substitute’s path, and she reacts sharply to slot home with a clinical low finish.
2 hrs ago
9:13PM
Here’s a look at France’s second goal…
GOAL FRANCE
🇮🇪 1-2 🇫🇷
Melvine Melard completes the turnaround for the visitors in Tallaght
Ireland will be gutted not to come out of that game with anything, but can take encouragement from their performance against one of the world’s best sides.
For long spells, they frustrated France with their well-organised backline.
While Carla Ward deserves credit for how she set the team up, so does her opposite number, Laurent Bonadéi.
His substitutions made the difference, specifically the magnificent Man United attacker Melvine Malard, who scored twice within 10 minutes of being introduced.
The hosts will feel aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty for what looked like a handball in the dying moments, and more drama ensued, as Katoto brilliantly cleared O’Sullivan’s effort off the line.
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As it happened: Ireland v France, World Cup qualifier
Ireland 1-2 France
Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.
Ireland host France in the opening game of their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Carla Ward’s side will go into the game as underdogs — they are 20 places below tonight’s opponents in the latest Fifa rankings.
However, Ireland have shown they can do it, overcoming France 3-1 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in July 2024, albeit against a weakened side that had already qualified for the Euros and topped the group anyway.
Tonight, the Girls in Green will be aiming to show that it was not a one-off freak result.
Kick off for tonight’s game at Tallaght Stadium is at 7.30pm.
Confirmation of Ireland’s starting XI, which is more or less as expected
The other game in Ireland’s group has already finished with Poland drawing 2-2 at home to the Netherlands.
Much of the talk ahead of this campaign had been of Ireland aiming for third place ahead of the Poles, with the French and the Dutch favourites to take the top two spots.
But that result emphasises how Poland — ranked three places above Ireland by Fifa — won’t be easy to take points off either.
Confirmation of the visitors’ starting XI for this evening…
The two managers share their thoughts ahead of the game…
We’re underway…
2 mins: Decent start by France.
They have won a free kick (in a dangerous area) and a corner in quick succession.
4 mins: Good moment for Ireland.
O’Sullivan plays through Murphy, and De Almeida gets booked for impeding the Irish attacker as she runs through on goal.
Connolly’s free kick is then parried away for a corner.
The ensuing set piece leads to a chance for Patten, but the Aston Villa star’s header is easily saved.
It’s been a very open start to this game, with neither side afraid to attack.
IRELAND 1-0 FRANCE (MCCABE 12)
Ireland take the lead, and it’s a really well-worked goal.
Murphy, who has been lively early on, slips through McCabe, who finds the corner of the net with a clinical low finish.
14 mins: Right after scoring, McCabe gets booked for a late challenge on De Almeida.
That looked a painful one for the French player, who requires treatment.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
21 mins: Diani gets a sight at goal from a tight angle but blasts wastefully over.
We’re halfway through the opening period, and France have yet to seriously test Brosnan.
It’s been a frustrating opening quarter for the visitors.
26 mins: Karchaoui takes a pot shot from distance that sails a couple of inches wide.
France are coming more into this game and starting to dominate possession and territory, but Carla Ward will be relatively happy with what she’s seen so far.
32 mins: After a period of France pressure, Ireland are looking more comfortable now.
In recent minutes, there’s also been movement from Abbie Larkin on the Irish bench, but no change has been made yet.
Here’s a look at the Connolly free kick from earlier…
45 mins: It’s been a scrappy last few minutes with not a lot happening.
Carla Ward, you’d imagine, will be very happy at half-time.
McCabe took her goal well, and Ireland have rarely looked like conceding.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half…
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 1-0 FRANCE
There was a bit of tension near the corner flag between Katie McCabe and Sakina Karchaoui shortly before half-time.
The referee handled it sensibly — both players were let off with a warning, which was a relief for Ireland, with the Arsenal star already on a yellow.
The second half has begun…
One change for France at the break.
Mateo is off, and Katoto is on.
50 mins: Ireland continue to look really impressive without the ball.
They are affording France very little space to play.
53 mins: Worrying moment for Brosnan as her attempted clearance is blocked down, but it goes harmlessly out of play.
France’s players are looking quite frustrated and short of ideas.
58 mins: McCabe lofts in a free kick, and Hayes gets a head on it.
Picaud does well to parry it away.
Moments later, O’Sullivan gets on the end of a Patten cross, but her flicked attempt is easily saved.
Picaud and Murphy collide as both go for a loose ball on the edge of the area.
The free kick is awarded in France’s favour, and the goalkeeper did appear to get to the ball first.
IRELAND 1-1 FRANCE (MALARD 70)
Out of nothing, France equalise.
The substitute Malard evades the challenge of McCabe before finding the corner of the net from the edge of the area.
Just before that, there was a double change for France.
De Almeida and Morroni came off.
N’Dongala and Malard went on.
Ireland also made a change.
Carusa was replaced by Larkin.
75 mins: Nervy moment for France.
McCabe whips in a cross, and Picaud can only gather it at the second attempt.
77 mins: Karchaoui makes a good run down the left and wins a corner.
There’s no doubt the momentum is with France right now.
Here’s a look at the equaliser…
FRANCE 2-1 IRELAND (MALARD 78)
What an impact from Malard.
Having only come on 10 minutes ago, she has turned this game on its head.
Ireland only half clear a corner. An attempted shot falls fortuitously into the substitute’s path, and she reacts sharply to slot home with a clinical low finish.
Here’s a look at France’s second goal…
85 mins: Ireland make an attacking change.
Barrett is on for Connolly.
86 mins: France make two changes.
Diani and Jean-François go off.
Sombath and Ebayilin come on.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
That seems very little for what has been a stop-start half.
There are Ireland claims for a penalty.
A shot appears to come off a French player’s hand. But the referee ignores Irish protests.
Incredible scenes!
O’Sullivan’s shot is headed off the line by a French defender.
What a finish.
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 1-2 FRANCE
Ireland will be gutted not to come out of that game with anything, but can take encouragement from their performance against one of the world’s best sides.
For long spells, they frustrated France with their well-organised backline.
While Carla Ward deserves credit for how she set the team up, so does her opposite number, Laurent Bonadéi.
His substitutions made the difference, specifically the magnificent Man United attacker Melvine Malard, who scored twice within 10 minutes of being introduced.
The hosts will feel aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty for what looked like a handball in the dying moments, and more drama ensued, as Katoto brilliantly cleared O’Sullivan’s effort off the line.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
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