Ireland are hoping to stamp their ticket to the World Cup in Grenoble. ©INPHO/Ben Brady

LIVE: France v Republic of Ireland, World Cup Qualifier

Follow all the action as Carla Ward’s side look to earn direct qualification for the World Cup tonight.
17 mins ago Kick-Off! France v Republic of Ireland

8 mins: France 0-0 Ireland

France enjoying most of the possession in the early minutes and they push through again with another attack.

Again, Brosnan is required to make a save from Melvine Malard.

More pressure follows and France have a corner.

6 mins: France 0-0 Ireland

France try to go short but don’t make anything of it. Ireland keeping a good shape and Caitlyn Hayes steps in with some good defending to poke the ball away.

5 mins: France 0-0 Ireland

Sakina Karchaoui wins a free from O’Sullivan for having the studs up. Another chance for France from an inviting position. 

4 mins: France 0-0 Ireland

FRANCE CHANCE!

Nervy moment as the ball bounces up in the box but Ireland deal with it and clear the danger.

O’Sullivan then gets dispossessed and France counter quickly with Grace Geyoro letting fly with a daisy-cutter.

Brosnan reads it well though and gets down in good time to make the save.

2 mins: France 0-0 Ireland

And away we go as Ireland take the kick-off. They get some early passes in before France get the ball back.

Sandy Baltimore takes on Aoife Mannion and wins the free. O’Sullivan then is overzealous with a challenge and France have a free-kick just inside from the corner spot.

Kick-Off! France v Republic of Ireland

Just a few minutes away now as the anthems get underway.

Warming Up

katie-mccabe Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

denise-osullivan Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

anna-patten

courtney-brosnan Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

With just over half an hour to go, make a call on the result here:


Poll Results:

Ireland win (84)
France win (42)
Draw (27)

And here is how the hosts are setting up this evening:

FRANCE: Constance Picaud; Alice Sombath, Thiniba Samoura, Maelle Lakrar, Selma Bacha; Oriane Jean-Francois, Sakina Karchaoui, Grace Geyoro; Sandy Baltimore, Melvine Malard, Delphine Cascarino.

IRELAND: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki, Katie McCabe; Megan Connolly, Marissa Sheva, Denise O’Sullivan; Emily Murphy, Kyra Carusa.

As expected, Denise O’Sullivan and Emily Murphy come back into the side after serving their one-match bans. Ruesha Littlejohn and Abbie Larkin make way.

Here we go!

This could be a huge night for the Republic of Ireland as Carla Ward’s side look to secure direct qualification to the 2027 World Cup.

The Stade des Alpes in Grenoble could be the setting for a historic night if Ireland can get a win against France. It’s a huge ask but after what they achieved last Friday in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, nothing is impossible for this team.

We’ll be taking you through all the action this evening, and we’ll have the team line-ups for you shortly too.

And as always, let us know your thoughts on how you think this will go.

Kick-off is at 8pm.

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