France 2-0 Ireland
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s a huge game for Ireland.
Following losses to Greece and France at home already, Stephen Kenny’s side need something from this game.
A defeat would leave qualification looking extremely difficult.
On the other hand, a shock win would put the right back into contention.
It won’t be easy, however, against the back-to-back World Cup finalists who have won all four of their Euros qualifiers thus far.
Confirmation of tonight’s teams…
𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗫𝗜 | France v Ireland
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 7, 2023
Ogbene, Duffy, Stevens, Browne & Knight all come into the starting line-up for tonight's @EURO2024 qualifier at the Parc des Princes 💪
Kick-off at 7.45pm (8.45pm local) with 1700+ Ireland fans in the stadium 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/wRSK06va9f
𝙇𝙚𝙨 𝘽𝙡𝙚𝙪𝙨' 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙓𝙄 to face the Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪⚔️
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) September 7, 2023
#FRAIRL | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/ezGZzP4gRS
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
We’re underway…
Ireland start positively with Ogbene winning a free kick more or less straight from kickoff, but it’s ultimately cleared fairly easily.
Down the other end, Rabiot tests Bazunu with a shot from distance.
So far, Ireland have managed to keep France fairly quiet.
The hosts have dominated possession as expected without really threatening.
Ogbene beats Rabiot out wide but his cross goes straight into the arms of Maignan.
As I type, Molumby has just been penalised for clattering into Mbappe.
A nervy moment for Ireland.
Griezmann’s free-kick from out wide bounces awkwardly and comes off Bazunu’s chest, but fortunately, it falls to Stevens, who clears.
FRANCE 1-0 IRELAND (TCHOUAMENI 19)
France’s early pressure pays off.
Mbappe lays it off to Tchouameni, who curls it home spectacularly from about 30 yards out.
Ireland won’t be happy, as they thought there was a foul on Idah in the build-up.
Meanwhile, Hernandez has just received an early yellow for cynically taking out Ogbene.
Hernandez plays in an enticing cross from the left.
Giroud goes down after getting ahead of Egan, but the referee waves play on.
Judging by replays it would have been a soft penalty.
Blow for France early on as Giroud has picked up a knock and goes off injured.
Marcus Thuram, 26-year-old Inter Milan forward and son of France legend Lilian, comes on in his place.
Some nice build-up play by Ireland.
However, it ends with Kounde beating Stevens for pace and averting the danger.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
🇫🇷 1-0 🇮🇪
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 7, 2023
A majestic strike from Aurelien Tchouameni breaks the deadlock in Paris
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📻 Listen @GameOn2FM https://t.co/QHSJNYlfx8 pic.twitter.com/0K8bsgfUX7
Dembele beats Stevens for pace on the left.
However, the weak cross goes straight to Egan.
Ireland need to be careful down the right as France will fancy their chances of getting some joy out there with the Stoke defender not the quickest.
Upamecano gets his head to Griezmann’s corner but can’t direct it on target.
France continue to dominate and look like the much more likely team to score.
Mbappe makes a menacing run forward but Browne produces an excellent challenge to win the ball off him.
Moments later, Dembele beats Stevens again and crosses but Thuram fails to get the right connection with his header and it goes wide.
Ireland are offering almost nothing in attack at the moment.
Idah is far too isolated and is invariably surrounded by French bodies on the rare occasions he gets the ball.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time.
It’s crucial Ireland at least keep it at 1-0 until the break.
HALF-TIME: FRANCE 1-0 IRELAND
So that’s the opening 45 minutes over.
Ireland have been extremely diligent and defended relatively well for long periods.
It was a really a moment of magic, courtesy of Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni, that they were undone by.
Where Stephen Kenny might be disappointed is down the other end.
Ireland have created very little, with Mike Maignan a virtual bystander for much of the contest.
The visitors have rarely strung together a couple of passes in the final third and a set piece might be their best chance of rescuing something from this game.
In truth though, the Boys in Green are up against a far technically superior team and are likely to tire in the heat without the ball as the game develops.
That said, as long as it stays 1-0, Kenny’s men will feel they can get something from this game.
Ireland make one change at the break.
After a torrid first half, Stevens is replaced by McClean.
The second half has begun…
Cullen has been booked for a late challenge on Rabiot.
Moments earlier, Molumby was lucky to avoid a similar fate for a rash tackle.
FRANCE 2-0 IRELAND (THURAM 48)
France double their advantage.
Hernandez crosses for Mbappe, whose goalbound shot is blocked by Duffy, but it falls kindly for Thuram, who finds the roof of the net from close range.
Ireland go so close to getting one back after an encouraging counter-attack.
McClean crosses for Ogbene, but Maignan gets down well to make the save from the Luton star’s header.
The game is very open now.
Griezmann puts in a dangerous low cross that the lurking Mbappe can’t quite connect with.
Here’s a look at the second goal…
🇫🇷 2-0 🇮🇪
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 7, 2023
Substitute Marcus Thuram doubles the French lead shortly after the interval and it’s a huge mountain to climb for Ireland
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France are looking very comfortable at the moment and continue to control the game.
It’s hard to see a way back for Ireland as it stands, with the visitors looking a little demoralised since that second goal.
The crowd are cheering every France pass and clearly feel this game is won
Ireland badly need some fresh energy and it is no surprise to see changes.
Moumby and Idah are off, while O’Shea and Keane have come on.
It looks like O’Shea will now play right wing-back, with Browne moving into midfield.
Idah and Molumby worked tirelessly but you always felt both were very much on the periphery of the game.
France attack again.
Mbappe has plenty of space but his cross is too heavy for the onrushing Thuram.
Moments later, the excellent Dembele beats McClean before seeing his cross come off the post.
France then make a double change — Saliba and Coman replace Dembele and Hernandez.
This game now looks like an attack-v-defence session.
It’s a damage limitation exercise now for Stephen Kenny’s men, who have been second-best throughout.
Will Keane has landed awkwardly while going up for a header and has to come off.#
Aaron Connolly comes on in his place.
Festy Ebosele had been set to come on for an international debut, but must sit back down for now.
Ebosele has replaced Ogbene, who was one of Ireland’s better performers tonight.
The 21-year-old from Enniscorthy becomes the 19th player to make his debut under Stephen Kenny.
It’s a rare shot on target for Ireland as Duffy gets his head on a McClean free kick.
However, the Norwich star’s effort fails to seriously test Maignan.
Meanwhile, France make another change with Pavard replacing Kounde.
Chiedozie Ogbene is RTÉ’s man of the match.
He also won the accolade for the home game against France.
There will be six minutes of stoppage time…
France miss a gilt-edged chance to make it three.
Hernandez crosses for Thuram, whose downward header from close range misses the target.
Moments later, Duffy does really well to block a goalbound Mbappe shot.
Coman blazes over from close range.
Ireland are hanging on now.
FULL-TIME: FRANCE 2-0 IRELAND
So that’s that.
Ireland can have few complaints as they were outclassed by a superior team.
There were sporadic moments of encouragement for the visitors, notably that Ogbene header in the second half, however, they were ultimately completely outplayed by Didier Deschamps’ men.
It got easier for France as the match went on, with the heat and the hosts’ possession football totally sapping the Boys in Green’s energy.
Stephen Kenny will now turn to Sunday’s home clash with the Netherlands in hope more than expectation.
After beating Greece tonight, Ronald Koeman’s side are three points ahead of the Irish with a game in hand.
If it wasn’t a must-win fixture before, it certainly is now.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
