Republic of Ireland 1
New Zealand 1
Netherlands 1
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
France 2 - 0 Republic of Ireland
Report | France 2-0 Ireland - Defeat in Paris
Chiedozie Ogbene has the best chance of the match for Ireland being denied by Maignan while Festy Ebosele making his Senior Irish International.
Stephen Kenny made five changes ahead of the visit to the Parc des Princes with Ogbene, Duffy, Stevens, Browne & Knight coming into Stephen Kenny’s starting line-up.
Ireland earned a free kick direct from the kickoff with Stevens’ delivery being cleared while moments later Rabiot had the first shot on target for France after his left-footed effort was well saved by Bazunu.
John Egan was called into action seconds later to block down Giroud’s effort for a corner. Ireland had a series of attacking phases with Ogbene breaking down the left with his cross into the French area taken well by Maignan despite being under pressure.
Bazunu was forced to make an excellent reaction save from Griezmann’s free kick with the secondary ball cleared. Ogbene made another superb run down the wing with his cross blocked down and Maignan on hand to gather the deflected pass.
France was to take the lead as Tchouameni latched onto a deft pass from Killian Mbappé on the edge of the area with his curling effort beating Bazunu at his far post. Bazunu was called into action to deny Mbappé’s curling effort at the edge of the area with the Irish netminder saving comfortably.
Mbappé was to have the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside. Ireland had a chance to test the French defence with an Alan Browne free kick but it was cleared while in the following French attack Shane Duffy was excellent in clearing Koundé’s cross.
France doubled their lead in the opening minutes of the second half, following some clever build-up play from Griezmann a cross from Hernández was initially blocked but only to Marcus Thuram who slotted the ball past Bazunu.
Ireland went close to pulling a goal back following an excellent breaking run from Idah who fed the ball to McClean to cross with Ogbene’s header being excellently saved by Maignan. Ogbene was to go close again with his curling effort going over the French bar.
Mbappé went close to adding a third for France with Hernández’s cross just evading his final touch. He once again found himself one one-on-one with Bazunu with a curling effort but he was found to be in an offside position.
Bazunu was forced to make an excellent save following an effort from Tchouameni from outside the area with Bazunu pushing it wide. Dembélé was to strike the post following an effort from the right with Griezmann next to have a sight on goal in the next phase of play only for an excellent tackle from Cullen to deny him.
Ireland had an eye on goal in the final stages with Shane Duffy heading goalwards from a McClean free-kick but it was well saved by Maignan. France almost added a third when a cross from Hernández was met by Thuram at the back post but he headed it wide.
Shane Duffy once again held firm defensively to deny Mbappé blocking his curling effort for a corner.
France: Maignan (GK), Upamecano, Koundé (Pavard 88), Griezmann (Camavinga 88), Tchouameni, Giroud (M. Thuram 26), Mbappé ©, Dembélé (Coman 73), Rabiot, L. Hernández (Saliba 73), T. Hernández.
Subs not used: Samba (GK), Areola (GK), Disasi, Kolo Muani, Todibo, Fofana, Kamara.
Republic of Ireland: Bazunu, Stevens (McClean 46), Duffy, Egan, Cullen, Browne, Idah (Keane 67) (Connolly 78), N. Collins, Molumby (O'Shea 67), Knight, Ogbene (Ebosele 84)
Subs not used: Kelleher (GK), Travers (GK), Smallbone, Hendrick, McGrath, Lenihan, Manning
Player of the Match: Chiedozie Ogbene
Referee: Urs Schnyder (SUI)
Match Preview | France v Republic of Ireland
Ireland will take on the FIFA 2022 World Cup finalists at the Parc des Princes on Thursday, September 7, with kick-off at 7.45pm (8.45pm local time).
Stephen Kenny's side will be looking to avoid two defeats against the opposition after their narrow 1-0 defeat against France in March, as Mike Maignon denied Nathan Collins' brilliant header in the final moments.
Ireland are set to be backed by a strong 1700+ travelling support as they hold hope of what would be a famous result and a much-needed one in the quest to qualify for UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany next year.
Match Details
Competition: UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifying
Fixture: France v Republic of Ireland
Date: Thursday, September 7
Kick-off: 7.45pm (8.45pm local time)
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
TV: RTE
Match Officials
Referee: Urs Schnyder (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Marco Zürcher (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Zürcher (SUI)
Fourth Official: Sven Wolfensberger (SUI)
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Lukas Fähndrich (SUI)
Team News
Evan Ferguson has been ruled out of both matches against France and the Netherlands following assessment from the Ireland medical team and has returned home.
Matt Doherty is suspended for the France fixture but will be available for the Netherlands match on Sunday. John Egan, who suffered a knock whilst in action for Sheffield United at the weekend, has been confirmed fit to play at the MD-1 press conference by Stephen Kenny whilst Caoimhin Kelleher sat out the final training session before the match.
Manager Stephen Kenny | MD-1 v France - Press Conference
"I don't look at it like that (in terms of being unlucky). I'm very privileged to manage the Ireland team, I always have been. We're obviously missing a number of players, five attacking players in particular, Michael Obafemi, Evan Ferguson, Callum Robinson, Troy Parrott and Mikey Johnston.
"But, it gives other players the opportunity to play and that must be embraced. Over the last few years, we've given 18 players their debut and because of that, we've got an extended pool of players to pick from and one of them can now step up.
"We're excited about the game, some people don't give us much of a chance but we've got a firm belief in ourselves and we give ourselves every chance."
Captain John Egan | MD-1 v France - Press Conference
"We know they're a top team but we've got to embrace these games.
"I think we embraced it in Dublin, we put in a really good performance that we can take a lot of confidence from. I think we deserved a draw that night, only for their keeper's world-class save at the end, we might have got that.
"As defenders, as players, as a squad we have to embrace it, it's one of the toughest games in professional football, against France, and we have to perform to our maximum to get a result but we've a lot of belief in ourselves as a squad.
"We are always brilliantly prepared for games, we have to make sure we go out and perform to the best of our ability."
Match Facts - France v Republic of Ireland
- France are unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Republic of Ireland (W5 D3) since losing 3-2 in a World Cup qualifier in October 1981.
- Republic of Ireland are winless in their last seven away games against France (D3 L4) since a 2-0 win in a friendly in May 1937 (as FAI) with goals from Jackie Brown and Davy Jordan.
- France have lost just one of their last 23 European Championship qualifying matches (W18 D4), a 2-0 away defeat at Turkey in June 2019. Their last home defeat was against Belarus in September 2010, winning nine and drawing two on home soil since.
- Following their 3-0 win over Gibraltar in June, Republic of Ireland are looking for consecutive wins in competitive internationals for the first time since March 2019.
- Only Austria (76) have had more in this European Championship qualifying campaign than France (74), with Les Bleus having 51 shots from inside the box, the most of any nation.
- Excluding play-offs, each of Republic of Ireland's last nine victories in European Championship qualifying have been against teams beginning with 'G' (5 v Gibraltar, 3 v Georgia, 1 v Germany). They're winless in their last nine against nations beginning with any other letter, since beating Armenia 2-1 in 2011.
- Kylian Mbappé has been involved in 15 goals in his last 10 starts for France (12 goals, 3 assists), although he is yet to score in two appearances against the Republic of Ireland, having six shots without success.
Republic of Ireland Squad - France
Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Stoke City, on loan from AFC Bournemouth).
Defenders: Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Enda Stevens (Stoke City), Ryan Manning (Southampton), James McClean (Wrexham), Shane Duffy (Norwich City), John Egan (Sheffield United), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Burnley), Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen).
Forwards: Adam Idah (Norwich City), Will Keane (Preston North End), Aaron Connolly (Hull City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town).
UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifying - Fixtures
07/09 - France v Republic of Ireland, Parc des Princes, 7.45pm (8.45pm local)
10/09 - Republic of Ireland v Netherlands, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm
Tactical Lineups
France
Substitutes
- 1 Brice Samba (G)
- 23 Alphonse Areola (G)
- 2 Benjamin Pavard
- 3 Axel Disasi
- 6 Eduardo Camavinga
- 12 Randal Kolo Muani
- 13 Jean-Clair Todibo
- 15 Marcus Thuram
- 17 William Saliba
- 18 Youssouf Fofana
- 19 Boubacar Kamara
- 20 Kingsley Coman
Coach
Didier Deschamps
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Caoimhin Kelleher (G)
- 23 Mark Travers (G)
- 2 Dara O'Shea
- 7 William Smallbone
- 10 Will Keane
- 11 James McClean
- 13 Jeff Hendrick
- 15 Aaron Connolly
- 18 Jamie McGrath
- 19 Darragh Lenihan
- 21 Festy Ebosele
- 22 Ryan Manning
Coach
Stephen Kenny
Officials
- Referee Urs Schnyder
- Assistant Referees Marco Zürcher
- UEFA Delegate Georges Lüchinger
- Assistant Referee Two Benjamin Zürcher
- Fourth Official Sven Wolfensberger
- Video Assistant Referee Bastian Dankert
- Assistant Video Assistant Referee Lukas Fähndrich
- Referee Observer Dejan Filipovic
Match Statistics
- France
- Republic of Ireland
Minute by Minute Commentary