Video
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 March 2023 | 7:45 pm | UEFA EURO Qualification | 2022/23 |
Match Report
It took a moment of magic from Benjamin Pavard five minutes into the second half to see France leave Dublin with all three points in this Euro 2024 Qualifier. A third time this century where France and Ireland meet in the capital and third time Ireland suffer a 1-0 defeat on home soil, it really is the hope that kills you. Despite the scoreline Ireland were disciplined and patient in the tie and certainly caused a few headaches for the French side when it came to attack and also how they setup their defensive shape. Pavard never scores a normal goal and he showed both his defensive and attacking skills to score the only goal of the game, a rocket of a strike after intercepting a pass, France studied Ireland well limiting them passing out from their own area. Ireland had chances with Mike Maignan making two stunning staves late on to keep them at bay, a performance they should be proud of but one that just did not bring any points Ireland were holding their own in the opening few minutes at a noisy Aviva, the crowd acting as the 12th man, with the first cheer going up for Chiedzoie Ogbene dispossessing Kylian Mbappe then drawing a foul from the French forward. France had a great early chance as Kolo Muani gathered possession in the box, he was forced wide by Bazunu, he cut it back inside but John Egan was there to clear the danger, as he blocked Oliver Giroud rolling into an empty net. The Boys In Green looked organised and compact, France having little in the way of scoring chances, largely reduced to crossing into the penalty area, looking for the heads of Giroud and Kolo Muani, unable to get their speedy players to race in on goal to Bazunu. In attack ireland were holding their own as Ogbene was testing Theo Hernandez down the left and side, the Ac Milan full back having to foul Ogbene, with a few free kicks Ireland could get a chance at goal, however they were left open to a counter attack but back were Ogbene and Seamus Coleman after Mbappe showed his quick feet down the left hand side. France won a corner and from that Giroud showed his danger in the air as he headed for goal, it pin balled off Coleman and then Jayson Molumby before Bazunu came to gather as Mbappe was lurking at the back post to rifle home the rebound. Hernandez fired an effort at goal from outside the area,a fierce left-footed strike, cannoning off the feet of Griezmann, but Bazunu watched it spin out for a goal kick, could have gone anywhere but Ireland delighted it went out for a goal kick. Eduardo Camavinga was next to cause danger as he picked out the run of Benjamin Pavard down the right, he wiped in a curling delivery to Griezmann at the near post, but his header flew wide of the Irish net. Pressure went against the French in the final minutes of the opening half, Ireland with two free kicks delivered into the area, Kolo Muani doing well to defend the first set piece as appeals were there that he had tackled Dara O’Shea but VAR deemed it as no penalty, a terrific opening half for Ireland as they frustrated and limited France to little chances, but Ireland had no shots on target in the half. Five minutes into the second half and France took the lead, Ireland had done well in defence, but Adrian Rabiot had time to breathe on the left wing, he played a pass that Josh Cullen intercepted, Cullen then tried to pass it out but it was a little misplaced and Pavard gathered before unleashing a rocket of a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar and flew past Bazunu into the net, he does not score normal goals does Benjamin Pavard. Minutes later just before the hour mark, Ireland had a great chance to find the equaliser, Ogbene raced down the right wing, delivered a ball to Knight outside the edge of the box, but his effort was blocked, Ireland keep possession and almost see Ferguson through on goal but France have a free for offside, the atmosphere electric as the Irish voices were in full spirit in the tie. France made a change with Grioud going off for Moussa Diaby to strengthen their attack, Diaby cut into the box from the right before shifting the ball onto his left and sending a curling effort towards the far post, which Bazunu pushed away at full stretch to keep the score at 1-0. Bazunu was busy again minutes later as he had to get down quick to his left to parry away a long range strike from Rabiot, Kolo Muani almost got in minutes later but some great defending had the danger cleared. Ireland kept pressing and Molumby had a great effort that Dayot Upemencano did well to block, minutes later James McClean cut inside the area and hit a shot that Mike Maignan saved, pressure back on france as Ireland appealed for a penalty for a hand ball on Hernandez as Ogbene crossed in, that was not given as Alan Browne fired an effort outside the area wide of the goal. Maignan was needed late on to show why he is the new French number 1, he first denied a Browne header before stretching well to save an effort from Nathan Collins that looked destined to nestle in the top corner.Pavard Magic Seals All Three Points For Les Blues
Timeline
| 23' | 2. Benjamin Pavard | |
| 50' | 2. Benjamin Pavard | |
| Matt Doherty | 65' | |
| Evan Ferguson Adam Idah | 65' | |
| 65' | Olivier Giroud Moussa Diaby | |
| 15. Jayson Molumby | 77' | |
| Matt Doherty James McClean | 77' | |
| Jason Knight Mikey Johnston | 77' | |
| Dara O'Shea Alan Browne | 78' | |
| 81' | Benjamin Pavard Jules Koundé | |
| 81' | Adrien Rabiot Aurélien Tchouameni | |
| Jayson Molumby Michael Obafemi | 86' | |
| 9. Adam Idah | 88' | |
| 5. John Egan | 90' | |
| 90+2' | Randal Kolo Muani Marcus Thuram |
Past Meetings
 
(Round 3)
0 - 1WU19 International
MGKS Huragan-Pobiedziska Ireland v France |
|
(Elite Qualifying)
3 - 0WU19 International
Bazaly Stadium, Ostrava France v Ireland |
|
(7th/8th Play Off)
1 - 0European Amputee Football Championship
Garbarnia Stadium France v Ireland |
4 - 0UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
France v Republic of Ireland |
1 - 3UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Tallaght Stadium Republic of Ireland v France |
1 - 2Women's Senior
Richmond Park Republic of Ireland v France |
2 - 0Women's Senior
Jean-Leroi Municipal Stadium France v Republic of Ireland |
|
(International Friendly)
0 - 6Women's Senior
Sens France v Republic of Ireland |
|
(International Friendly)
2 - 0Women's Senior
Orry la Ville France v Republic of Ireland |
|
(International Friendly)
0 - 3Women's Senior
Turner's Cross Republic of Ireland v France |
|
(International Friendly)
2 - 0Women's Senior
Caudry France v Republic of Ireland |
|
(International Friendly)
0 - 0Women's Senior
Tolka Park Republic of Ireland v France |
|
(International Friendly)
4 - 0Women's Senior
Parc de Princes France v Republic of Ireland |
Ground
| Aviva Stadium |
|---|
| Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Pembroke West A ED, Dublin, Dublin 4, Leinster, D04 FP65, Ireland |
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.
Ireland press and press but no joy Maignan's save was majestic and that gives them all three points this evening, he stopped a certain goal from Collins and Ireland will be left kicking themselves, we are onto a winner here under Stephen Kenny, it finishes at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland 0-1 France
Three minutes of added time is the call
Egan and Idah both have picked up cautions
MAIGNAN AGAIN WHAT A SAVE TO DENY COLLINS OH MY GOD
What a save by Maignan to save a header by Browne
Obafemi comes in for Molumby
Appeal's for hand ball in the build up as Ogbene delivers a cross, then Browne fires a shot from outside the area wide
McClean comes inside and that's a first shot Maignan has to save
Molumby has an effort that Upamencano blocks clear
France makes two changes as Rabiot and Pavard go off for Jules Kounde and Tchouameni
Triple change for Ireland Mikey Johnston, Alan Browne and James McClean in for Knight, Doherty and O'Shea, looks like Browne is playing wing back
Molumby is booked for a challenge on Camavinga
Rabiot tries a shot from range and down at full stretch goes Bazunu to push it away
France have another attempt on goal as Bazunu gets down well to save from Diaby
Changes for both sides, Adam Idah replaces Ferguson and Oliver Giroud is off as Moussa Diaby replaces him
Matt Doherty gets booked for a tackle on Kolo Muani
Great chance for Ireland as Ogbene skips down the right wing, plays a ball to Knight but his effort is blocked, Ireland keep possession and almost see Ferguson through on goal but France have a free for offside, the noise still loud as the Irish want their voices felt.
It had been coming but a goal that was preventable, Ireland will be kicking themselves with that one
Pavard scores for France, it has been coming, Cullen tries to pass to Knight but in comes Pavard he wins it and shoots a rocket that hits the underneath the crossbar and it beats Bazunu
Second half is underway at the Aviva Stadium a big 45 minutes here
The referee blows for half time a good showing by Ireland so far, giving France a few scares
Two free kicks in a row for Ireland launching into the French box, pressure on the visitors as Ireland have a corner
Theo Hernandez flashes a shot that goes wide as it deflects off Griezmann
Doherty races toward the French box and wins a corner for his troubles
Griezmann floats in the corner, it meets the head of Giroud but Coleman gets a block on it going near the goal, then Molumby meets it, Bazuna smothers it as Mbappe was lurking
Mbappe burns down the left wing and Coleman and Ogbene double mark him as the ball goes out for a corner
Pavard hacks down Knight and that's a yellow
Ireland are being very well disciplined they know what to do
Jayson Molumby makes a great tackle to stop a France counter attack, gives a show of emotion to the crowd and they love it, the place is buzzing
Mbappe has a shot blocked by John Egan just outside the area and it comes to Bazunu to clear
France doing a lot of crossing and have made an error or two, Giroud and Kolo Muani look the target men as Ireland have kept their shape
It's easy to spot Griezmann out there anyway
John Egan also gets in the way of Giroud having a shot on goal as Bazunu left the front door open after leaving the house
Bazunu does well to force Kolo Muani out wide and France are unable to put home an early chance
No chances yet Ireland looking calm in possession, the biggest cheer going to Ogbene being fouled by Mbappe so far
AND WE ARE UNDERWAY
A great rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann great atmosphere at the Aviva, goosebump stuff
Here are the anthems
The teams are out and here comes Michael D to meet them teams
France toppled Ireland in the 2016 Euro's in their home nation and then overcame Ireland 2-0 in a friendly back in 2018
France have won four of the last five meetings between these sides, with the only occasion the Republic of Ireland have avoided defeat in that time coming in the 1-1 draw in Paris in November 2009 in the second leg of the play-off for a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup., the horror of that night but an interesting stat nonetheless
Ireland have kicked off with a victory in each of their last three UEFA EURO qualifying campaigns, since a 1-0 loss to Germany in Stuttgart in September 2006, is that a good sign we will have to wait as kick off is half an hour away
A 5-3-2 but we could see Jason Knight more advanced, for that reason I felt Will Smallbone would have started ahead of him based on the runs he did the last night he was active on the right wing so interesting what shape this team plays in both attack and defence, Ogbene has been known to play as a wing back at times so he can track back but will be play on the left of Ferguson or alongside
Ireland are unbeaten in their last 14 UEFA EURO home qualifiers, in a run stretching back to March 2011, having toppled Germany here in 2016, can the Boys In Green topple 2018 world champions and 2022 runners up, it will not be easy but the last two occasions here saw a goal determine the game
October 1981 was the last time an Ireland side defeated France, when Eoin Hand's men won 3-2 in a preliminary ahead of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, since then we have not had a pleasant history against the French, not because of just Mr henry, he scored the last time France played Ireland at the older version of this venue
Stats kindly provided by our resident Dundalk reporter Ciaran Callan!
France has won their last four qualifying matches (World Cup/EUROs) by an aggregate score of 16-0, kicking off this campaign with a 4-0 win against the Netherlands. They've not won five successive qualifiers without conceding since doing so between November 1981 and December 1984
Ireland have lost just three of their last 30 European Championship qualifying games (W14 D13) and is unbeaten in their last 14 on home soil (W8 D6), France have only lost three of their last 29 away qualifying matches for major tournaments (World Cup/Euros), winning 18 and drawing eight. They’ve won six of their last seven on the road (D1) since a 2-0 defeat to Turkey in 2016.
The Republic of Ireland are winless in seven games against France (D3 L4) since beating them 3-2 at Lansdowne Road in October 1981 in a World Cup qualifier, a first visit to Dublin since 2009 (don't mention the way leg), they won back in 2005 at the old Lansdowne road and in 2009 at Croke Park
France are captained by one of the biggest house hold names in world football in Killian Mbappe, the side who finished runners up to Lionel Messi's Argentina at the World Cup, come to Dublin aiming to blitz this qualification campaign, they line out in 4-3-3, Maignan is in goal, a back four of Pavard, Konate, Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, the midfield has Rabiot and Camavinga, Antoine Griezmann easily can slot behind Giroud and play as a CAM, up front Kolo Muani is on the right, Mbapppe on the left and Giroud through the middle.
Lets get stuck into the team news, Ireland look to be playing 5-3-2, as Seamus Coleman comes in to skipper the side at right wing back, starts too for John Egan, Josh Cullen, Jason Knight & Chiedozie Ogbene, the team in full, Bazunu, Collins, Egan, O’Shea; Coleman, Molumby, Cullen, Knight, Doherty; Ferguson, Ogbene
It is a big night at the Aviva Stadium, as Stephen Kenny will hope to begin qualification for Euro 2024 with a win over a strong France side, not an easy game but one that can lay a solid foundation for what comes ahead, my name is Diarmuid Kearney and I will update all of the action from the Aviva Stadium this evening