The Republic of Ireland’s hopes of qualification for Euro 2024 took another blow in Paris this evening as goals from Aurélien Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram made it five games unbeaten for Les Blues.

Never a happy hunting ground for the Boys in Green, they have failed to record a win against the French since 1981 away from home, the hosts making it nine games unbeaten against the Irish.

France may not have been at top gear but did enough to take the result, they were toying with Ireland for large parts and a wonder strike by Tchouameni and a close range effort rifled high into the net by Thurman were both impossible tasks to defend. 

In terms of chance creation, there was hardly anything coming, two shots on target, Chiedozie Ogbene who served as the main outlet going forward had a brilliant header denied by MIke Maignan with an even better save. Ireland attacked well and certainly put in a great performance but lacked the killer spark to trouble the hosts.

Festy Ebosele did make a late cameo appearance off the bench for his first Senior Cap, attention now turns to Sunday’s tie with the Netherlands. The Oranje Machine won their tie with Greece this evening and sit on six points, it will be a must win tie on Sunday to stay in the race.

With Ireland in desperate need of a result they started on the front foot, almost immediately from the kick-off, Adrien Rabiot took down Chiedozie Ogbene and the Boys in Green had an early free-kick. Alan Brown’es floated delivery was easily dealt with however.

France found their groove and racing down the right wing, Ousmane Dembele used his pace before his quick feet allowed him to cut back inside and play Rabiot with a direct pass, the midfielder shooting from range right into the chest of Gavin Bazunu.

This began a real strong spell for France asking questions of the Irish defence, in the fifth minute a corner almost had a calamitous result. Adam Idah and Bazunu with an error in communication, saw Idah flick the ball away from the onrushing keeper, the ball falling for Kylian Mbappe, however the effort was blazed over, a sigh of relief for the visitors. 

Fance started to dominate possession and really play in the Irish half, the visiting rearguard however was holding shape nicely to keep them limited in front of the target. Antonie Griezmann delivered a dangerous curling free-kick on the left wing that almost brought the opening goal after the quarter of an hour mark.

Shane Duffy managed to swing a leg at it to try to clear it away but the contact was minute and needed a strong reaction save from Bazunu with the ball cannoning off the keeper's chest and being booted away.

Ogbene was a main instrument down the right wing, using his pace to try to cause Lucas and Theo Hernandez issues and exploit a gap, he also was doing a similar role to being in Dublin, racing back in order to defend. A chance developed as Nathan Collins raced forward but Ogebene delayed the pass for too long and France killed the chance.

Having knocked on the door for most of the half, the French goal was coming and the delivery by Aurélien Tchouameni was out of this world. Collins heading away a ball into the area, it was poor and fell to the feet of Mbappe, he played it outside the area for Tchouameni, who approached the ball and struck a wonderful curling shot that soared past the outstretched frame of Bazunu and into the right hand top corner.

An already tough task got even more tricky following that goal. Ogbene was looking like the main output but the French resistance at the back was giving them little. Ireland looked to create very little as the half wore on outside of Ogbene racing from the midfield.

Mbappe believed he doubled Les Blues lead 39 minutes in, Marcus Thuram gathering a long ball from Tchouameni, he rolled it back for Mbappe to shoot outside the area, it beat Bazunu however the flag was up as Thuram was miles offside in the build, no need for any VAR lines.

Going forward for the remainder of the half, Ireland looked flat, Idah was struggling up front and service was limited, Ogbene being the main outlet in the attack but France constantly had numbers back.

Being behind 1-0 at the break was not a bad scoreline, that changed three minutes into the second half. Mbappe went down appealing for a penalty but France were told to play on, they recycled well and Theo Hernadez delivered a cross on the field that Mbappe looked to direct goalwards.

John Egan put his body on the line to block it down, however the effort fell kindly for Thuram who shot high to the roof of the Irish net, no chance for Bazunu. His first Senior International goal. 

Ireland had a big chance to make it a one goal game in the 52nd minute, Idah leading the counter attack well, he turned back outside and played through James McClean a half time substitute down the left flank. 

McClean with an inch perfect deep cross aimed for Ogbene at the back post, the Irish forward headed well but the outstretched hand of Mike Maignan denied him. Another world class stop by the French goalkeeper to thwart the Boys in Green.

Shortly before the hour mark Mbappe had two chances to put the game to bed, the first Theo Hernandez again the architect down the left wing crossed toward the six yard box but the dangerous attacker failed to get a touch. The second saw the striker racing straight through toward the Irish goal, the effort going right and wide of the onrushing Bazunu, the lineman's raised flag spare his blushes.

Tchouameni looked to net a brace of long shots in the 67th minute, this one much further out that his opener, Bazunu could see it all the way and stretch to get his fingertips on the ball and be able to push it clear.

Duffy had a header in the dying minutes from a McClean free, saved by the French net minder, the tempo going out of the tie as France deserved the win. Stephen Kenny’s men can hold their heads up high ahead of Sunday’s fixture.