Republic of Ireland 0-1 France: Euro 2024 qualifying – as it happened (2024)

No word from Stephen Kenny on Viaplay, but our report will be up soon. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!

The exceptional Chiedozie Ogbene talks to Viaplay Sport. “There are a lot of positives to take from today … we had a lot of chances to get a point … I’m just devastated for the guys … we gave everything out there … we trained to win this game and it was unfortunate we didn’t get a result … we know what kind of qualities they possessed, we all made sacrifices … we all worked really hard … we were unfortunate to give away such a goal … beaten by a spectacular shot from long distance, what can you do? … we gave a good account of ourselves … we matched one of the best teams in the world … the future is bright … we’re very positive … we hope we can rectify it in the away game.”

The other game in Group B finished Netherlands 3-0 Gibraltar. Nathan Ake added to Memphis Depay’s first-half strike with goals in the 50th and 82nd minute.

When the sting of defeat subsides, Ireland will take heart from that performance against the number-three side in the world. France were the better side over the piece, but could only break through with a Benjamin Pavard screamer that came from an unforced mistake, and Mike Maignan needed to claw Nathan Collins’ header out of the top bin to deny Ireland a late, late equaliser. France deserved their win, but only just, and a resilient, competitive Irish team very nearly denied them all three points. Plenty for Stephen Kenny to build on, not least the display of Chiedozie Ogbene, who gave Theo Hernandez a torrid time all evening. Group B promises to be a world of fun.

Ireland press forward in the desperate style, but France hold firm. The whistle goes. France relieved, Ireland frustrated. The underdogs played extremely well, but Benjamin Pavard’s superstrike – capitalising on Josh Cullen’s mistake – was the difference. The small margins of professional sport.

90 min +2: Kolo Muani makes way for Marcus Thuram.

90 min +1: Hernandez makes a hash of dealing with a long 1980s style punt down the middle. He nearly slices wildly out for a goal kick, but Maignan claims on the byline. Only just, though. Inches in that, and France get the benefit of the decision.

90 min: Egan then goes into the book for skittling Tchouameni as he attempts to get to the rebound. There will be three added minutes.

89 min: Ogbene wins a corner down the right. Cullen curls it in. A header crashes towards goal! It’s from a disoriented Kounde! Maignan makes an outstanding save, tipping over. Then from the second corner, an even better save! Cullen hits long. Collins rises and plants a header towards the top left. It’s heading in, but Maignan extends fully to claw it out of the corner! Wow!

87 min: Konate strides down the middle only to be tugged back by Idah, who goes into the book. From the resulting free kick, Camavinga pings a long pass down the inside-left channel for Mbappe, who attempts a spectacular volley from the edge of the box. The ball just about stays inside the stadium. Mbappe smiles ruefully.

86 min: Obafemi comes on for Molumby.

85 min: Ogbene crosses from the right. The ball slaps Hernandez on his elbow, but it was stuck right by his body and it’s not a penalty. Browne then whistles a diagonal right-to-left shot through a crowded box and wide left. Any deflection and that was surely pinballing in!

84 min: Idah drives down the left before sliding a clever diagonal pass infield for McClean, who zips into the French box at full tilt. His powerful shot is deflected wide left of the goal. Nothing comes of the resulting corner, but the crowd sense there’s something here for Ireland. A huge roar!

82 min: The livewire Ogbene makes a nuisance of himself down the inside-right channel, the ball breaking to Molumby who cracks a shot towards the near post. It’s deflected out for a corner, from which nothing comes, but that was fine work by Ireland’s two best performers this evening.

81 min: A double change for France now. Pavard and Rabiot make way for Kounde and Tchouameni.

79 min: Before the resulting free kick, Ireland make a triple change, replacing O’Shea, Doherty and Knight with Browne, McClean and Johnson. Nothing comes of the set piece.

77 min: An Irish attack breaks down. Rabiot strides down the middle, rolling towards Diaby to his right. Diaby then slides Kolo Muani into the box. He’s one on one, but shoots timidly. Ireland look to counter, but Molumby carelessly loses control then fouls Camavinga to earn himself a booking. That should have been 0-2.

75 min: Rabiot is afforded way too much time and space 25 yards from Ireland’s goal. He pearls a low drive towards the bottom-right corner. Bazunu makes his second full-length save of the match. Fine strike with goalkeeping to match.

73 min: It’s all gone a bit scrappy. On the touchline, Didier Deschamps looks a little concerned and issues some tactical advice. Well, he’s shouting and waving his arms around, that much we know.

71 min: Speaking of VAR, a replay shows Molumby taking a handful of Mbappe’s shirt in the penalty box back there. Mbappe then went down preposterously easily, but you’ve seen penalties given for less. That wasn’t the smartest idea of Molumby’s.

69 min: Rabiot robs Knight 30 yards from the Ireland goal and shuttles the ball across to Diaby, who cuts in from the right and curls powerfully towards the bottom left. Bazunu parries well and Ireland mop up the mess. A fair chance VAR might have shown an interest in Rabiot’s challenge had that gone in.

68 min: Molumby nearly releases Knight down the inside-right channel with a clever pass. Just a bit too much weight on it. Earlier in the move, Doherty slid in late on Konate, and was fortunate that the referee saw nothing in it. On a booking, he'll want to be more careful.

66 min: The free kick’s sent towards Mbappe, who tumbles in the box and wants a penalty kick for a shirt tug. Neither referee nor VAR shows any interest in awarding one.

65 min: Doherty flips Kolo Muani into the air, just to the right of the Ireland D. A free kick and a booking. Before the free kick can be taken, France replace Giroud with Diaby, then Ireland swap out Ferguson for Idah.

63 min: Hernandez is sent scampering down the left by Upamecano. He loops a cross towards Griezmann, just to the right of the D. Griezmann has time to take the ball down and shoot, but opts to head towards Kolo Muani and Mbappe in the middle of a crowded box instead. Wrong choice. Ireland clear.

61 min: Ferguson seems to get the better of Konate under a high ball, the defender slipping, the striker preparing to break into the box. But the whistle goes generously to get the France defender out of bother.

60 min: The home fans are still giving it plenty, pushing their team on in search of an equaliser. A great atmosphere at the Aviva tonight. “Pavard doesn’t score many goals for the national team, but when he does, they linger in the memory,” writes Kári Tulinius. “I think everyone reading this can recall his first goal, against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, and his second, a superb volley against Sweden in 2020, was a beauty too. This one is a fitting third.”

58 min: … so having said that, the ever-troublesome Ogbene bursts down the right, sashays infield, then rolls across for Knight, who slaps a shot into Griezmann. Then there’s some bagatelle, and the ball nearly breaks down the middle for Ferguson. But out comes Maignan to smother, and the young striker would have been offside anyway.

57 min: France have more of a spring in their step now, a dip in their hip and a glide in their stride. First to everything right now.

55 min: Cullen, culpable for the goal, clears the corner. Such a shame about the error, because otherwise he’s been impressive this evening. The slim margins when you’re playing one of the best teams in the world, huh.

54 min: Griezmann takes, and looks to have curled over the wall and towards the top right. That’s heading in, but somehow Ferguson rises from the wall at the very last second to eyebrow it out for a corner.

53 min: Rabiot finds Giroud at the right-hand edge of the Ireland D. He’s clattered from behind by Egan, and this is a free kick in a very dangerous position. Griezmann and Mbappe stand over it, all eyes lit up.

52 min: Knight attempts to reply immediately, speculating from distance. The ball’s deflected out for a corner, from which nothing comes … but that’s a spirited response to the hammer blow of the goal.

Ireland have been so disciplined, but one simple mistake proves costly. Cullen is on the edge of his own D. He passes to the left for Knight, but Pavard has read the poorly delivered ball. He intercepts, takes a touch, and fires an unstoppable riser towards the top left, off the underside of the bar, and in. Bazunu had no chance whatsoever! What a strike.

49 min: Cullen’s delivery is not great and cleared by first man Rabiot.

48 min: Ogbene has caused Hernandez problems all match down the right wing, and once again he draws a clumsy foul from his opponent. Everyone piles info the French box. Cullen to swing it in.

46 min: Molumby and Griezmann slide in to complete for a loose ball. Neither looked particularly in control, so it’s just as well that the referee waves play on, and no significant contact was made.

Ireland get the second half underway. No changes.

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In the other match in Group C, the Netherlands are leading Gibraltar 1-0 at the break. Memphis Depay with the only goal on 23 minutes.

No added time. Off everyone trots. Mbappe and Coleman take turns to moan to the referee, but on balance it’ll be Ireland who are happier with the first 45.

44 min: Rabiot attempts to find Hernandez down the left with a forensic pass. Goal kick.