Republic of Ireland v France: Euro 2024 qualifying – live

Key events

Pre-match mailbag. “To paraphrase Shrewsbury Town super fan Derek Smalls, when you have fire and ice what you end up with is lukewarm water. I’m not sure it will be enough to stop Mbappe” – Artie Fufkin Niall Mullen

“A lot of Ireland supporters are decidedly pro-Kenny or anti-Kenny, but I’m still undecided. There is something unusual about his expansive, adventurous style of football – namely that, for whatever reason, it seems to work best against the better teams, like Portugal away (when Ronaldo punished us with two late goals, but we were otherwise superb), but we can struggle badly against the weaker teams (see Luxembourg at home – shudder). Here’s hoping we give France a game. If – and it’s a colossal if – we’re still in the game on the hour mark, expect to see a huge roar when James McClean comes on and gets his customary booking within 60 seconds” – Sean Dowling

“I imagine a lot of people are predicting a walkover for France tonight. Even when they are are having problems against Ireland, they generally find a way through. You have to hand it to them” – Chris Brock

Republic of Ireland make six changes to the starting XI named for the 3-2 friendly win over Latvia on Friday evening. Gavin Bazunu, John Egan, Josh Cullen, Jason Knight, Chiedozie Ogbene and captain Seamus Coleman replace Caoimhin Kelleher, Andrew Omobamidele, Alan Browne, Michael Obafemi and William Smallbone, who drop to the bench, and Callum O’Dowda, who is injured.

France make three changes to the XI that started the 4-0 Group B rout of the Netherlands last week. Benjamin Pavard, Eduardo Camavinga and Olivier Giroud replace Jules Koundé, Aurélien Tchouameni and Kingsley Coman, who all drop to the bench.

The teams

Republic of Ireland: Bazunu, Collins, Egan, O’Shea, Coleman, Molumby, Cullen, Doherty, Knight, Ogbene, Ferguson.
Subs: Kelleher, Travers, Omobamidele, Browne, Obafemi, Idah, McClean, Hendrick, Sykes, McGrath, Smallbone, Johnson.

France: Maignan, Pavard, Konate, Upamecano, Hernandez, Camavinga, Griezmann, Rabiot, Kolo Muani, Mbappe, Giroud.
Subs: Samba, Areola, Disasi, Koundé, Fofana, Tchouameni, M Thuram, Veretout, Todibo, K Thuram, Diaby, Coman.

Referee: Artur Dias (Portugal).

STARTING XI | Ireland v France

Captain Seamus Coleman comes into the side whilst there are also starts for Egan, Cullen, Knight & Ogbene for the first @EURO2024 qualifier of the campaign 🇮🇪

Get into the ground early. Be loud, be proud 💚 pic.twitter.com/dKTFZk0Mo6

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 27, 2023

Preamble

Given that France came within a penalty shootout of retaining the World Cup, are favourites to win Euro 2024, and on Friday night stuck four past the Netherlands, it’s fair to say the Republic of Ireland have a job on their hands tonight. “I think we’ll show – and we’ll need to show – fire and ice,” says Stephen Kenny, channelling his inner Robert Frost. All together now!

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

The elemental battle begins at 7.45pm BST. It’s on!

source: theguardian.com