M. Thuram enters the game and replaces R. Kolo Muani.
90' +2
The Ireland players are not happy with the referee as they think Maignan has caught the ball while out of play, but the linesman says the ball stayed on the pitch. France are now trying to run the clock down.
Thuram comes on for Kolo Muani to help France see this game through.
90'
J. Egan gets yellow.
Egan also receives a booking after a collision in the box during a corner.
There will be a minimum of three additional minutes.
88'
A. Idah gets yellow.
Idah now goes into the referee's book after a poor challenge in his own half.
Camavinga spots the Ireland defence sleeping and plays a lofted pass to Mbappe. The forward tries to lob Bazunu with a first-time effort, but misses the target.
86'
M. Obafemi enters the game and replaces J. Molumby.
Obafemi comes on for Molumby as Ireland desperately look to rescue a point.
83'
Ireland are now enjoying a lot more of the ball and the fans in the stadium are doing their best to spur their side on for an equaliser.
81'
J. Koundé enters the game and replaces B. Pavard.
A. Tchouaméni enters the game and replaces A. Rabiot.
Tchouameni comes on for Rabiot in midfield for France.
Kounde replaces Pavard to help defend the fresh legs of the Ireland attack.
80'
The substitutions from Ireland are helping them as the game is a lot more open now. France are sensing more danger as they prepare a few changes themselves.
78'
A. Browne enters the game and replaces D. O'Shea.
O'Shea makes way for Browne as Ireland search for a goal.
Minute
Description
77'
J. McClean enters the game and replaces M. Doherty.
J. Molumby gets yellow.
M. Johnston enters the game and replaces J. Knight.
Molumby is not happy with his team-mates after he is forced into a foul to stop Camavinga in a dangerous position. The referee shows him a yellow card for the foul.
Johnston comes on for Knight in the Ireland attack.
McClean replaces Doherty to add more pace on the left side of the pitch.
73'
Mbappe and Hernandez misread each other as Coleman intercepts a pass from the France captain. Ireland continue to defend well but they need to start attacking more.
71'
France are still attacking patiently but are committing more bodies forward to try and score a second goal to secure the win.
67'
Knight almost finds himself through on goal after a brilliant pass from Coleman, but Maignan gets to the ball before the Irish attacker.
65'
M. Doherty gets yellow.
A. Idah enters the game and replaces E. Ferguson.
M. Diaby enters the game and replaces O. Giroud.
Doherty is shown a yellow card for a poor challenge outside the penalty area.
Diaby replaces Giroud as France's first change of the day.
Idah comes on for Ferguson as Ireland push for an equaliser.
63'
Hernandez sends a deep cross toward Griezmann, but the header from the attacker goes straight to the opposition. The goal has not made a difference to the quality of France's attacking play.
61'
Konate draws an important foul against Ferguson as the striker almost creates a scoring opportunity after taking the ball down on his chest.
59'
The ball gets stuck under the feet of Mbappe as he tries to drive through the middle of the Ireland defence. The hosts need to give Ogbene and Ferguson more help if they want to get an equaliser.
57'
France are now a lot more comfortable in possession as they move the ball around slowly to try and kill the atmosphere in the stadium. Ireland are not giving up as they hold a slightly higher line.
55'
Griezmann shoots from a free-kick just outside the box, but he fails to beat the Ireland wall with his attempt.
52'
Ireland try to reply quickly as Cullen sends in a corner from the right side, but France deal with the cross and look to build an attack.
50'
B. Pavard has scored a goal for France!
WHAT A GOAL!! 1-0 FRANCE!! PAVARD!! Pavard scores a stunning goal to give France the lead early in this second half! Cullen gives the ball away on the edge of the box to Pavard and the defender strikes the ball with power, leaving Bazunu no chance in goal.
48'
The second period is starting in a very similar way to how the first half was played. France's passing is very poor in the attacking third while Ogbene is causing all sorts of problems for Hernandez on the right wing.
46'
Ferguson gets the second half underway for Ireland!
45'
HALF-TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 0-0 FRANCE
44'
Both sides are attacking with more intent now as they look to try and take a lead into the half-time break. France are still far too sloppy in the final third, especially Rabiot.
42'
Ogbene shows great determination to keep the ball in play and win a corner off Rabiot. Cullen comes over the take the set-piece, but it leads to nothing for Ireland.
40'
Cullen sends a dangerous cross into the box from a free-kick, but the ball goes through everyone before Kolo Muani drives away with it.
38'
Pavard sends in a cross from the right wing and Griezmann tries to find the back of the net from a difficult angle, but his header goes past the front post.
36'
The away side are trying to play more direct now as they look to find Giroud and Rabiot with long balls into the box. Ireland are still defending with a lot of bodies in the area, helping them deal with the lofted passes.
34'
France are trying to attack down the wider areas before either sending in a cross or cutting inside and shooting, but Ireland are finding it very easy to defend like this.
32'
Hernandez tries his luck from distance but drags his effort into the path of Griezmann, who deflects the ball behind for a goal kick. France are feeling very frustrated in the final third.
28'
Despite not having a shot so far themselves, Ireland are limiting France at the other end too. This match is very much in the balance due to the threat of the home side on the break.
26'
Doherty drives past Kolo Muani and then Pavard before winning a corner as his cross is turned behind by Konate. Ireland try to work a short corner but fail to get a cross into the box.
24'
Griezmann takes an out-swinging corner for France and Giroud wins the initial header. The ball then pinballs around the six-yard box before Bazunu jumps onto it.
22'
B. Pavard gets yellow.
Pavard receives the first yellow card of the game after fouling Knight to stop a dangerous counter from Ireland.
20'
Molumby puts in a sliding challenge to tackle Rabiot and stop a counter-attack from France. He then tells the crowd to make more noise to help Ireland in this important opening game.
18'
Cullen whips the ball into the middle of the crowded penalty area, but Giroud wins the header to clear the danger away for France.
17'
Ogbene runs in behind Hernandez and draws a foul in a good position for Ireland on the right side of the pitch.
15'
Ireland are holding their ground defensively and forcing mistakes from the French players. The hosts are however struggling to play out from the back now against the high line of France.
13'
Kolo Muani beats Doherty on the right wing before sending in a dangerous cross toward Mbappe, but Molumby heads the ball away.
11'
France are starting to find their feet in this game and control possession. They are still looking to play at their own tempo and not rush for an opener.
7'
France are being very patient with their build-up play. They are not taking many risks going forward, making it challenging to break Ireland down.
5'
Ireland are passing the ball around well and looking to play forward whenever they can. Ferguson is also doing a good job to hold the ball up for his side.
3'
The atmosphere inside the stadium is incredible. The home fans are cheering on every pass, tackle, and dribble. France are doing well to keep their composure to begin this match.
1'
France get the game underway at the Aviva Stadium!
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the European Championship qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and France.
This is Ireland’s first match of the group and they come into it in good form after beating Latvia 3-2 with a heavily rotated side. Stephen Kenny’s team have won back-to-back internationals for the first time since October 2021 and 18-year-old Evan Ferguson is leading the headlines after scoring on his first start last time out. With the Netherlands and Greece also in this group, the Boys in Green will want a positive result in front of their home fans today.
France flexed their muscles in their opening game as they thrashed the Netherlands 4-0. New captain Kylian Mbappe scored twice and assisted Antoine Griezmann on their way to victory. The French team have had to deal with negative press after Didier Deschamps’ choice to give the armband to his star forward, but the players seem to be focused on bouncing back from their World Cup final heartbreak.
Republic of Ireland (3-4-3): Gavin Bazunu; Nathan Collins, John Egan, Dara O’Shea; Seamus Coleman, Jayson Molumby, Josh Cullen, Matt Doherty; Jason Knight, Evan Ferguson, Chiedozie Ogbene.
SUBS: Caoimhin Kelleher, Mark Travers, Andrew Omobamidele, Alan Browne, Michael Obafemi, Adam Idah, James McClean, Jeff Hendrick, Mark Sykes, Jamie McGrath, William Smallbone, Mikey Johnstone.
France (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Benjamin Pavard, Ibrahima Konate, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Eduardo Camavinga, Adrien Rabiot; Randal Kolo Muani, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe; Olivier Giroud.
SUBS: Brice Samba, Alphonse Areola, Axel Disasi, Jules Kounde, Youssouf Fofana, Aurelien Tchouameni, Marcus Thuram, Jordan Vertout, Jean-Clair Todibo, Khephren Thuram, Moussa Diaby, Kingsley Coman.
The players are making their way out of the tunnel and onto the pitch!
The longer the game stays goalless, the happier Ireland will be. France will not want to drop points tonight and will risk more going forward as the minutes tick by. Ireland seem happy enough to sit deep and look for a counter-attack, but they will need to give Ferguson and Ogbene more help in the attack.
France will be pleased with the three points despite a poor performance as they sit of the top of Group B. Ireland can leave with their heads held high, and many other teams in the group will now know of the threat they pose. Their next game will be against Greece in June while France travel to Gibraltar.
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