Ireland 3-1 France
Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
Already-qualified France face already-relegated Ireland in the final game of the group stages.
Yet both teams have something to play for — a win will guarantee France top spot in the group, while how well or badly Ireland perform could impact their seeding in the playoffs.
It’s been a frustrating campaign for Eileen Gleeson’s side, with five losses from five, although they ended Friday’s defeat by England positively, with Julie-Ann Russell scoring their first goal since the group stages began in the dying moments of the game.
As with last week, goal difference will be important for the playoffs, so a narrow loss is not necessarily the worst result in the world.
They are four goals better off than Poland in a race for a slightly easier route to Euros qualification, with both sides on zero points.
So it’s important Eileen Gleeson’s team match or better the result of the Poles, who host Iceland this evening.
Kick-off for the fixture at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is 6pm.
Confirmation of today’s teams…
STARTING XI | Ireland v France
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) July 16, 2024
The team to start in Cork ☘️#COYGIG | #OUTBELIEVE pic.twitter.com/A1LoF78eQh
Le 𝑿𝑰 pour affronter l’Irlande 🇮🇪🔥
— Equipe de France Féminine (@equipedefranceF) July 16, 2024
Coup d’envoi à 19h00 sur @w9 📺#IRLFRA #FiersdetreBleues pic.twitter.com/wPf96gbYM8
3 mins – Nervy moment for the French goalkeeper.
She dwells on the ball and Russell nearly nicks it off her.
9 mins – Half-chance for France.
Dufour is played through after getting in behind Ziu, but the Irish player gets back well to make the recovery tackle.
11 mins – Cascarino puts in a dangerous cross from the left, but there is no one there to convert and it drifts out of play.
As expected, France have dominated possession and territory, but haven’t seriously threatened so far.
17 mins – Russell does well to win a header before Ziu’s effort from the edge of the area goes a few inches wide.
Moments later, Kiernan finds space in the area and Picaud gets down well to stop her shot.
Better from Ireland.
23 mins – Ireland try to play out from the back but McCabe passes it straight to Bacha.
Luckily for the hosts, the French star’s powerful strike from the edge of the area goes wide.
29 mins – Ireland have sporadically threatened on the counter.
The latest instance sees Russell in a promising position but she can’t quite find McCabe with her pass and the move breaks down.
31 mins – The lively Bacha is afforded too much space on the edge of the area.
Her shot goes narrowly over in what is probably the closest yet either side have come to scoring.
34 mins – A McCabe corner finds Hayes, whose header deflects into the arms of Picaud.
There are appeals for handball and a protest after the header hits off the arm of Lakrar but the referee ignores Irish players’ protests.
Judging by replays, France were lucky there.
Poland have gone 1-0 down against Iceland.
So that’s good new for Ireland in terms of their seeding in the playoffs.
Here’s a look at the closest Ireland have come to scoring…
🇮🇪 0-0 🇫🇷
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2024
Kiernan drew a decent save from Picaud with the first big chance of the game
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45 mins – Samoura concedes possession in a dangerous area.
But unfortunately, Kiernan can’t find an Irish player with her low cross.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 0-0 FRANCE
So the first half has come to an end.
It’s been a tight game and not great to watch.
But Ireland won’t mind, as they are containing France at the moment.
Eileen Gleeson will be the happier of the two managers at the break.
France, who made 11 changes going into this game, have only been able to create a couple of half-chances.
Ireland have also occasionally threatened and might have done better when finding themselves in promising positions in the final third on a few occasions.
Some first-half stats for you.
France had seven shots to Ireland’s two, though both sides have only managed one on target.
The visitors have also dominated possession with 66% as it stands.
The hosts have had six touches in their opponents’ area, while France have had eight.
Here’s a look at that penalty claim for Ireland…
Half-time: 🇮🇪 0-0 🇫🇷
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2024
All square in Cork at the break but should Ireland have had a penalty when the ball brushed the arm of Lakrar?
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The second half has begun
France make a change at the break.
Baltimore is replaced by Delphine Cascarino, who almost makes an immediate impact, forcing a good save by Brosnan from a tight angle after beating the Irish offside trap and latching on to an lofted through ball.
50 mins: O’Sullivan makes a really positive, purposeful run forward through midfield.
However, she can’t pick out the onrushing Kiernan with her through pass.
51 mins: Chance for Ireland! A McCabe long throw finds Ziu.
The midfielder sees a shot from the edge of the area saved by Picaud.
Russell can’t quite get a proper connection with the follow-up on the rebound and the goalkeeper gathers it comfortably.
55 mins: Ireland make their first change.
Littlejohn is replaced by Lily Agg, who will provide extra energy in midfield.
56 mins: Bècho wins a header from Bacha’s free kick.
But Brosnan gathers the high-hanging ball and collides with Henry as she does so.
The French player has to receive treatment after taking a knock but looks like she’ll be okay to continue.
58 mins: Russell wins the ball off the French defender and sends Kiernan through on goal.
The striker goes down as she bears in on goal with Samoura nearby, but the referee again waves away claims for a penalty.
61 mins: More French changes
De Almeida and Geyoro replace Lakrar, who has picked up a knock, and Cascarino.
IRELAND 1-0 FRANCE (O’SULLIVAN 66)
Out of nothing, Ireland are ahead.
Russell controls a long ball and lays it off to O’Sullivan.
The Cork-born midfielder’s shot is too powerful for Picaud, who gets a touch but can’t stop it finding the net.
70 mins: France nearly produce a quick response as an audacious shot from Bacha goes just wide.
The visitors have also made another change, with Diani on for Dufour.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
🇮🇪 1-0 🇫🇷
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2024
Denise O'Sullivan places a low shot from just outside the box into the corner of the net and Ireland lead!
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IRELAND 2-0 FRANCE (RUSSELL 76)
O’Sullivan chips a ball over the top that Russell latches onto.
She evades the attentions of De Almeida, before producing a superb finish into the corner of the net.
Ireland have been excellent this second half and this scoreline doesn’t feel undeserved or fortuitous.
IRELAND 2-1 FRANCE (BECHO 79)
France are back in it.
Cascarino and Diani link up well down the right before a low cross is met by Bècho, who scrambles it home.
83 mins: France go close to an equaliser.
Diani’s powerful shot from distance hits the outside of the post.
87 mins: Bacha finds herself in a promising position but overhits the cross.
Ireland make a second change, with Connolly replacing Kiernan.
IRELAND 3-1 FRANCE (PATTEN 90)
Connolly’s corner is met by Patten and goes in via a deflection off Geyoro.
That’s surely game over now.
There will be nine minutes of stoppage time.
Russell has been named player of the match by RTÉ.
Here’s a look at the second and third goals of the game…
🇮🇪 2-0 🇫🇷
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2024
Julie-Ann Russell doubles Ireland's lead with a superb finish
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🇮🇪 2-1 🇫🇷
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2024
France get one back through a scrappy finish from Becho
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FULL-TIME: IRELAND 3-1 FRANCE
So that’s that.
A brilliant win for Ireland.
It was a largely forgettable campaign, but beating the number two side in the world is a sensational way to end it.
France still top the group after England drew 0-0 with Sweden and it’s only their second loss in this group, having won four.
It was comfortably Ireland’s best performance of the campaign, with O’Sullivan, Russell and Ziu among the standout players, and they deserved it with France struggling to cause their defence undue problems.
There is the caveat that the visitors made 11 changes, which was arguably disrespectful, and probably spurred on the hosts to deliver an outstanding display.
Here’s a look at the goal that all but ensured Ireland’s win…
🇮🇪 3-1 🇫🇷
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2024
Three points surely in the bag as the ball goes in off Geyoro under pressure from Anna Patten#WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/4XlBKpw7Bu
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here and we’ll have plenty more reaction to follow.
