Ireland face a crunch Euro 2024 qualifying tie tonight as they face the might of the French in Paris.
This is leg one of a vital double header with a result in both games ideally needed to keep any faint flicker of qualification alive.
However the boys in green suffered a seismic blow this week when it was announced that talismanic striker Evan Ferguson would miss the game with injury.
With that news, an extremely difficult task turned to nigh-on impossible, but in a one-off match you never know.
After all, it was a magnificent late save by French keeper Mike Maignon from a Nathan Collins header that prevented Ireland taking a point from the home fixture back in March.
It is likely that Adam Idah will lead the Irish line with Chiedozie Ogbene joining him in attack. Aaron Connolly and Will Keane have enjoyed a fine start to the season and both will be champing at the bit to get involved tonight.
Kick-off in Paris is at 7:45 tonight with the match being shown live on RTE2 television.
Sunday is huge
FT | Plenty of effort but no reward as we fall to defeat in Paris.
— Ireland Football (@IrelandFootball) September 7, 2023
We go again for a massive game in Dublin on Sunday pic.twitter.com/VnNJB30OZB
FULL-TIME: France 2-0 Ireland
Kingsley Coman blasts a shot over from close range, and that's the final action.
The scoreline flatter the Irish as France were utterly dominant in that second-half. The Dutch game on Sunday is huge for Ireland boss Stephen Kenny.
Ireland CHANCE!
(87 mins) James McClean whips in a free-kick following a foul on substitute debutant Festy Ebosele. The ball finds the head of Shane Duffy but it easily collected by Maignan in the French goal.
Ireland subsitution
Will Keane, who only came on at half-time is subbed off with an injury. Aaron Connolly comes on in his place.
CHANCE!
(73 mins) John Egan makes a mess of a clearance and it lands at the feet of Thuram who plays in Griezemann but his effort is blocked by Collins. The resulting corner is cleared.
CHANCE!
(71 mins) Dembele cuts in from the edge of the box and smashes the ball goalwards. It ricochets off the upright and goes out for a goal-kick.
More Irish substitutions
Molumby and Idah are off and are replaced by Will Keane and Dara O'Shea.
France exerting pressure
(65 mins) Ireland will have to weather this most recent French storm as they search for a third.
CHANCE!
Hernandez crosses the ball low and hard but Mbappe fails to latch on. It could so easily have been 3-0 to the hosts.
Ireland CHANCE!
(52 mins) Ireland break forward with Knight and the ball finds Adam Idah, he does admirably to keep possession and lays it off to James McClean. The Derryman crosses the ball to Ogbene who's header is saved by Maignan. Ireland's best chance of the night so far.
GOAL! France 2-0 Ireland
Marcus Thuram, who came on as Giroud's replacement, finds the net after a scramble in the penalty area. Ireland's hopes of Euro 2024 qualification are slipping away by the second.
Ireland subtitution: Stevens OFF - McClean ON
Enda Stevens is replaced by James McClean.
HALF-TIME: France 1-0 Ireland
Aurélien Tchouaméni's excellent finish is all that seperates the sides at the break.
It's a huge 45 minutes coming up for both Ireland and Stephen Kenny.
The balls in the back of the Irish net - but it's offside!
Ireland get away with it as Mbappe goes far too early and fires the ball into the back of the net. The linesman has his flag up straight away and replays show the PSG striker was a mile offside.
CHANCE!
(37 mins) Upamecano rises well but heads the ball wide from a French corner. Nathan Collins looks to have done just enough to put him off.
Giroud subsituted due to injury
(25 mins) Olivier Giroud initially went down within the first few minutes but looked to have recovered. Moments ago he went down in the box and has stayed on the turf. France's all-time record scorer has gone off injured to be replaced by Marcus Thuram
GOAL!! France 1-0 Ireland
Aurélien Tchouaméni scores from outside the box with a truly wonderful finish. The ball finds Mbappe after it was headed clear by Nathan Collins. He lays it off to the Real Madrid man who picks his spot and finds the back of the net. What a superb strike.
A little harsh on Ireland given their decent defensive start.
CHANCE!
Greizemann whips a vicious ball in from a free-kick, it avoids any Irish legs and ricochets off Bazunu to safety.
Better from the boys in green
(13 mins) Ogbene manages to break free of the French defense and sends a blade-cutting cross in. Unfortunately though it's too close to Maignan in the french goal.
France dominating possession
The French are completing dominating possession so far. Ireland have hardly had a touch.
CHANCE!
Ireland get away with it early doors as Mbappe shoots over from a corner. There's 5 minutes gone so far.
Kick-off!
The action in Paris is underway. Ireland start positively and move the ball forward immediately.
The Parc des Princes is filling up
Parc des Princes, Paris. pic.twitter.com/HQs0dBXHok
— Matthieu / MoahRikunel (@MoahRikunelOff) September 7, 2023
Ireland fans getting into the spirit
The Ireland side is in!
| France v Ireland
— Ireland Football (@IrelandFootball) September 7, 2023
Ogbene, Duffy, Stevens, Browne & Knight all come into the starting line-up for tonight's @EURO2024 qualifier at the Parc des Princes
Kick-off at 7.45pm (8.45pm local) with 1700+ Ireland fans in the stadium pic.twitter.com/wRSK06va9f
