Benjamin Pavard scored a screamer to help France produce one of the narrow football scores of the weekend in Euro 2024 qualifying. Pavard’s missile off the crossbar five minutes after halftime proved vital in a game of immense drama but few chances, and one in which Ireland matched their illustrious guests throughout. Manager Stephen Kenny had pledged that Ireland will play their own game in their Euro 2024 qualifying opening, and he kept his word, with Ireland restraining their hosts while also appearing menacing.
Ireland came closest to beating Mike Maignan in the dying moments when Nathan Collins’ header was snatched away at full stretch by the AC Milan goalkeeper, leaving the Aviva Stadium fans wondering what could have been. But Kenny and his players will take heart from how close they came to defeating a team that was just three months ago a penalty shoot-out away from winning the World Cup – and will surely fancy their chances of winning the double-header against Greece and Gibraltar in June.
Last Friday, France led the Netherlands 3-0 after 21 minutes, but there was little sign of a repeat performance at the Aviva Stadium, with Ireland determined to match their tempo at every step and keep them at bay. Antoine Griezmann headed France’s greatest chance far wide of the near post in a first session in which Ireland found themselves in threatening positions and forced a series of corners without finding the perfect delivery, but neither team could register a single effort on goal.
The game would be decided by a strike from nowhere five minutes after the break, courtesy of what had appeared to be France’s forgotten man. Didier Deschamps demoted Pavard following France’s first World Cup game last year, and he was making his first start in nine at the Aviva Stadium. No one expected him to come in on a poor Josh Cullen ball, take a touch, and slam in the first goal past a helpless Gavin Bazunu, despite his want to impress. Nevertheless, having paid a high price for a single break in concentration, France promised to throw on further pressure. Bazunu denied substitute Moussa Diaby at full stretch before palming aside a long-range effort from Adrien Rabiot.
Ireland had a chance even though they were still a goal down. Collins felt he’d delivered it in the final minute of normal time, when he met Cullen’s corner with a thunderous header into the top corner. Maignan, on the other hand, had other plans and produced a save as important – and stunning – as Pavard’s goal to keep France ahead and eventually lead them to victory.
“Overall, [Josh Cullen] performed admirably. Typically, his pass completion rate is very high; he does not give the ball away and primarily makes short passes. He doesn’t frequently pass long, but he can hit them long on occasion. He has it in his arsenal. Yet, short passes are a component of his game,” the Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny said. “He ties the play together and serves a key role for the team, therefore it was typical of him to give it away. He’s been a rock for us, and I’m incredibly proud of him. It’s just another one of those things.”
“To win a game against a team of such caliber, we need to create a few chances. We must carry as much of a threat as possible, rather than just protect. We attempted to exert control over facets of the game and to be on the cutting edge of playing and creating opportunities,” he added. “We would have liked to have had a bigger lead than we had in the first half, but it’s not simple. We’ve seen the last 20 games of France, and I’ve never seen Kylian, whom I voted as the finest player in the world, have such a quiet night. I’ve never seen it before.”
The Republic of Ireland’s next match is on Friday, June 16, when they travel to Greece for a Euro 2024 qualifier, which begins at 7.45 p.m. Stephen Kenny’s team will then play Gibraltar on Monday, June 19 at 7.45 p.m. France’s next match is on Friday, June 16, when they travel to Gibraltar for a Euro 2024 qualifier, which kicks off at 7.45 p.m. Didier Deschamps’ team then hosts Greece on Monday, June 19 at 7.45 p.m.
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