European Cup Qualifier
07.09.2023 at 19:45 - Parc des Princes, Paris
Republic of Ireland are set for the fourth fixture of their UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying campaign as they travel to Paris to take on France.
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6th Sep 2023
Ireland will take on the FIFA 2022 World Cup finalists at the Parc des Princes on Thursday, September 7, with kick-off at 7.45pm (8.45pm local time).
Stephen Kenny's side will be looking to avoid two defeats against the opposition after their narrow 1-0 defeat against France in March, as Mike Maignon denied Nathan Collins' brilliant header in the final moments.
Ireland are set to be backed by a strong 1700+ travelling support as they hold hope of what would be a famous result and a much-needed one in the quest to qualify for UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany next year.
Match Details
Competition: UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifying
Fixture: France v Republic of Ireland
Date: Thursday, September 7
Kick-off: 7.45pm (8.45pm local time)
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
TV: RTE
Match Officials
Referee: Urs Schnyder (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Marco Zürcher (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Zürcher (SUI)
Fourth Official: Sven Wolfensberger (SUI)
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Lukas Fähndrich (SUI)
Team News
Evan Ferguson has been ruled out of both matches against France and the Netherlands following assessment from the Ireland medical team and has returned home.
Matt Doherty is suspended for the France fixture but will be available for the Netherlands match on Sunday. John Egan, who suffered a knock whilst in action for Sheffield United at the weekend, has been confirmed fit to play at the MD-1 press conference by Stephen Kenny whilst Caoimhin Kelleher sat out the final training session before the match.
Manager Stephen Kenny | MD-1 v France - Press Conference
"I don't look at it like that (in terms of being unlucky). I'm very privileged to manage the Ireland team, I always have been. We're obviously missing a number of players, five attacking players in particular, Michael Obafemi, Evan Ferguson, Callum Robinson, Troy Parrott and Mikey Johnston.
"But, it gives other players the opportunity to play and that must be embraced. Over the last few years, we've given 18 players their debut and because of that, we've got an extended pool of players to pick from and one of them can now step up.
"We're excited about the game, some people don't give us much of a chance but we've got a firm belief in ourselves and we give ourselves every chance."
Captain John Egan | MD-1 v France - Press Conference
"We know they're a top team but we've got to embrace these games.
"I think we embraced it in Dublin, we put in a really good performance that we can take a lot of confidence from. I think we deserved a draw that night, only for their keeper's world-class save at the end, we might have got that.
"As defenders, as players, as a squad we have to embrace it, it's one of the toughest games in professional football, against France, and we have to perform to our maximum to get a result but we've a lot of belief in ourselves as a squad.
"We are always brilliantly prepared for games, we have to make sure we go out and perform to the best of our ability."
Match Facts - France v Republic of Ireland
- France are unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Republic of Ireland (W5 D3) since losing 3-2 in a World Cup qualifier in October 1981.
- Republic of Ireland are winless in their last seven away games against France (D3 L4) since a 2-0 win in a friendly in May 1937 (as FAI) with goals from Jackie Brown and Davy Jordan.
- France have lost just one of their last 23 European Championship qualifying matches (W18 D4), a 2-0 away defeat at Turkey in June 2019. Their last home defeat was against Belarus in September 2010, winning nine and drawing two on home soil since.
- Following their 3-0 win over Gibraltar in June, Republic of Ireland are looking for consecutive wins in competitive internationals for the first time since March 2019.
- Only Austria (76) have had more in this European Championship qualifying campaign than France (74), with Les Bleus having 51 shots from inside the box, the most of any nation.
- Excluding play-offs, each of Republic of Ireland's last nine victories in European Championship qualifying have been against teams beginning with 'G' (5 v Gibraltar, 3 v Georgia, 1 v Germany). They're winless in their last nine against nations beginning with any other letter, since beating Armenia 2-1 in 2011.
- Kylian Mbappé has been involved in 15 goals in his last 10 starts for France (12 goals, 3 assists), although he is yet to score in two appearances against the Republic of Ireland, having six shots without success.
Republic of Ireland Squad - France
Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Stoke City, on loan from AFC Bournemouth).
Defenders: Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Enda Stevens (Stoke City), Ryan Manning (Southampton), James McClean (Wrexham), Shane Duffy (Norwich City), John Egan (Sheffield United), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Burnley), Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen).
Forwards: Adam Idah (Norwich City), Will Keane (Preston North End), Aaron Connolly (Hull City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town).
UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifying - Fixtures
07/09 - France v Republic of Ireland, Parc des Princes, 7.45pm (8.45pm local)
10/09 - Republic of Ireland v Netherlands, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm
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