EURO 2024 QUALIFYING GROUP B
Republic of Ireland v France, Aviva Stadium, Monday, 7.45pm.
TV
Live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm.
RADIO
Live commentary on RTÉ2fm, with coverage starting on Game On from 6pm.
ONLINE
Live tracker on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Updates and match footage on RTÉ Soccer Twitter and RTÉ Sport Facebook.
WEATHER
A mild spring day is in store for Monday, with sunny spells throughout but becoming overcast as kick-off time approaches in Dublin. Light winds with a 9c to 11c temperature.
THE TOUGHEST POSSIBLE START?
The good news for Stephen Kenny and his side is that is can only get easier from here.
Opening their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign at home to the beaten World Cup finalists was always going to be a major test and any hopes that they might catch France still suffering from a World Cup hangover were firmly dashed with the nature of Les Bleus 4-0 victory over the Netherlands.
Claiming top spot in the group has never been a realistic goal for Ireland but given how shaky the Dutch looked in their opener, second place could be up for grabs and any kind of result against France would be a huge boost for Ireland's qualification hopes.
A single game against one the best sides in the world isn’t really enough to be talking of the Netherlands downfall but if, as so often has happened in the past, the Dutch start falling out with each other after a bad result, the door could open slightly for Ireland.
Ireland’s qualifying campaign won’t be decided in the two games against France and defeat certainly won’t be the end of their hopes, which is just as well given the magnitude of the task.
With Kylian Mbappe in perhaps the form of his life and still basking in the glow of being named the new French captain, Ireland are going to have be on it from the first whistle.
That said, France are not unbeatable and memories of their World Cup defeat to Tunisia are still fresh in the memory, as are recent Nations League defeats to Denmark and Croatia along with a draw against Austria.
BIG SELECTION CALLS FOR KENNY
The Ireland boss has some tough decisions to make when it comes to naming his starting XI against the French.
Following his debut goal against Latvia, the clamour and expectation for Evan Ferguson to start is going to be huge and possibly too big for Kenny to ignore, if he had any inclination to do so.
The Bettystown teenager is the most exciting attacking prospect to pull on a green jersey for years and his inclusion in the starting line-up would offer the sold-out crowd a major lift before a ball had been kicked.
Who starts alongside Ferguson looks like being a coin toss between Michael Obafemi and Chiedozie Ogbene while in midfield Josh Cullen and Jason Knight are likely to come back into the side having sat out the Latvia game. Jayson Molumby will be expected to add some strength and physical presence alongside the returning duo.
Will Smallbone, who was named the player of the match against Latvia looks like being the player to miss out in the centre although, he’ll almost certainly play a role at some stage from the bench.
Kenny is waiting on the fitness of skipper Seamus Coleman. Should he recover from a thigh injury in time, the Everton man will be expected to line-up on the right with John Egan, Nathan Collins, Dara O'Shea in defence.
An injury picked up against Latvia means that Callum O’Dowda is a major doubt to start on the left for Ireland and Kenny has drafted in Robbie Brady to fill a potential gap, albeit on the bench. James McClean will fancy his chances of starting if O’Dowda isn’t passed fit.
The other decision Kenny has to make is in goal and while Gavin Bazunu was always likely to return between the sticks for this game, Caoimhin Kelleher’s rustiness against Latvia makes the manager’s decision even more straight-forward.
Adam Idah has been declared fit to play against Les Bleus, despite Norwich suggesting otherwise earlier in the week, and he will be an option for Kenny off the bench.
MBAPPE AND DESCHAMPS WARY OF IRISH THREAT
Whatever about Kenny’s growing attacking options, they still pale in comparison the talent Didier Deschamps has at his disposal.
Despite the 72-hour turnaround between their game with the Netherlands and the trip to the Aviva, the French boss could well name an unchanged side come Monday evening.
Kingsley Coman was taken off early in the first half against the Dutch as a precaution and he has been declared fit to face Ireland.
Any hopes that Deschamps decision to award the national captaincy to Mbappe rather than Antoine Greizmann might cause unrest in the French squad evaporated during that statement victory over the Dutch with the two players clearly on the same wavelength as Mbappe scored two and set up one for Greizmann.
Mbappe is three goals away from over-taking Michel Platani in the all-time French goalscoring records, and 15 behind leading goalscorer Olivier Giroud, who looks set to start on the bench in Dublin.
Still only 24, the Paris St Germain star has enjoyed a meteoric rise in world football and while comparisons between him and Ireland’s bright young hope Ferguson are premature, Mbappe has been impressed by what he’s seen of the Brighton youngster.
"We saw some clips about him," he said. "Of course he is an important striker for the Ireland team but we hope tomorrow we do our job.
"He is a good player, let's hope he is quiet. If he is, it means we will have done a good job."
Deschamps too is aware of the three that Ferguson can offer and as you’d expect, he’s done his homework on the squad and the way Kenny likes to play.
"There is a new generation now with new players. Ferguson poses a threat, a good player, [Mikey] Johnston as well has joined the team, it is a mix of young and experienced players. But our team is different too, it is hard to compare really.
"Ireland are known for being direct and vertical in how they play but of what I’ve seen in recent games they are capable of playing the ball along the ground as well.
"You also have to mention the support they have that will push their team forward. I am expecting a high-level match," he added.
With any luck that’s exactly what we’ll get.
Watch Republic of Ireland v France in Euro 2024 qualifying on Monday from 7pm live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on 2fm's Game On
