[monks data]

International Friendlies

May 28, 2018 at 8pm UK

France
2-0
Rep. Ireland Republic of Ireland

Giroud (40'), Fekir (44')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Live Commentary

Match Report

Football

France breeze past Republic of Ireland in Paris

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 28 May 2018

Goals late in the first half from Olivier Giroud and Nabil Fekir earn France a 2-0 friendly win against Republic of Ireland in Paris.

France have stepped up their preparations for the 2018 World Cup with a straightforward 2-0 win over Republic of Ireland at the Stade de France.

Les Bleus dominated proceedings prior to netting twice at the end of the first half, the latter coming through a howler from third-choice visiting goalkeeper Colin Doyle.

For all the home side's dominance, however, they too often struggled when it came to the final ball and were restricted to just the two goals following a quiet second half in Paris.

Kylian Mbappe was wayward with a couple of early efforts before eventually testing Doyle, who had just two caps to his name prior to tonight's prestige friendly for Ireland.

Doyle, who plies his club trade for third-tier Bradford City, certainly did his reputation no harm when keeping out a well-struck Mbappe shot low to his left.

France were dominating proceedings and were left wondering how they were not in front when Corentin Tolisso curled the ball against the outside of the post, shortly after Nabil Fekir's free kick dropped inches wide of the target.

The pressure finally told late in the half, however, as an Ireland side containing debutant Derrick Williams in their ranks crumbled.

After climbing highest to head a corner goalwards, Olivier Giroud would require a couple more attempts before finally squeezing the ball past both Seamus Coleman and Doyle on the line.

The second goal followed four minutes later when Fekir's shot squirmed through the hands of Doyle, who could only watch as the ball looped into the air and spun over the line.

Doyle did redeem himself slightly by producing a strong hand to keep out Giroud's strike, while also doing enough to stop Blaise Matuidi from converting a headed chance.

Ireland, without a win against Les Bleus since 1981, were simply having to soak up the pressure for large parts of the second period.

Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba were brought on for the final 13 minutes, with the latter immediately sending a shot high and wide in the torrential rain, before his teammate tested Doyle with an effort from even further back.

The vast number of changes made by both sides did not help with the flow of the game, and substitute Steve Mandanda's late save from Shaun Williams's shot ensured that it was job done for France ahead of their remaining two pre-World Cup friendlies.

FRANCE (4-3-3): Mandanda; Sidibe (Pavard 82'), Rami, Umtiti (Kimpembe 64'), Mendy (Lucas 63'); Tolisso (Pogba 77'), N'Zonzi, Matuidi; Fekir (Griezmann 64'), Giroud, Mbappe (Dembele 77')

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-4-2): Doyle; Coleman, Long (Judge 70'), Duffy, D.Williams (Doherty 80'); O'Dowda (Burke 70'), Rice, Browne (Arter 60'), McClean; Walters (Meyler 60'), Long (S.Williams 80')