A young Ireland side beat Latvia 3-2 on Wednesday night after 18-year-old Evan Ferguson marked his first start with a goal as they won consecutive internationals for the first time since October 2021. Now the Boys in Green begin their European Championship qualifying (ECQ) campaign against World Cup runners-up France, a side they haven’t beaten since October 1981 – long before Ferguson was born!
Against a higher calibre of opponent, he could struggle to make another match-winning impact as Ireland have conceded twice in each of their last three home games (W2, L1), so their bid to qualify for the Euros for the first time since 2016 must start with more defensive solidity. That said, they’ve often made life difficult for France, who’ve never won a H2H meeting by more than a two-goal margin.
France famously needed an assist from Thierry Henry’s hand to win a two-legged World Cup play-off in 2009, but nothing of the sort was required as they opened their ECQ campaign by hammering the Netherlands 4-0 on Friday. After Kylian Mbappé’s reign as captain began perfectly, manager Didier Deschamps said, “It’s a great return, even if this Dutch side had a few issues.”
Deschamps also stressed “we don’t have long to recover” before their clash with Ireland, and he’s got good reason to be wary as Les Bleus haven’t won any of their last three matches as the away side (D2, L1) and curiously, each of their last four such games produced exactly two goals. They’ve won their last three ECQ away games ‘to nil’ though, and haven’t conceded in any of their last three visits to the Emerald Isle (W2, D1).
Key battle: Ireland new star Ferguson has netted three times in his last two matches for club and country, on both occasions netting the game’s second goal. To continue that run he’ll have to beat France new first-choice goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who has kept clean sheets in three of his six international appearances.
Hot streak: Each of Ireland last nine home ECQ games produced under 2.5 goals (W5, D4).
