DUBLIN — Benjamin Pavard added one other spectacular objective to his assortment with an unstoppable second-half strike which secured France a slender 1-0 win in opposition to the Republic of Eire on Monday evening.
A mistake by Eire midfielder Josh Cullen gifted the ball to Pavard, however there appeared little hazard till the Bayern Munich full-back unleashed a right-footed shot that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar. Finally, although, Les Bleus had goalkeeper Mike Maignan to thank for the win following his double save from Alan Browne and Nathan Collins within the 89th minute.
Speedy response
1. Maignan heroics seal France win in Dublin
Mike Maignan took a agency grip of the France No. 1 jersey following the retirement of World Cup winner Hugo Lloris with two beautiful late saves to make sure a 1-0 victory for Didier Deschamps’ group in opposition to the Republic of Eire. The AC Milan keeper has been handed the possibility to interchange Lloris, who retired after Qatar 2022, by Deschamps forward of Alphonse Areola and Brice Samba and he repaid his supervisor’s religion within the Aviva Stadium.
Having cruised to an emphatic 4-0 win in opposition to the Netherlands of their Euro 2024 qualification opener on matchday one, France had been much less spectacular in opposition to Stephen Kenny’s Eire in Dublin. They wanted a spectacular objective by Pavard within the fiftieth minute, when the Bayern Munich full-back scored from 25 yards, to seal the win and hold France on prime of Group B.
Eire had not overwhelmed France since October 1981 — a run that now extends to 9 video games after this defeat — however they may have snatched a well-known win however for Maignan’s late heroics.
He first stored out a goal-bound header from Browne within the 89th minute earlier than producing a good higher cease from the nook that adopted seconds later. When Collins rose above the French defence to go Cullen’s cross from six yards, the ball appeared destined for the highest nook, however Maignan one way or the other managed to maintain it out of the web.
It was a match-winning save by the goalkeeper, and it meant that France at the moment are in agency management of qualification for the Euros. For Eire, it was a shedding begin to the marketing campaign, however they’ll take confidence from their efficiency and slender defeat as they try to assert second spot forward of the Dutch and Greece.
2. Pavard bolsters repute with one other beautiful objective
Is there a greater right-back in world soccer proper now than Pavard? If there may be, it is tough to pinpoint a participant who’s in higher kind than the France and Bayern Munich defender.
The 26-year-old sprang to prominence together with his beautiful objective throughout France’s 3-2 win in opposition to Argentina at Russia 2018, and he scored with one other excellent strike in Dublin on Monday, beating Eire keeper Gavin Bazunu with a 25-yard shot that flew in off the underside of the crossbar. However whereas Pavard has a repute for the spectacular, his major function is to defend, and he was distinctive for Deschamps’ group on this slender win.
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Pavard has tempo, he reads the sport effectively and is a clear tackler. And sure, he can contribute to devastating impact going ahead, as proven by his objective.
England‘s Trent Alexander-Arnold has Pavard’s attacking qualities, however none of his defensive capabilities. Kyle Walker‘s tempo is on a par with Pavard’s, however he would not have the Bayern man’s potential going ahead.
This was an evening when all eyes had been on Kylian Mbappe, and that’s often the case when France play, however identical to Mbappe, Pavard can be in a league of his personal.
3. Powerful evening, however indicators of promise for Ferguson
Evan Ferguson is destined for giant issues in his profession for membership and nation, however the Brighton & Hove Albion striker had a troublesome studying expertise in opposition to France. The 18-year-old has scored seven objectives in 16 first-team appearances for the Seagulls this season and he’s already seeing his identify linked with a transfer to Manchester United.
For these golf equipment in search of an rising centre-forward, {the teenager} from County Meath ticks so many containers when it comes to his objective document, bodily stature and ease with which he has adjusted to the Premier League in his first season as an expert.
However in solely his fourth look for Eire, Ferguson was given a mountain to climb in opposition to France defenders Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate. The French central defensive pair developed an understanding whereas enjoying collectively at RB Leipzig earlier than shifting on to Bayern Munich and Liverpool, respectively, in order that they teamed as much as nullify Ferguson.
But regardless of the Champions League expertise that he was up in opposition to, Ferguson was a handful for each defenders, and he was substituted on 65 minutes, changed by Adam Idah, after operating himself into the bottom. Ferguson can be higher for the expertise of this sport, and whichever large membership indicators him, they are going to be getting a wonderful younger participant.
Greatest and worst performers
BEST: Dayot Upamecano, France. With Raphael Varane having retired from worldwide soccer, there’s a management hole to be crammed within the France defence, and Upamecano confirmed he might be the person to fill it.
BEST: Gavin Bazunu, Republic of Eire. The Eire goalkeeper had no probability with Pavard’s objective and he gave a peaceful and commanding efficiency for Kenny’s group.
BEST: Eduardo Camavinga, France. The Actual Madrid midfielder is more likely to be the person who ends N’Golo Kante‘s worldwide profession. So good within the defensive midfield function.
WORST: Josh Cullen, Republic of Eire. A tricky evening for the Burnley midfielder in opposition to France’s array of expertise, and it was his mistake that led to Pavard’s second-half objective.
WORST: Randal Kolo Muani, France. None of France’s attacking gamers produced their greatest in Dublin, however Eintracht Frankfurt ahead Muani was the least efficient.
WORST: Jayson Molumby, Republic of Eire. The West Brom midfielder spent a lot of the sport chasing French shadows. A studying expertise if nothing else.
Highlights and notable moments
Pavard might not rating many, however when he does rating … look out. What a factor of magnificence from the right-back.
BENJAMIN PAVARD 🇫🇷
Frances claims the 1-0 lead over Eire after a spectacular end from the precise again! pic.twitter.com/GkbwvuWQEK
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 27, 2023
After the match: What the gamers/managers mentioned
Deschamps: “This permits us to maintain the three factors. Mike is Mike. It is not simple to take Lloris’ place, however he is been with us for some time. He has numerous energy, a lot the higher.”
Chiedozie Ogbene: “There are positives to take and we had sufficient possibilities to take a degree, at the least. I am devastated for the fellows, we gave every thing. I mentioned it earlier than, we educated to win this sport and had been unlucky to not get a end result. We needs to be very proud, we matched among the finest groups on the planet and the longer term is shiny.”
Key stats (offered by ESPN Stats & Data analysis)
– Pavard’s objective was his first for France since November 2020 vs. Sweden.
– Two of Pavard’s three worldwide objectives have been from exterior the field, with Monday’s strike from a distance of twenty-two.2 meters
Up subsequent
Republic of Eire: Eire are subsequent in motion on June 16, after they’ll go to Greece for one more European Championship qualifier.
France: Les Bleus additionally return to worldwide play on June 16 with a Euro 2024 qualifying match of their very own at Gibraltar.
