Despite boasting recognisable names such as Franck Ribéry, Sadio Mané, Robert Pires, Emmanuel Adebayor, Louis Saha, Sylvain Wiltord and Miralem Pjanic among its illustrious past players, FC Metz has had scant reason for celebration throughout its history. The pinnacle of their success dates back to their 1988 Coupe de France victory.
Presently, they find themselves struggling in Ligue 1, placed second from last and on a path that seems to be leading towards their customary fluctuation between the two premiere French leagues. However, fans arriving at Stade Municipal Saint-Symphorien this Friday may dare to hope for a vision that has been scarce this season – a home victory. This season, FC Metz has only been triumphant on two occasions since August.
The responsibility of spoiling this glimmer of hope rests on the shoulders of Eileen Gleeson’s Republic of Ireland squad. They kickstart their journey aiming to secure a spot in Euro 2025, with their initial match against the formidable, third-ranked French team. To emphasise the magnitude of their challenge, it’s worth noting that France last tasted defeat in a major tournament at home in the 2019 World Cup quarter-finals, losing to the USA in Paris.
Nonetheless, Gleeson emanated her usual optimism as she guided her squad for their last training session at the 29,000 seater stadium in Luxembourg. Their schedule doesn’t grant any respite, with games lined up against heavyweights England and Sweden as well.
When asked what would constitute a good result against France, the cheery Gleeson didn’t hesitate in responding: “A victory.” Her logic is simple. “We are here to give our best and to win. That is our mindset. Despite the prowess of our rivals, we cannot begin from a place of doubt as it will only drag us lower.”
She possesses a completely healthy team to choose from, making various complex decision-making inevitable. This includes her choice of tactical formation and player selection. Should she choose a cautious approach, it is probable that she will arrange her team with a defensive lineup of five members, positioning Heather Payne to the right and Katie McCabe to the left aligning Louise Quinn, Caitlin Hayes, and AN Other. Gleeson must decide among Diane Caldwell and Aoife Mannion’s experience, Jessie Stapleton’s youth, or Anna Patten’s novelty to fill in for Niamh Fahey, who is out due to an injury.
In the forward position, both Denise O’Sullivan and Tyler Toland are available, following their absence from the last international window owing to injuries. The return of both players to the camp is a welcome development. Having key player O’Sullivan back, who’s a strong influence in the squad and a proven leader, is a significant boost. Tyland’s calming and mature presence also positively impacts the team.
The challenge is more than just substantial for Gleeson and her squad. Given her limited experience as a head coach at the international level prior to the Nations League campaign last year, she has a big job ahead. This is a stark difference to Hervé Renard, her adversary. He is an extensively seasoned coach with bouts of managerial stints with men’s teams from Zambia twice, Angola, Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia, not to mention his tenure with various teams in France, China, England, Vietnam, and Algeria. He famously led Saudi Arabia to a victory against the eventual victors Argentina in the group stages of the 2022 World Cup.
After replacing Corinne Diacre as the French women’s manager in March of the previous year, he plans to relinquish his post following this year’s Olympic Games, aiming to head another men’s national team to the forthcoming World Cup. He is rumoured to be in contention for the Irish men’s job, although that seems to be a position everyone is linked with these days.
“Mr. Renard, have you had any contact with the FAI?” The gleeful grin that spread across his face at the question was difficult to decipher. This might suggest an anticipation for it, or it could mean that he has positively heard from the FAI. On the contrary, it might also indicate that he hasn’t, or that he awaits an imminent call. The mystery persists in this unending saga.
“My attention is solely focused on tomorrow’s game,” he spoke about the match against Ireland, with the words “so far” hinting at his confidence in the outcome. “Every week there seems to be a newly speculated destination for me. In English, for the sake of our Irish friends, I would like to state that I won’t entertain any discussions about my future anymore.”
Irish journalists might be disappointed, but Renard was more keen on talking up his opposition for Friday. “Ireland are formidable, they’ve made great strides; they’ll gain morale from their World Cup experience. Their strategic organisation is impressive, particularly their set pieces, with standout play from [Katie] McCabe. We know them thoroughly and respect them. We must not forget they topped League B and earned their A-League status. We must play at our full potential tomorrow, to secure a win.”
Seated beside Renard was Delphine Cascarino, the winger from Lyon, who has had to repeatedly confirm that she does not share any familial relations with Tony. When quizzed about the Irish team’s “British identity”, she diplomatically stated, “They have numerous players from the English league, but I believe they possess a distinct identity of their own.” Perhaps there is a chance she is related to Tony after all.