Euro 2025 Qualification Match: France defeats Ireland 1-0
Ahead of their inaugural match of the Euro 2025 qualifying campaign, the Republic of Ireland’s squad made bold claims of confronting the French challenge with gusto, even on French soil. But alliance turned in favour of the world’s third-ranking team, France yet with a narrow 1-0 victory. The single-goal triumph took place on Friday night in Metz, with Marie-Antoinette Katoto finding the net in just the 6th minute, witnessed by a crowd of 16,772 at the Stade Saint-Symphorien stadium.
The Irish team may not have earned any points but can take confidence from the spirited response they displayed against opponents of such stature.
The atmosphere surrounding the match was gloomy for the Irish, following the death after prolonged illness of Kelly Healy, spouse of Colin Healy, the assistant coach for Ireland. Colin remained in Ireland with his children Arran and Hollie, offering his wife support.
Considering the past encounters between France and Ireland, out of 11 matches, the Irish could secure a draw only once, and it’s already been 45 years since that occasion. Therefore, both past records and superior skills were favoring the French. Despite leaving a few renowned players out of the match, perhaps considering the forthcoming match against Sweden, Coach Hervé Renard still managed to field a robust French team.
Ireland’s strategy for the game was expectedly more defensive than their approach in the previous year’s Nations League. Coach Eileen Gleeson employed a five-back formation. Anna Patten, a previous member of the England youth team, made her debut while Caitlin Hayes and Louise Quinn provided support in the absence of the injured Niamh Fahey.
Aoife Mannion transitioned to the position of left-wing back, with Katie McCabe taking a role up the field with Megan Connolly and Denise O’Sullivan in the middle. Emily Murphy, first seen in the match against Wales, took up the right-wing position.
McCabe and Murphy found it difficult to assist the lone striker, Kyra Carusa, as they were continuously pushed back by French full-backs Ève Périsset and Sakina Karchaoui. This aggressive defence by the French resulted in two early corner kicks for the hosts in the first four minutes.
Two minutes on, Heather Payne’s foul on Delphine Cascarino led to the opening goal. From the subsequent free-kick, Maëlle Lakrar was found in the box by Kenza Dali and the centre-back’s headed effort from the right was driven in by Marie-Antoinette Katoto on the far post.
The French kept up the pressure, with Kenza Dali shooting a volley just over the net and Courtney Brosnan sharply saving Sandie Toletti’s attempt from distance. Kadidiatou Diani proved to be a real handful for Mannion on the right while Payne struggled to cope with Cascarino on the opposite wing.
However, despite their domination and constant pressure, France only took a one-goal lead into half-time. The Irish defence held firm, only occasionally causing bother for the home side with counter-attacks spearheaded by O’Sullivan.
The second half followed much of the same script, even when Ireland introduced Leanne Kiernan and Amber Barrett to search for an equalising goal. Brosnan, the Irish goalkeeper, saw more of the ball than her French counterpart, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
Megan Campbell replaced Murphy at the break, hoping her long throw-ins would make a difference, but the French dealt with these comfortably. Substitute Kiernan added some pace to Ireland’s offence but couldn’t find the net, firing a shot wide to the left in the closing minutes despite McCabe being unmarked inside.
Looking forward, things are set to become more challenging, with the next game taking place at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Tuesday evening, featuring England as the opponents. England, currently the sitting European champions, come into the match as the second-highest-ranked nation globally. They’ll be looking to improve, having recently taken part in a 1-1 stalemate with Sweden at Wembley during Friday night. Ireland, the hosts, will be hoping that playing on familiar turf might give them the edge to inflict further distress on their English counterparts.
For France, the lineup included Peyraud-Magnin, Périsset, Lakrar, Mbock Bathy, Karchaoui, Toletti, Dali, Diani, Geyoro, D Cascarino, and Katoto. Substitutes who participated in the game were Le Sommer replacing Cascarino in the 61st minute, Becho subbing in for Katoto at the 61st-minute mark, Henry taking over from Toletti in the 77th minute, and Renard stepping in for Périsset in the 77th minute.
Ireland had Brosnan, Payne, Hayes, Louise Quinn, Patten, Mannion, Murphy, Connolly, O’Sullivan, McCabe, and Carusa on the pitch. Substitutions made were Campbell for Murphy at half-time, Kiernan on for Payne at 63 minutes, Barrett for Carusa at 63 minutes, Lucy Quinn for Barrett at 74 minutes, and Stapleton for Mannion at 89 minutes.
The match was officiated by Italian referee Maria Caputi.