The Republic of Ireland launch their Euro 2024 qualification campaign with the toughest of fixtures against World Cup finalists France on Monday evening.
Stephen Kenny’s men will have to be at their best to stand any chance of denying the French another three points to go with those they collected with the minimum of fuss against the Netherlands on Friday night.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding the game at the Aviva Stadium.
Cullen machine
Fergie time?
“It’s a special moment.” ?? We spoke to Evan after his first goal for Ireland! ?
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) March 23, 2023
Teenage Brighton striker Evan Ferguson scored the first of what he, Kenny and the whole of Ireland will hope will be many goals for his country against the Latvians to confirm his recent blistering run of form. His lack of senior international experience suggests he may, initially at least, be kept in reserve, but the temptation to hand him a role at some point must surely have grown as a result of his efforts in midweek.
The long and the short of it
Kylian me softly
???̀?? ??? lors de ses 17 derniers matchs en Bleu ? #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/D1MayUsvYF
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 25, 2023
Much of the talk in the build-up to the game has centred around newly-appointed France skipper Kylian Mbappe, who plundered a hat-trick in December’s World Cup final but still ended up with a loser’s medal. The chatter has simply intensified as a result of the two goals he added to his tally in Friday’s 4-0 demolition of a weakened Netherlands side and Ireland will have a job on their hands to keep him quiet in Dublin.
2009 and all that
