Thanks for joining me and goodnight.
Here is the report from Paris.
In other news …
Euro 2024 qualifiers roundup
Northern Ireland‘s slim hopes of qualifying from Group H took another blow as they were beaten 4-2 by Slovenia. Andraz Sporar fired the hosts in front after just three minutes in Ljubljana and while teenage midfielder Isaac Price quickly struck back, goals from Petar Stojanovic and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko put Slovenia in charge at the break.
Michael O’Neill’s side pulled one back early in the second half through Jonny Evans’ deflected shot, but Sporar hit back immediately with his second goal to secure victory. Slovenia are third in the group behind Denmark, who eased to a 4-0 home win over San Marino, on goal difference. Finland top the table after Oliver Antman got the winner in Kazakhstan, with Northern Ireland now nine points behind the leaders.
In Group B, Netherlands boosted their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 victory over Greece. All three of the hosts’ goals came in the first half in Eindhoven, with Martin De Roon opening the scoring in the 17th minutes. Denzel Dumfries then set up goals for Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst to ease pressure on manager Ronald Koeman.
In Group E, Poland had to rely on two Robert Lewandowski goals to see off the Faroe Islands. The Barcelona striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute, then added a second 10 minutes later. Poland closed the gap on the top two in their group, Czech Republic and Albania, after they played out a 1-1 draw in Prague.
Hungary are on top of Group G after a 2-1 win over Serbia in Belgrade. The visitors fell behind early on to Attila Szalai’s own goal but fought back through goals from Barnabas Varga and Willi Orban in the space of three first-half minutes. Stevan Savic’s late goal was cancelled out in stoppage time by Fedor Cernych as Montenegro drew 2-2 in Lithuania.
Full-time scores:
Group B
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Netherlands 3-0 Greece
Group E
Poland 2-0 Faroe Islands
Czech Republic 1-1 Albania
Group G
Lithuania 2-2 Montenegro
Serbia 1-2 Hungary
Group H
Kazakhstan 0-1 Finland
Denmark 3-0 San Marino
Slovenia 4-2 Northern Ireland
Full time: France 2-0 Republic of Ireland
It was a dominant display from France but Republic of Ireland will be pretty pleased with their efforts against a vastly superior team.
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Mbappe shows ludicrously quick feet and takes aim for the corner but Collins gets his head in the way.
Full time: Slovenia 4-2 Northern Ireland
An entertaining game but Northern Ireland let themselves down with some awful defending.
GOAL! Poland 2-0 Faroe Islands: Of course it is Lewandowski.
Updated
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: McClean swings in the resulting free-kick and it finds the head of Duffy but his effort is straight at the goalkeeper.
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Ebosele is on for Ireland and is immediately cleaned out by Griezmann, who is booked.
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Rabiot shoots from the halfway line. It does not go anywhere near the net.
Slovenia 4-2 Northern Ireland: The stats claim Northern Ireland have had seven shots on target to Slovenia’s three. I have questions.
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Mexican wave in Paris …
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Keane has not been on long but is down injured and not looking happy.
GOAL! Poland 1-0 Faroe Islands: Needless to say … Lewandowski is on the scoresheet.
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Some glorious farce for Ireland as Egan whacks his clearance straight at an opponent, it bounces down in the box and reaches Griezmann but his shot is blocked.
Slovenia 4-2 Northern Ireland: The sub is subbed as Cathcart is withdrawn. Smyth takes his place.
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: At this stage of the match, all I am wondering is who will be quickest to Mbappe to get his shirt?
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Tchouaméni takes aim from distance again but Bazunu gets to the shot on the this occasion.
Subs for Ireland: O’Shea on for Molumby, Keane on Idah.
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: The visitors are starting to tire. A lot of last-ditch tackles and clearances now.
Slovenia 4-2 Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill’s men are pushing to get back into the match but their final ball is slightly lacking.
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: “I was struck by how genuinely thrilled Marcus Thuram’s teammates were for him to get his first goal,” says Kári Tulinius. “The French seem to be enjoying themselves, both on the field and in the stands, where the crowd has been in good voice all game. It’s not always been fun to be a France supporter, but it is these days.”
GOAL! Czech Republic 1-0 Albania: Cerny gives the hosts the lead.
Updated
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Lucas Hernandez down under pressure from Collins, resulting in the Frenchman giving the Brentford man a mighty kick in the knackers.
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Mbappe is a good yard offside but still is allowed to go through on goal, only to fire wide from 18 yards. Then the flag goes up.
GOAL! Slovenia 4-2 Northern Ireland (Sporar, 56)
As soon as they are back into it, Northern Ireland allow Slovenia to extend their lead. The defence lose concentration, allowing Sporar to nip through, round the goalkeeper and slot home.
Updated
France 2-0 Republic of Ireland: Ogbene has been the most threatening Irishman in Paris. McClean lifts the ball to the back post for Ogbene, he heads back across goal but Maignan makes a good save.
GOAL! Slovenia 3-2 Northern Ireland (Evans, 54)
Evans shoots from inside the box, the ball takes a deflection and ripples the back of the net. What a game!
Updated
GOAL! France 2-0 Republic of Ireland (Thuram, 48)
There is a lot going on. Griezmann gets the ball out to Hernandez on the left, he cross for Mbappe whose shot is blocked and Thuram hammers in the rebound for his first France goal.
Updated
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Cullen goes into the book for a late challenge on Rabiot.
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland: McClean replaces Stevens. Good luck.
Second half
Here we go again!
In case you were wondering: Wales are drawing 0-0 with South Korea in a friendly.
Updated
Half time
Scores:
Group B
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Netherlands 3-0 Greece
Group E
Poland 0-0 Faroe Islands
Czech Republic 0-0 Albania
Group G
Serbia 1-2 Hungary
Group H
Denmark 3-0 San Marino
Slovenia 3-1 Northern Ireland
Elsewhere … Denmark 3-0 San Marino, Serbia 1-2 Hungary
GOAL! Netherlands 1-0 Greece (Weghorst, 39)
The Manchester United legend strikes.
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Tim Smith says: “Watching this one and visually it is stunning, mostly for the classic France kit and the fact that the Irish one is the opposite in light shirt, dark shorts, light socks. All games should be like this.
“Also, the 3 Ireland defenders stood off Tchouameni because they were mesmerized by Mbappe’s dancing feet.”
GOAL! Slovenia 3-1 Northern Ireland (Sesko, 42)
Sesko receives the ball inside the box and is allowed to turn, before firing into the corner beyond Peacock-Farrell.
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland: NO GOAL! The ball is played into Mbappe, he is the other side of the defence in space. He takes a touch and shoots straight at Bazunu but he fails to stop it. The Frenchman wheels away in celebration, only to see the offside flag rightly up.
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Griezmann ships in a corner towards the penalty spot where Upamecano is waiting but he can only flick his header wide.
Peter Oh emails: “Antman was the hero for Finland? It’s too bad Newcastle’s Sven Botman hasn’t earned a call-up to the Dutch senior team because his name would also add superhero flair to an international score sheet. Speaking of which, former Brazil international and once incredible Hulk is still smashing things up at club level, with Atletico Mineiro in the Brazilian top tier.”
GOAL! Netherlands 2-0 Greece (Gakpo, 31)
Dumfries chips the ball to the backpost where Gakpo is waiting, he chests it down and steers it home.
Updated
Netherland 1-0 Greece: VAR takes a look for a potential handball in the area against Greece but if there is an offence it is outside the box, so nothing can be given.
Slovenia 2-1 Northern Ireland: The visitors are playing some decent football and are very much in the game. They just need to create a decent chance now.
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland: It could be on all square on the injury front, with Stevens down needing treatment.
GOAL! Denmark 1-0 San Marino: Inevitably, the Danes are ahead. Hojbjerg with the goal.
Updated
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Thuram is on for Giroud.
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Giroud is down and looks like his race might be run. His boot his off and he is hobbling for the touchline.
There is a gulf in quality.
I'm in a pub in Howth, Dublin and there's a certain air of resignation @Will_Unwin.
— Gary Naylor 85 (@garynaylor85) September 7, 2023
Mind you, when you look at the teams...
Updated
Netherlands 1-0 Greece: Gillian Kirby emails: “Currently in Yer Actual Netherlands watching the game vs Greece on Dutch TV. It is absolutely boiling hot here, but, like me, Virgil Van Dijk seems to have packed for the autumn in his long sleeves. Perhaps he also has an entirely redundant orange raincoat hanging in his hotel room and had to make a mad dash to Kruidvat for aftersun?”
Virgil loves a raincoat.
GOAL! Netherlands 1-0 Greece (De Roon, 17)
It is the hosts who lead through the former Middlesbrough man.
Updated
France 1-0 Republic of Ireland: YELLOW CARD! Ogbene is causing problems with his pace on the wings. This time he is tripped by Theo Hernandez, who is cautioned.
GOAL! France 1-0 Republic of Ireland (Tchouaméni, 19)
Tchouaméni receives the ball 20 yards from goal; Ireland fail to close him down, so he takes aim with a first-time curling shot into the corner.
Updated
GOAL! Slovenia 2-1 Northern Ireland (Stojanovic 17)
A long ball over the top does for Brown on the left. The defender falls over and Stojanovic takes advantage, taking the ball into the box and shooting. His effort takes a deflection and goes in.
Updated
Slovenia 1-1 Northern Ireland: “Slovenia throwing away the lead in four minutes makes me think there might be more goals in this,” says Josh Reynolds. Let’s hope so.
France 0-0 Republic of Ireland: Down the other end … Griezmann whips in a free-kick which bounces awkwardly in front of Bazunu and the ball bounces off his chest before his teammates clear.
France 0-0 Republic of Ireland: Ogbene gets round Rabiot on the left. The winger’s pace is too much for the Frenchman but his cross is straight at Maignan.
Slovenia 1-1 Northern Ireland: Saville wins a free-kick on the edge of the box. Kennedy lines it up but curls the ball just wide.
GOAL! Slovenia 1-1 Northern Ireland (Price, 7)
A quick response from Northern Ireland. A fine cross comes in from the right, Kennedy jabs at goal only for Oblak to block the shot but Price is there to tap in the rebound.
Updated
France 0-0 Ireland: You will not be surprised to hear that France are dominating possession but a Rabiot shot from distance is all they have to show for their endeavours.
GOAL! Slovenia 1-0 Northern Ireland (Sporar, 3)
Sporar gets in behind the Northern Ireland defence and keeps his cool to slide the ball under the goalkeeper.
Updated
France 0-0 Ireland: The Uefa website and the TV coverage claimed Shane Duffy would be playing right-wing back but, thankfully, he is in the middle of the three centre-backs.
France 0-0 Ireland: The visitors win a free-kick in the opposition half to put France under some pressure but the hosts easily clear.
“I don’t doubt that this is a case of “Old Man Yells at Cloud”,” says Ciaran as he yells at a cloud, “but were people previously more likely refer to the Netherlands as Holland? To me it seems like they used to be interchangeable, but now it’s always Netherlands. If I’ve inadvertently stepped in it with this question, please be kind, I’m anxiously trying to distract myself from tonight’s game in Paris...”
I suspect the constant request to call the country Netherlands, especially in the sporting arena has seeped into the modern mindset.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! The whistles go around Europe.
Garry Breen on co-comms for Viaplay. This is a new experience for me. Plenty of pyrotechnics going off in Paris.
Can Republic of Ireland stop this man?
Josh Reynolds asks: “What about the sure thing thriller of Netherlands/Greece?!”
Here’s hoping …
“I expected Kazakhstan at home to be a tough opponent for Finland,” says Kári Tulinius, “but in the predatory bird derby the Eagle-Owls out-flew the Hawks and pounced first on every ball. The goal was a well worked move with Benjamin Källman sending a first-touch into the path of Oliver Antman, who slotted it in. Finland are top of their group at the half-way mark, which few were expecting, even here in Finland.”
They’ll be dancing on the streets of Helsinki tonight.
Have Republic of Ireland ever played France away before?
And there’s been late drama at Lithuania v Montenegro where Fedor Cernych scored a 94th minute equaliser after Stefan thought he had netted a last-minute winner of his own. The game finished 2-2.
A result from earlier … Finland went to Kazakhstan and came away with a 1-0 win thanks to an Oliver Antman goal.
As is the right of anyone doing these blogs, it is a fine chance to plug my work that is almost related to tonight’s events, even if it is not.
Starting lineups: Slovenia v Northern Ireland
Slovenia: Oblak; Karnicnik, Brekalo, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Subs: Belec, Vidovsek, Balkovec, Blazic, Stankovic, Matko, Lovric Kurtic, Drkusic, Zahovic, Celar
Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell; McNair, Evans, Brown; Hume, McMenamin, Charles, Saville, Kennedy; Price, Charles
Subs: Hazard, Southwood, Spencer, Toal, Smyth, Washington, Jones, Thompson, McCann, Lyons, Cathcart, Magennis
Starting lineups: France v Republic of Ireland
France: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lucas Hernández, Theo Hernández; Griezmann, Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Dembélé, Giroud, Mbappé
Subs: Samba, Areola, Pavard, Disasi, Camavinga, Kolo Muani, Tobido, Thurham, Saliba, Fofana, Kamara, Coman
Republic of Ireland: Bazunu; Collins, Duffy, Egan; Browne; Molumby, Cullen, Knight, Stevens; Idah, Ogbene
Subs: Kelleher, Travers, O’Shea, Smallbone, Keane, McClean, Hendrick, Connolly, McGrath, Lenihan, Ebosele, Manning
Preamble
International football is back! I think it is fair to admit there are not too many classics on the agenda tonight but we may be surprised by a few.
France host Republic of Ireland. In theory, it should be an exciting chance to witness one of the world’s best strikers in action but Evan Ferguson is injured, leaving us with the prospect of seeing Kylian Mbappe take the limelight. I fear for the Irish right-back.
Northern Ireland travel to Slovenia having secured one win in three matches and they really need to double that tally if they are to have any hope of qualifying. It is not exactly a vintage squad available to Michael O’Neill but they should create a tight match in Ljubljana.
The best of the rest? I think Czech Republic v Albania might be an intriguing clash. We shall see …
Join me for the 7.45pm BST kick-offs!
