France V Republic of Ireland - Thursday, 7th September 2023 - Euro 2024 Qualifier

**tommy_c12000** · 07/09/2023, 5:58 PM

Alan Browne is the answer apparently. Duffy in front of O�Shea. Poor selections

**ontheotherhand** · 07/09/2023, 5:58 PM

Originally Posted by Crosby87

Thinking about how I used to take half days or whatever so as not to miss a second of an Ireland qualifier.

The biggest crime about this is the malaise. French players in pressers yesterday not even asked about Ireland. They lose tonight, they lose Sunday and Kenny is gone Monday.

And then what? Its gotten so boring....its a shame. Me Irish mates in NYC have no clue there is even a match today.

I'm a huge Colorado football fan. 1-11 last season , probably the worst team I've ever seen. They gave a boatload of money to Deion Sanders, he got rid off most all the players and brought in 88 new ones and they beat the team who played in the National Championship 7 months ago on the road Saturday. As 20 point underdogs.

Somewhat apples and oranges but that's what Ireland need. A shot in the arm. Hire some edgy manager. Make a splash. Do something different. Don't be afraid of bringing in a little personality. How many members of the senior staff in history have been anything other then white? Think outside the box a little. Hire someone differently FFS.

Are any of you excited anymore in the least? Ill never stop watching but its out of obligation now. It is not enjoyable in the least. Because its always wait until next year wait a few more years. Some lad knocks a goal in for Brentford off the bench or something and we are supposed to get excited for that.

Someone needs to come in like Coach Prime at Colorado, instill a new confidence, hire a top notch staff and change the trajectory!!!

Part of me actually hopes they get mauled today so we can get on with things.

Surely a few of them have an Irish granny?

**SkStu** · 07/09/2023, 6:12 PM

Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

Alan Browne is the answer apparently. Duffy in front of O�Shea. Poor selections

I�d have Duffy in only if O�Shea was on the right. O�Shea should be our third CB. Therefore I agree.

**TonyD** · 07/09/2023, 6:13 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Conor O'Malley. Don't remember O'Malley at all - was with Peterborough at the time, but retired from football when covid hit to return to Mayo to work in financial services.

Conor O�Malley was with Pats before he went to Peterborough. Was a hugely promising keeper. Pity he quit so early.

**tetsujin1979** · 07/09/2023, 6:14 PM

That's...that's something

**Fixer82** · 07/09/2023, 6:21 PM

No out and out striker on the pitch

**elatedscum** · 07/09/2023, 6:34 PM

Trying to look optimistically, Theo Hernandez is fast enough to compete with Ogbene but he can be a bit of a hot head and gets a yellow card easy enough. Upamecano has a mistake in him occasionally. Rabiot can be got at, mentally soft at times. Dembele has off days where he can�t score for love nor money. Duffy Egan and Collins are great in the air and they could nullify Giroud�s aeriel threat. And giroud doesn�t have the pace to do us damage centrally.

You�d hope for a similar performance to the game in Dublin and nicking a goal from a break or a set piece. You�d expect a comfortable France win. As always, keeping Mbappe and Griezmann quiet will be key. Tchoumani could also dictate things. France also have a great bench with Coman, Camavinga and Kolo Muani capable of being really impactful.

**elatedscum** · 07/09/2023, 6:34 PM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

No out and out striker on the pitch

Adam Idah

**geysir** · 07/09/2023, 6:37 PM

It�s bad when there�s a complete absence of pre-match nerves, I�m not even nervous about a tanking.

Some 50 years ago in an era when the modern Irish intl football was being born under manager Liam Tuohy, a stripped to bone Irish team got a well deserved draw in Paris in a WC qual v France. The whole game�s even on YT (France v Eire).
In defence Tommy McConville partnered Paddy Mulligan, captain & man of iron on the night. Also I�d say it was the most hairy Irish team EVER.

**Fixer82** · 07/09/2023, 6:40 PM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

Adam Idah

Didn�t spot him in the line up

**pineapple stu** · 07/09/2023, 6:44 PM

RT� graphics showing France lining up 4-2-4. Last team to try that against us got their comeuppance

That said, they have us playing 3-4-3, so maybe it's not entirely reliable

**NeverFeltBetter** · 07/09/2023, 6:46 PM

The first ten seconds was great anyway.

**SkStu** · 07/09/2023, 6:57 PM

Browne has Mbapp� in his pocket, just like I predicted.

**Eminence Grise** · 07/09/2023, 7:06 PM

Quel bordel...

**tommy_c12000** · 07/09/2023, 7:06 PM

Quality finish�

**NeverFeltBetter** · 07/09/2023, 7:07 PM

Stuck to the plan for 20 minutes, Ogbene looking lively, but when France can pull goals like that out, what can you say?

Nothing to even change really, just have to plug away with what their doing and hope they get a huge stroke of luck

**SkStu** · 07/09/2023, 7:07 PM

Great strike. Hard done by not to get the free for Idah.

Ogbene is great for us though.

**brine3** · 07/09/2023, 7:10 PM

Of course it's a great strike, but literally nobody closing him down. Comedy.

**SkStu** · 07/09/2023, 7:22 PM

Defenders were shadowing Mbapp� which I think was right, a short ball from him to Tchouameni who hits it first time into the side of the goal doesn�t leave a lot of opportunity to close it down, in fairness.