Mbappe brings France closer to Euro ticket

Kylian Mbappe had a hand in both goals as France beat Ireland 2-0 to maintain their winning streak through five matches in Group B of the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

* Goals: Tchouameni 19', Thuram 48'

France did not have too many difficulties at home at Parc des Princes. With their mobility, Mbappe and his teammates dominated from the start. They controlled the ball 63% of the time and shot 15 times. Meanwhile, Ireland only shot three times.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu saved Adrien Rabiot's long-range effort in the third minute, but was denied by another long-range effort in the 19th. After playing around with two Irish defenders in the box, Mbappe cut back for Tchouameni to curl in from 25 metres. The shot sailed over the defence and into the far corner.

Mbappe (left) celebrates Tchouameni's opening goal in the France - Ireland match on the evening of September 7. Photo: LP

After the first goal, France continued to dominate without having to press too hard. In the 39th minute, Mbappe almost had a goal of his own. The captain put the ball into the Irish net, but the referee refused to recognize it, because Marcus Thuram was offside.

After the break, Thuram only needed three minutes to make up for his mistake. After Mbappe's shot bounced off defender John Egan, the Inter Milan striker turned and shot from six meters to seal a 2-0 victory.

Thuram scored his first goal for France after 11 appearances, and did so in front of his legendary father, former defender Lilian Thuram, who was a key member of the French team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Ireland had just one chance. However, Chiedozie Ogbene could not beat goalkeeper Mike Maignan. France played almost exclusively in the visitors' half for the final 30 minutes. The score could have been higher if another long-range shot from Tchouameni in the 67th minute, a narrow shot from Ousmane Dembele in the 72nd minute that went wide and a header from Thuram in the 90+4th minute had found the back of the net.

Marcus Thuram (left) plays in the France - Ireland match on the evening of September 7. Photo: LP

After the victory on the evening of September 7, France continued to lead Group B of the Euro 2024 qualifiers with 15 absolute points. They are nine points ahead of the two teams right behind, the Netherlands and Greece. France can qualify for the finals as soon as the next match, when they visit the Netherlands - who just beat Greece 3-0 - on October 13. Meanwhile, Ireland has only three points. Gibraltar is at the bottom of the group and has no points.

On September 12, France will travel to Germany to play a friendly against the hosts of next year's Euro. Meanwhile, the remaining four teams in Group B, the Netherlands, Greece, Ireland and Gibraltar will play each other.

The top two teams from each Euro qualifying group will advance to the finals, which will feature 24 teams and take place from June 14 to July 14 in 10 German cities.

Thanh Quy

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