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What will the France vs Republic of Ireland predicted lineups be? Look no further, we have you covered in this article.
World Cup finalists France look to maintain their 100% record in European Championship qualifying when hosting Republic of Ireland, currently third in Group B, at the Parc de Princes.
Les Bleus are unbeaten in their last eight meetings against The Boys in Green, who seek inspiration from 18-year-old Premier League sensation Evan Ferguson, entering these international fixtures fresh off the back of a match-winning hat-trick against Newcastle United.
France vs Republic of Ireland predicted lineups and news
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It’s Ireland’s first competitive fixture on French soil since these two side’s remarkable encounter at Euro 2016. Robbie Brady’s second-minute goal set the underdogs on the path to the most unlikely of knock-out victories, only for Antoine Griezmann’s second-half double to dash those high hopes.
France will be undoubted favourites with their wealth of talent and will continue their march towards qualification with a fifth victory from as many games. Ireland missed out on Euro 2020 due to play-off defeat after finishing third in their group. An unlikely victory at the Parc des Princes (8:45pm kick-off, local time) could catapult them towards automatic qualification. The match will be shown on RTÉ2 in Ireland and Viaplay TV in the United Kingdom.
Team news: France
Griezmann, who has since joined Barcelona and then returned to Atletico Madrid, is the only remaining player from the victorious French side in 2016, alongside AC Milan’s Olivier Giroud.
Didier Deschamps, in his 11th season as France boss, has recalled Lucas Hernandes after the PSG left-back’s long-awaited recovery from the ACL injury suffered at the 2022 World Cup.
Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté are notable absentees from Descamps’ group with Real Madrid’s youthful midfield pairing of Eduardo Camavina and Aurélien Tchouaméni set to dominate their national side for the foreseeable future.
Global star Kylian Mbappé leads a mouthwatering attacking selection, with the 24-year-old entering this season off the back of significant summer controversy. Record-breaking bids from the Saudi Pro League were spurned, and Mbappé remains a PSG player. He will hope to put it all behind him during his fortnight with Les Bleus – that is, if he hasn’t already with five goals in his last three Ligue 1 matches.
France predicted lineup
Maignan; L. Hernández, Konaté, Upamecano, T. Hernández; Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Coman, Griezmann, Mbappé; Kolo Muani.
Team news: Republic of Ireland
Ireland’s old guard remains strong in Stephen Kenny’s 25-man squad for September’s fixtures, with James McClean (Wrexham), Shane Duffy (Norwich City) and Jeff Hendrick (Sheffield Wednesday) still involved from 2016’s set-up.
It’s the young talents, however, who offer greatest excitement. Evan Ferguson is quickly becoming Irish football’s poster boy with his electric performances in England’s top-flight, while 21-year-old right-back Festy Ebosele plies his trade in Serie A with Udinese.
“The cameras following you now, did you score a hat-trick?!” 😂
Fresh from his first @premierleague hat-trick, Evan Ferguson arrives into camp 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/EKQ3EXkWuQ
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 3, 2023
Wolves‘ full-back Matt Doherty is suspended for this fixture but will be available again to take on the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday evening.
Republic of Ireland predicted lineup
Bazunu; Collins, Egan, O’Shea; Knight, Cullen, Molumby, McClean; Smallbone; Idah, Ferguson.
Will Ibrahima Konaté play on Thursday?
The 24-year-old Liverpool defender is recovering from a minor muscle injury.
Konaté has missed only six minutes of France’s European Championship qualifying campaign thus far but was absent for his club’s last two Premier League fixtures, victories against Newcastle and Aston Villa.
Deschamps will have to assess his fitness at Clairefontaine and decide whether to risk him in this competitive fixture against Ireland or wait to use him in next Tuesday’s friendly against Germany.
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