EURO 2024
Euro 2024: Possible France XI vs Ireland
We take a look at how Didier Deschamps will set his France side up against Ireland in Dublin.
France take on Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Monday night in their Group B Euro 2024 qualifier. Les Bleus brushed past the Netherlands on Friday night, with a 4-0 victory to open their qualifying campaign in style. Didier Deschamps is unlikely to make many changes to his French side.
Reports in France suggest veteran striker Olivier Giroud could start as the focal point in attack, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani starting on the right side of the attack.
Mbappé on the verge of breaking Platini’s tally
New France captain Kylian Mbappé will start on the left after his brace against Ronald Koeman’s side. The PSG forward is on the verge of breaking Michel Platini’s goal tally for France and a hat-trick against Ireland would see him draw level.
“For me, it’s an honour to be at this stage,” said Mbappé pre-match. “That’s my next target and I’ll keep going, it might be tomorrow, it might not. Obviously, Michel Platini is a legend of French football, but I’ll get past that mark at some point.”
Possible France XI vs Ireland
Atlético Madrid star Antoine Griezmann will play as the most advanced of the midfield three, while Mike Maignan is the new number one for Les Bleus after Tottenham’s No 1 Hugo Lloris hung up his gloves after the 2022 World Cup.
Deschamps could select the following XI on Monday as France look to make it two wins from two:
Mike Maignan; Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrihima Konaté, Théo Hernandez; Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antoine Griezmann; Randal Kolo Muani, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappé.
Ireland take on World Cup finalists
Stephen Kenny’s Ireland side beat Latvia 3-2 in a friendly in Dublin on Wednesday but head into tonight’s clash as massive underdogs against the recent World Cup finalists.
Kick-off in Dublin gets underway at 2.45pm ET.