Republic of Eire boss Stephen Kenny has known as on his gamers to provide the efficiency of their lives after their Euro 2024 qualification hopes had been left dangling by a thread.
A 2-0 Group B defeat in Paris on Thursday night means Eire have taken simply three factors from their first 4 video games, and realistically they should beat the Netherlands in Dublin on Sunday to face any likelihood of progressing.
Talking within the bowels of the Parc des Princes after an energy-sapping evening by the hands of the mesmeric Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele, Kenny stated: “We’ve simply obtained to prepare for Sunday now.
“We knew that if Holland beat Greece tonight and we beat Holland, we’re degree on Sunday. We’ve obtained Greece at residence and Gibraltar away in October, so it’s that huge for us. We all know it’s that huge for us.
“The power of the house crowd has been particular, it’s been electrical at residence and we’d like that once more on Sunday to tug out the efficiency of our lives. That’s what we’ve obtained to do.”
Eire arrived in Paris figuring out they had been up in opposition to it due to the standard of each the opposition and the warmth, and whereas they battled manfully all through, the gulf in school – Didier Deschamps was in a position to carry Champions League winners on from his bench whereas one among Kenny’s substitutes, James McClean, is at present enjoying his soccer with League Two Wrexham – ultimately informed.
Aurelien Tchouameni blasted the French right into a Nineteenth-minute lead as Eire as soon as once more conceded from distance, and the facet ranked second on this planet by no means regarded again in opposition to opponents rated 53rd by FIFA.
I can not fault my gamers. I assumed they gave the whole lot actually within the match. We had been crushed by a greater group for positive
Stephen Kenny
They elevated their lead three minutes after the restart via substitute Marcus Thuram, a first-half substitute for the injured Olivier Giroud, and though it took save by Mike Maignan to maintain out Chiedozie Ogbene’s header, the Republic needed to defend for pricey life to make sure the margin of victory didn’t stretch past 2-0.
Kenny stated: “To be honest, clearly France are a world-class group, a very top-class worldwide group, the most effective groups on this planet, if not the very best.
“However I can’t fault my gamers. I assumed they gave the whole lot actually within the match. We had been crushed by a greater group for positive. For lots of the gamers it’s the very best group they’ve performed in opposition to.
“After all we may have carried out higher at instances, for positive, however everybody gave the whole lot of themselves.”
France boss Didier Deschamps admitted his group may have been extra scientific, however was largely glad.
He stated: “We may have carried out extra, however broadly talking I’m very glad with the consequence and the efficiency of the gamers.
“Kylian did good issues, even when he didn’t rating. It’s not all the time Olivier Giroud or Kylian Mbappe supposed to attain. It’s extra about focussing on the purpose, to qualify.
“We had many possibilities to attain, particularly from outdoors the field. We had been anticipating group from the Irish group. With their three defenders, they had been very current.
“They created some troublesome conditions for us, particularly in case you bear in mind the sport in Dublin which was a bit dangerous for us. It’s a group that performs very deep and there have been some difficulties.”
