Republic Of Ireland women find France a step too far and now face a play-off to reach Brazil 2027

France 1

Republic Of Ireland 0

The Republic of Ireland will have to settle for the play-offs for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World after falling to France at the Stade des Alpes in Grenoble on Tuesday night.

A victory over Les Bleues would have sent Carla Ward and her players through to the tournament finals next summer in Brazil, but it wasn’t to be once Melvine Malard scored before the break.

Denise O’Sullivan did feature after missing Friday’s victory over the Netherlands through suspension.

The midfielder was positioned behind the strikers in a 5-3-2 formation with Katie McCabe and Aoife Mannion acting as wing-backs, and Megan Connolly doing all the defensive work in front of the three defenders.

They were immediately called into action as France started on the front foot from the whistle, with an advance that specifically targeted the right wing. O’Sullivan conceded two free kicks during this period over fouls on Sakina Karchaoui, and each one caused minimal fuss as Ireland held their own defensively.

Les Bleues continued to dominate, leading to attempts for Sandy Baltimore and Delphine Cascarino. 

Neither one was able to test Courtney Brosnan, while Ireland went long when space opened up.

Kyra Carusa was tasked with winning the ball, but support was minimal during these exchanges despite Emily Murphy’s best efforts.

Something almost came together between the pair in the 34th minute as Carusa was able to get free off a pass from Aoife Mannion on the right wing. 

The striker crossed low for Murphy, and Constance Picaud dealt with this before the forward could get to the ball.

France wrestled their way back in to control proceedings, and out of this came the opening goal in the 40th minute. 

This came from a corner that was sent in by Selma Bacha, and Malard turned the set-piece in with an acrobatic effort at the near post.

Ireland trailed at the break, and restarted with a renewed push for an equaliser that involved O’Sullivan playing a more forward role up the pitch.

The midfielder’s job was to link play between Carusa and Murphy, while the strikers held the ball up while waiting for support.

Slowly, the team found space as they went wide and brought Mannion and McCabe forward.

This almost led to the equaliser as a cross was knocked down Murphy for Sheva, but the shot was tame and it went tamely into the hands of Picaud.

Ward decided to roll the dice as space opened up by bringing on Jess Ziu and Abbie Larkin, two attack minded substitutions designed to bring pace into the Irish team.

Their cause was helped by the 72nd minute dismissal of Thiniba Samoura after the defender received a second yellow card for pulling back Murphy.

There was no equaliser and big finish, instead the World Cup journey will continue with the play-offs in the autumn.

France: Constance Picaud; Alice Sombath, Thiniba Samoura, Maelle Lakrar, Selma Bacha; Grace Geyoro, Sakina Karchaoui, Orlane Jean-Francois; Sandy Baltimore, Melvine Malard, Delphine Cascarino.

Subs: Marie-Antoinette Oda Katoto for Bacha (69); Melween N'Dongala for Cascarino (69), Anaele Le Moguedec for Malard (75), Wassa Sangare for Baltimore (89), Kelly Gago for Karchaoui (89).

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki, Katie McCabe (capt); Denise O'Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Marissa Sheva; Kyra Carusa, Emily Murphy.

Subs: Jess Ziu for Connolly (61); Abbie Larkin for Carusa (70), Saoirse Noonan for Sheva (89), Amber Barrett for Mannion (89).

Referee: Michèle Schmölzer (Switzerland)