FIFA Women’s World Cup Group A2 qualifier

Tuesday, 3 March

Republic of Ireland v France, Tallaght Stadium, 7.30pm

TV
Watch live coverage from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

RADIO
Listen to live commentary on an extended Inside Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.

ONLINE
Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport.

WEATHER

Tuesday, will be a dry, sunny day. After a cold frosty start, afternoon temperatures will rise to between 9 and 12 degrees in light to moderate variable, mainly east or southeasterly, breezes. Most crucially, no rain is forecast.

IRELAND SEEK TO START WITH A STATEMENT

The Republic of Ireland get their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start as they welcome France to Tallaght Stadium.

Carla Ward’s side have been placed in a testing group and begin with the home match against France before a trip to the Netherlands on Saturday evening.

As fourth seeds in Group A2, Ireland also take on Poland with the entire campaign taking place in windows across March, April and June.

Given the condensed nature of the group and the quality of opponents, a result in their opening home game is a must for Ireland if they’re to have any hope of causing a major shock and take the one automatic qualifying place on offer.

Ireland enter the campaign knowing that they at least have the fall back of a play-off place, at worst, for the tournament in Brazil thanks to their Nations League play-off victory over Belgium in October.

The form book, at least, is in Ireland’s favour after their 3-1 victory over the French at Páirc Uí Chaoimh when the sides last met in July of 2024.

WARD LOOKING FOR MARGINAL GAINS

Ireland boss Ward has confirmed that Ireland will play on the smallest allowable pitch in order to condense the game and help the home side to contain and constrain France.

The pitch will be set to the minimum size required under FIFA regulations – 100 metres long x 64 metres wide – and Ireland have been training on narrow pitches ahead of the qualifier.

“We’re coming up against the best in the world, one per cents matter,” the Republic of Ireland boss said. “I couldn’t tell you what it was before, I can only tell you what FIFA guidelines are, which is 64.”

“Good teams want space, right?” Ward explained. “When you play on somewhere like the Aviva, it definitely gives the advantage to the better, on paper, the better opposition. We’ve got to make it difficult.

“They’re one of the best in the world. If it were a France-Netherlands World Cup final, I don’t think anybody would be complaining. We’re talking about our next two opponents, who are arguably up there with the very, very best.

“France are deadly in transition, they’re aggressive, they’re front-footed, they’ve got world-class talent in every single position.

“Their strength in depth is something that not many other nations have. Look, we know what we’re up against, and let’s be really clear, we’re up against one of the very best in world football.”

The Irish squad is at near full-strength for this clash. Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, midfielder Megan Connolly and attacker Leanne Kiernan are all back in the reckoning after missing the victory over Belgium through injury.

Tara O’Hanlon keeps her place in the squad after featuring off the bench in November’s friendly with Hungary but Hayley Nolan is a doubt following a knock in training.

FRANCE EAGER TO SEIZE CONTROL OF THE GROUP

With only the group winners guaranteed a place at the World Cup, top seeds France are eager to hit the ground running and aim to take control of the group from the start.

Away to Ireland and then at home to Poland in their opening two games, head coach Laurent Bonadei wants a return of six points before an April double header where they play second seeds the Netherlands in the space of five days.

“It’s a tough group, as is the case with every Nations League draw,” he said. “All the groups are necessarily balanced. Ireland is a difficult team to play against, especially at home, with matches that are always very competitive and physical.

“We don’t have time to rest on our laurels, and we’ll have to be competitive from the very next two matches.

“The key is to establish ourselves quickly in this four-team league, as we did so well in the three previous editions, where we immediately took the lead and then won our matches to finish top of the group.

“Since only first place guarantees direct qualification, it will therefore be crucial for us to get to the top of the group as quickly as possible.”

With injuries ruling out key players like Selma Bacha, Delphine Cascarino and Griedge Mbock, Bonadei is looking to youth and has handed both Anais Ebayilin and Alice Pinguet their first international call-ups.

Bonadei is unlikely to experiment with his team however and will name a strong starting eleven, perhaps handing debuts to the newcomers off the bench if he feels the game is secure in the later stages.