Ireland vs France

Republic of Ireland will host World Cup runners-up France in their opening fixture of the Euro 2024 qualifiers in Dublin.

[Declan Rice](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/03/26/1141924-southgate-challenges-england-to-be-best-in-europe.html) and [Jack Grealish](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2022/11/21/1130053-four-things-we-learnt-as-england-smash-iran-in-their-opening-world-cup-game.html) to England - with both having appeared for Ireland at senior and youth level - Irish supporters will breathe a sigh of relief when Ferguson runs out this evening to make his competitive debut, ensuring he is fully committed to the Irish cause. If the [Everton](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/03/25/womens-football/1141772-it-shouldnt-have-been-disallowed-matt-beard-on-liverpools-second-goal-in-the-merseyside-derby.html) player is passed fit, he will most likely start to bring his vast experience to a young Ireland side. As he powers his way up the rankings, Mbappe will be confident of adding further goals to his tally this evening. [Latvia](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2022/11/11/1129167-netherlands-world-cup-2022-preview-can-the-oranje-finally-win-the-world-cup.html) 3-2 at home last Wednesday, [Ireland](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/03/23/1141548-san-marino-vs-northern-ireland-euro-2024-qualifiers-preview-group-h-2023.html) will now face an unenviable task, with France - who comfortably beat the Netherlands with ease on Friday night - coming to the Aviva Stadium. Despite the disappointment of missing out on the armband, [Antoine Griezmann](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2022/12/16/1132246-kylian-mbappe-and-antoine-griezmann-will-surpass-zidane-and-henry-william-gallas-on-the-world-cup-final-lionel-messi-and-frances-legacy.html) and his French teammates put aside the notion of any rifts with their performance against the Dutch. [Gavin Bazunu](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/03/12/premier-league/1140442-manchester-united-0-0-southampton-casemiro-sees-red-as-united-hold-on.html) will most likely start over [Liverpool](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/03/26/womens-football/1141890-amy-merricks-we-did-more-than-enough-to-win-the-game.html)’s [Caoimhin Kelleher](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/08/19/liverpool-fc/1120354-can-liverpool-get-first-win-of-the-season.html) as the No.1, despite his poor club form for [Southampton](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/01/10/1134113-gareth-bale-retirement-rob-page.html). [Stoke](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/03/17/championship/1140979-stoke-city-vs-norwich-city-championship-preview-gameweek-38-2023.html) loanee [Will Smallbone](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/07/29/championship/1118244-stoke-city-season-preview-20222023.html), after a brilliant performance last day out for Ireland, has given Kenny some selection headaches. [Seamus Coleman](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2023/02/17/liverpool-fc/1137999-jurgen-klopp-confirms-no-new-injuries-for-liverpool-ahead-of-trip-to-newcastle.html) - who missed the Latvia game - is still an injury doubt coming into the fixture. Ireland have lacked a truly great goalscorer since Robbie Keane retired from international duty in 2016. Every man in green will need to be on top form to stop the former Any hopes of taking something from the game will rest on not only avoiding conceding early on, but also being clinical with any opportunity that comes their way. [World Cup](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/03/25/1141765-england-aiming-to-continue-form-at-wembley.html) in [Japan](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/03/02/germany-bundesliga/1139301.html)/ [South Korea](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2022/12/23/1132725-tampines-rovers-ong-yu-en-and-tanjong-pagar-unitedsfathullah-rahmat-to-have-training-stints-with-k-league-teams.html) from of a qualifying group that also contained the [Netherlands](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/03/24/1141712-four-things-we-learnt-from-frances-4-0-win-over-the-netherlands.html) and [Portugal](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/03/14/champions-league/1140672-porto-0-0-inter-milan-post-match-player-ratings.html).