Aurelien Tchouameni thumped home a delightful finish from outside the box as France took another giant step towards the Euro 2024 finals with a commanding 2-0 win over Republic of Ireland in Paris.
2024 EURO qualification
2-0
The World Cup finalists were utterly dominant at the Parc de Princes with the Real Madrid midfielder putting the gloss on an impressive first-half display as he arrowed a shot into the corner of the net from Kylian Mbappe's set-up assist on 19 minutes.
Captain Mbappe was also involved in the second as his attempted finish on 48 minutes was blocked before substitute Marcus Thuram pounced on the loose ball to swivel and clinically bury his first international goal.
France move onto a maximum 15 points from five matches as runaway Group B leaders with Stephen Kenny's outclassed visitors – who lost substitute forward Will Keane to an unfortunate injury on 78 minutes – marooned on three points from their opening four fixtures.
Les Bleus’ staggering consistency continues. They last lost a European Championship qualifier at home against Belarus 13 years ago and have yet to lose a goal in this qualifying campaign.
While Kenny's Republic team realistically need to overcome Netherlands in Dublin on Sunday night to keep alive any faint hopes of qualification.
Match Events
3' Rabiot's shot stopped
4' Mbappe's shot over the bar
19' GOAL! France 1-0 Republic of Ireland (Tchouaméni)
39' OFFSIDE! Mbappe’s goal disallowed
48' GOAL! France 2-0 Republic of Ireland (Thuram)
66' Tchouameni's long shot stopped
Line-ups
France XI: Giroud, Griezmann, Maignan, Rabiot, Lucas, Dembele, Theo, Mbappe, Upamecano, Kounde, Aurélien Tchouaméni
Subs: Areola, Brice Samba, Coman, Thuram, Pavard, Axel Disasi, Kamara, Muani, Todibo, Youssouf Fofana, William Saliba, Eduardo Camavinga
Republic of Ireland XI: Stevens, Duffy, Egan, Alan Browne, Josh Cullen, Chiedozie Ogbene, Molumby, Gavin Bazunu, Idah, Nathan Collins, Jason Knight
Subs: McClean, Darragh Lenihan, Hendrick, Will Keane, Ryan Manning, Jamie McGrath, Kelleher, Travers, O'Shea, Will Smallbone, Connolly, Festy Ebosele