Ireland go down fighting as France extinguish dream
Melvine Malard went had over heels to break Irish hearts in Grenoble, as Carla Ward's courageous outfit saw their dream of automatic World Cup qualification ended by one moment of magnificence.
The Girls in Green had to win to top the group and earn a direct ticket to Brazil next summer. Against a supremely talented French outfit, they fell just sort, Malard's first-half overhead kick earning the hosts a victory that sends them to South America.
This was by no means straightforward for Les Bleues, ranked seventh in the world. They had Thiniba Samoura sent off inside the last 20 minutes for a second yellow, and were indebted to goalkeeper Constance Picaud who made vital saves to deny Abbie Larkin and Anna Patten.
But they saw it out, and Ireland will now head for the autumn's play-off semi-finals as a seeded country, a reward for a campaign jammed with positives. The draw takes place on 18 June.
Any hopes the French might take their eye off the ball were diminished in the warm-up as a diligent coach placed down training cones in a very particular order: blue, red, then white. Attention to detail was not lacking as Laurent Bonadei's swashbuckling side hunted a win to book their ticket to South America.
The hosts drummed it up before kick-off: pyrotechnics, choreographed smoke displays and a very enthusiastic PA announcer had the natives animated. That energy transmitted to the pitch.
France had Ireland in a bear trap during a brutally good opening 15 minutes.
Sandy Baltimore bobbed past Aoife Mannion to fizz in a low cross that was lashed away; then the mercurial Sakina Karchaoui was upended on the left flank by Denise O'Sullivan, who caught the same player on the midriff a few minutes later to draw howls of disapproval from the crowd.
Grace Geyoro and Karchaoui see-sawed in the engine room to disorientate Ireland; most of France’s dangerous moves flowed through the super slick pair. Selma Bacha also kept popping up in pockets to bewilder the visitors with disguised passes and cute decisions. It was relentless; France’s sheer talent crystallised at the foothills of the Alps.
The little pocket of Irish fans roared until their throats were hoarse. Just after the half-hour mark they rose in unison when Mannion released Kyra Carusa down the right channel after the forward had bent her run. Carusa’s whipped low cross was decent; keeper Constance Picaud read it well to gather.
But the pressure began to crank up again heading for half-time. And when the breakthrough did arrive in the 40th minute, its quality brought the house down.
After Connolly glanced away a Karchaoui cross from the left, the clearance kissed Malard’s forehead and looped skywards. As photographers’ cameras flashed and snapped, the Manchester United star catapulted herself into a cartwheel shape and volleyed home a wondrous finish. It was a moment of immense class.
In their hunger to hit back swiftly, Ireland got an opening after Carusa crashed into Picaud and the ball skidded out towards O’Sullivan inside the France half. Her attempt drifted well wide, and Ward’s troops headed for the break one down.
Ward was consistent in her messaging in the build-up: the pressure is off, there is nothing to lose.
So it was no surprise Ireland came out swinging on the turnaround.
An excellent move in the 59th minute, decorated with an eye-catching O’Sullivan dummy, almost saw Carusa surge through. Her touch let her down at the crucial moment.
The introduction of Jess Ziu for Connolly just after the hour mark was the first signal of Ward’s intention to go for broke. Ireland began to ask questions.
Mannion did well to break down the right and drop a ball towards the back post where Murphy was waiting. Her downward header fell to Marisa Sheva, who drilled in a low shot that Picaud gathered under pressure from Carusa. Soon after, McCabe’s deep free-kick evaded a sea of bodies to land nicely at the feet of Anna Patten. Again Picaud did well to make the save.
France still fixed with danger on the bresk, but the mood shifted 18 minutes from time. Ziu threaded through a sumptuous pass for Murphy to hare after. She was a long way from goal but would have been through had Samoura not cynically tugged her to the ground. That was a second yellow, France were down to 10.
That was the cue for Ireland to throw their chips on the table. Abbie Larkin, on for Carusa, had a massive chance in the 79th minute after Murphy forced the ball into her path off a Patten cross. From point-blank range, Larkin's effort smashed into Picaud's stomach.
Ireland plucked way, but when Katie McCabe's goalbound free-kick smacked into Amber Barrett, the jig was up. This just wasn't Ireland's night, but thy have shown enough to suggest they can wash way this disappointment when the play-offs roll around in October.
France: Constance Picaud; Alice Sombath, Thiniba Samoura, Maelle Lakrar, Selma Bacha (Marie-Antoinette Katoto 69); Grace Geyoro (capt), Sakina Karchaoui, Orlane Jean-Francois; Sandy Baltimore, Melvine Malard (Anaele Le Moguedec 75), Delphine Cascarino (Melween N’Dongala 70)
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion (Saoirse Noona 89), Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki, Katie McCabe (capt); Denise O'Sullivan (Jess Ziu 61), Megan Connolly, Marissa Sheva (Amber Barrett 89); Kyra Carusa (Abbie Larkin 70), Emily Murphy
Referee: Désirée Blanco (Switzerland)
Attendance: 7,559
