France have Euro 2024 berth in sight after taking ‘important step’ against Ireland
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France's Aurelien Tchouameni celebrates scoring their first goal with Kylian Mbappe and Theo Hernandez.
PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS – France took an “important step” towards qualifying for Euro 2024 with a 2-0 home victory over Ireland on Thursday, while the Netherlands and Denmark claimed big wins as they eye spots at the Finals in Germany.
Aurelien Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram scored either side of half-time and Les Bleus could have added several more goals as they outclassed Ireland at the Parc des Princes in Paris in Group B.
The beaten World Cup 2022 finalists have a maximum 15 points and have yet to concede a goal after five matches in the group, which they lead by a massive nine points from both the Netherlands and Greece.
“It is an important step. We have enjoyed a perfect campaign so far but we are not going to rest on our laurels,” said France coach Didier Deschamps.
“My players are doing what it takes, even if we could have put in a little more tonight. But I’m not going to be choosy, against an opponent who was very aggressive. It was not easy to find solutions.”
Playing the 900th game in their history, this was France at somewhat like their formidable best as their athleticism and physicality, allied with far superior technical ability, gave Ireland no chance, even if Deschamps was not entirely pleased.
It was a rare outing for Les Bleus at what is French football’s spiritual home of the Parc des Princes, with the Stade de France given over to the hosting of the Rugby World Cup.
Elsewhere, Ronald Koeman’s Dutch side, who have played just three games, beat Greece 3-0 in Eindhoven with all the goals coming in the first half.
Marten de Roon smashed in their opener in the 17th minute, Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo made it 2-0 just past the half-hour mark and Wout Weghorst headed in the third on 39 minutes.
Ireland, with just three points after four games, will surely need to beat the Netherlands at home on Sunday to maintain a realistic chance of going through, with the top two teams in each group qualifying.
“At home, since the full crowds have been back, the energy of the crowd has been important and we will need that,” Ireland manager Stephen Kenny said about that upcoming game in Dublin.
“We have a lot to think about in relation to how we are going to play after tonight.”
In Group H, a late Oliver Antman goal gave Finland a 1-0 win in Kazakhstan, damaging the Central Asian nation’s hopes of qualifying for a first major tournament.
France’s forward Marcus Thuram (right) scores their second goal.
PHOTO: AFP
Finland top the group with 12 points, two points ahead of Denmark and Slovenia, who both also won on Thursday.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joakim Maehle, Jonas Wind and Christian Eriksen netted as the Danes defeated San Marino 4-0 in Copenhagen, while new Manchester United signing Rasmus Hojlund appeared off the bench in the second half. Meanwhile, Andraz Sporar scored twice as Slovenia beat Northern Ireland 4-2 in Ljubljana. AFP, REUTERS
