Not many people would have expected to be going to bed disappointed that Ireland didn't gain at least a point after the Euro 2024 qualifier against France, but after some late world-class saves from Mike Maignan in the France net, Irish fans are now left thinking what could have been.
Stephen Kenny showed exactly why he is the right man for the job after what was a heroic performance from his team and ultimately a great night for Irish football.
From the spine-tingling rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann and electric atmosphere around the Aviva Stadium before a ball had even been kicked, it shows that the buzz around Irish football is finally returning.
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After defending efficiently for the majority of the game, Stephen Kenny brought on Alan Browne, Mikey Johnston and James McClean for the final quarter of an hour, a brave and attacking move which showed the Ireland manager's determination to get something out of the game.
It wasn't to be for the Boys in Green with Mike Maignan pulling off three fantastic saves to deny Nathan Collins twice and James McClean shortly after his introduction, as France nervously held on for all three points.
Full-time: 🇮🇪 0-1 🇫🇷
Two saves from Maignan within a minute denied Ireland a point. The first sparing Kounde an own-goal and then a superb effort to stop a Colins header that looked destined for the top corner
📱 Updates: https://t.co/MQPj9kO4Lu#IRLFRA #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/FUbB8FyjZh— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) March 27, 2023
One thing which Stephen Kenny will be disappointed about is how his side conceded just after half time, from a self inflicted error and another effort from distance.
A loose ball from Josh Cullen just outside the Irish 18-yard-box fell kindly into the path of Benjamin Pavard who unleashed a rocket into the back of the net.
⚽ GOAL
🇮🇪 0-1 🇫🇷
Ireland give the ball away on the edge of their own box and Pavard smashes a shot in off the crossbar
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📻 Listen: @GameOn2fm#IRLFRA #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/I7DxYmaVdU— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) March 27, 2023
Long range goal causes tense post-match interview for Stephen Kenny
It was the topic of Ireland conceding from yet another long range effort which sparked this tense moment between RTÉ's Tony O'Donoghue and Stephen Kenny during his post match interview. It starts around the 2.30 mark.
See Also: Didier Deschamps Was Very Impressed With Ireland Despite French Win In Dublin
🇮🇪 0-1 🇫🇷
"We're disappointed not to at least take a point," says Stephen Kenny after his side's somewhat unfortunate defeat to France.
📱 Match report: https://t.co/ttK2FhfiYs#IRLFRA #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/S4jfw7Ffju— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) March 27, 2023
O'Donoghue highlighted Josh Cullen's costly error, but Kenny was quick to defend the Burnley midfielder.
He won International Player of the Year so he's doing a lot right obviously and he very rarely gives the ball away. So, it's most uncharacteristic. Apart from that he performed very well on the night.
Tony O'Donoghue then went onto to question the Ireland manager about the number of goals that Ireland concede from outside of the box and asked whether if all the goals have "just been a fluke".
T'OD: Is it a fluke?
SK: Is it a fluke to what?
T'OD: That we concede so many goals from outside the area.
SK: We don't concede so many goals. Like we've obviously scored a lot.
T'OD That's 10 in 24 since 2021.
SK: 10 what?
T'OD: 10 goals
SK: Yeah well listen, that's going back a couple of years but I think that was on the edge of the box, it was a great goal from Pavard and you know Gavin had no chance. There was nothing he can do. Obviously we had a pass intercepted and we were punished and have to live with that, but I felt we gave everything.
Kenny then spoke about his overall thoughts from the game and said that he was "disappointed" not to take at least a point from the fixture.
We've been on a run of eight wins in 15 so the players are scoring goals. We've a lot of goals scored but not tonight. Now it's harder against the real top top nations, to score, to penetrate, it's not easy we had a game of few chances really. But we we're well in the game for long periods and they had a brilliant finish.
I thought the players gave it absolutely everything. They love playing for their country, they're a brilliant group to work with, they give everything and they're very connected. I think just fine margins tonight and I can't speak highly enough about them, but we're just disappointed not to at least take a point.
With a number of positives to take heading into June's qualifiers against Gibralter and Greece, Stephen Kenny will be happy that the only issue remaining to fix is that growing record of conceding from distance.
SEE ALSO: Ireland Player Ratings As Kenny's Men Fall Agonisingly Short Against France
See Also: Didier Deschamps Was Very Impressed With Ireland Despite French Win In Dublin
