France defender Benjamin Pavard made a spectacular comeback to the team as his superb second-half strike saw them beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0 away in Euro 2024 qualifying Group B on Monday.

Pavard, cast aside at last year’s World Cup after a woeful opening game, struck from 18 metres to put France on six points from two games after Friday’s 4-0 drubbing of the Netherlands.

France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who took over as number one after Hugo Lloris’s international retirement, denied the hosts an equaliser with a stunning save in the last minute, three days after stopping a penalty at the Stade de France.

France lead the group ahead of second-placed Greece, who have three points having only played once, with the Dutch third on goal difference after beating Gibraltar 3-0 at home.

Ireland, however, will feel confident of making a play for second spot. They next meet Greece before playing Gibraltar this summer.

Republic of Ireland vs France latest news

• Full match report

Thank you

21:53 , Jonathan Gorrie

Thank you for joining Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of France’s nervy win over Ireland in tonight’s Euro 2024 qualifer.

Read our full match report below!

Pavard punishes Ireland as Maignan forced to save underwhelming France

21:52 , Jonathan Gorrie

Benjamin Pavard scored the only goal of the game as an underwhelming France beat the Republic of Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Stephen Kenny’s side largely held the World Cup finalists at bay in their Euro 2024 qualifier but were punished for their one defensive mistake only minutes after the interval.

After a first-half to have yielded not a single shot from either side, Ireland midfielder Josh Cullen played a loose ball deep in his own half in the 49^th minute.

Bayern Munich defender Pavard pounced on the turnover in possession and struck a powerful drive over Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu which rattled in after hitting the crossbar.

Read the full story here!

FT: Ireland 0-1 France

21:38 , Jonathan Gorrie

Pavard’s goal the difference but a late rally provides reason for optimism.

CHANCE FOR IRELAND!

21:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

88 mins: Kounde heads the ball right at his own goalkeeper from a late corner but Maignan saves.

From the following corner, Nathan Collins goes even closer but the AC Milan ‘keeper pulls off an even better stop!

CHANCE FOR IRELAND!

21:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

83 mins: McClean runs inside and gets a shot away but Maignan saves well.

Al hands on deck now

21:26 , Jonathan Gorrie

82 mins: Little to lose for Ireland now and Kenny’s side are pushing forward.

CHANCE FOR FRANCE!

21:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

68 mins: Diaby twists and turns before shooting across goal but Bazunu does well to meet it.

Ireland still in this

21:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

62 mins: Set-pieces will be crucial and Ireland look as if they’ve noticed something.

Any time one is played in, they’ve gone for a flat delivery and a flick-on. If they can keep the French only one goal ahead, it might just work.

GOAL! Ireland 0-1 France | Benjamin Pavard ‘49

20:54 , Jonathan Gorrie

49 mins: Very cruel on Ireland.

Cullen plays a poor ball out and Pavard picks up the loose ball before unleashing a lovely strike past Bazunu.

Back underway!

20:49 , Jonathan Gorrie

No changes at the break.

HT: Ireland 0-0 France

20:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

Very solid from Ireland so far, albeit France are yet to really get going.

HT: Ireland 0-0 France

20:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

Very solid from Ireland so far, albeit France are yet to really get going.

Ireland will be the happier of the two teams

20:24 , Jonathan Gorrie

36 mins: While the home side haven’t troubled France, they’ve done well to deny them many chances.

Of the two, Ireland will be the happier.

Ireland looking largely comfortable

20:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

27 mins: Any time France look to cross, one of the big three Irish central defenders manage to clear.

So far, the home side look comfortable.

CHANCE FOR FRANCE!

20:12 , Jonathan Gorrie

23 mins: Giroud meets Griezmann’s corner with a thumping header, though it hits Coleman before Collins, taking the pace off the ball. Bazunu gets to the loose ball before Mbappe.

France growing into the game

20:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

16 mins: The French all but camped just outside the Irish penalty area now, though the home side are doing well to block out the space.

CHANCE FOR FRANCE!

19:56 , Jonathan Gorrie

08 mins: Collins clears lines as Kolo Muani looks to get across and onto Mbappe’s cross.

Nice positive start from Ireland

19:51 , Jonathan Gorrie

03 mins: Kenny’s side feeling confident enough to play the ball out from the back and Coleman could well be the recipient of some good switches in play with Mbappe not one to track back.

France look as if they’re willing to cede ground in the opening stages.

Mbappe booed

19:49 , Jonathan Gorrie

01 mins: Some atmosphere in Dublin tonight, with Mbappe booed at every turn.

KICK-OFF

19:48 , Jonathan Gorrie

We’re off!

19:36 , Jonathan Gorrie

The main man in action

19:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

19:11 , Jonathan Gorrie

Who else is in this group?

19:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

The Netherlands, Greece and Gibraltar make up the group.

A very tough ask for Ireland...

Confirmed France lineup

18:35 , Jonathan Gorrie

Confirmed Ireland lineup

18:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

Coleman to start!

18:20 , Jonathan Gorrie

Brilliant news for Ireland!

Dara O’Shea urges Ireland to write their own history

17:54 , Jonathan Gorrie

The West Brom defender wants a famous night in Dublin despite the odds being stacked against the Irish.

“These are the nights we want to have as a group,” said O’Shea.

“We’ve watched back those nights as fans, some of the lads have played in those and can show their expertise and knowledge and share that with us.

“But yes, we want to write our own history. We want to go out and put a good performance in and do the country proud.”

Mbappe’s message to Evan Ferguson

17:49 , Jonathan Gorrie

The Brighton forward’s rapid rise in the Premier League has certainly not eluded Mbappe.

Of Ferguson, Mbappe said: “He’s a good striker, an important striker for that team.

“We’ve seen some clips about him, of course.

“But we hope tomorrow he’s going to do nothing and that means we are going to win and we’re going to do our job. But he is a good player.”

Latest odds

17:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

Republic of Ireland: 6/1

Draw: 16/5

France: 4/9

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

Head to head (h2h) history and results

17:24 , Jonathan Gorrie

The Republic have not beaten Les Bleus since a 3-2 win in qualification for the 1982 World Cup.

Republic of Ireland wins: 4

Draws: 5

France wins: 8

Mbappe at the double as France demolish dismal Dutch on Koeman return

17:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

France did not suffer from any World Cup hangover as they blew away the woeful Netherlands 4-0 in a one-sided opening Group B qualifier for Euro 2024.

New captain Kylian Mbappe was on target twice in Les Bleus’ first game since the heartbreak of losing the final on penalties to Argentina after a thrilling comeback in Qatar three months ago, with his side producing a devastating early 21-minute goal blitz against an injury-ravaged Dutch team in Paris to make an emphatic start on the road to Germany.

Antoine Griezmann swept home France’s quickest goal since 2006 after only one minute and 55 seconds having been teed up perfectly by Mbappe, swiftly putting to bed reports of any rift between the pair after Mbappe was recently appointed as his country’s latest skipper by head coach Didier Deschamps to replace the retired Hugo Lloris.

Lloris was honoured ahead of kick-off along with fellow international retirees Raphael Varane, Blaise Matuidi and Steve Mandanda, with Karim Benzema having reportedly turned down an invitation to the ceremony. There was also a minute’s applause to remember late France icon and scorer of the most goals ever at a single World Cup in Just Fontaine, who sadly died earlier this month at the age of 89.

Relentless Les Bleus were eager to pay tribute to one of their most famous players as they went 2-0 up inside just eight minutes, a dangerous free-kick from the pink-haired Griezmann bouncing in off Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano after Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen had been caught in no man’s land.

Two became three just 13 minutes later when Mbappe started an attack and raced into the box to collect Aurelien Tchouameni’s fine low pass via an expert dummy from Randal Kolo Muani, selected ahead of record scorer Olivier Giroud to lead the attack, then coolly wrong-footing Cillessen at his near post.

France had to wait a long time for their fourth, with substitute Moussa Diaby seeing an accomplished finish ruled out for offside before Mbappe completed his brace late on, weaving this way and that and sitting down both Jurrien Timber and Daley Blind - on for his 100th Netherlands cap that will quickly be forgotten - before masterfully picking out the bottom corner.

His 38th goal in only 67 caps saw him move clear of Ballon d’Or holder Benzema as France’s outright fifth-highest scorer of all time aged 24, with only Michel Platini, Griezmann, Thierry Henry and Giroud now sitting ahead of the Paris Saint-Germain superstar in the scoring charts.

A wretched opening to Ronald Koeman’s second reign as the Dutch national coach was completed in the final seconds, when Memphis Depay had a tame penalty thwarted by Lloris’ heir apparent Mike Maignan after Upamecano was unable to move his hand away from a Wout Weghorst header inside the box.

France will be bursting with confidence as they head to Dublin next to face the Republic of Ireland on Monday night, while the Netherlands - who were already beset by injuries before seeing five players withdraw with a virus on the eve of this game - will be heavy favourites to bounce back against Group B minnows Gibraltar in Rotterdam.

Prediction: Routine France win

17:18 , Jonathan Gorrie

Few would envy Ireland for starting their qualification campaign in this way and it is very difficult to look past the French for taking all three points.

A 3-1 win to France.

France team news: Kolo Muani pushing Giroud

17:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

Randal Kolo Muani will hope to start again for France but has Olivier Giroud competing for the striker’s spot. N’Golo Kante is among a number of players absent through injury.

Republic of Ireland team news: Coleman could feature

17:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

The hosts have named Seamus Coleman in their matchday squad following a thigh injury that kept him out of the Latvia win.

Where to watch Republic of Ireland vs France

17:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

TV channel: In the UK, the game is being broadcast live on Viaplay Sports. A subscription costs £14.99 a month, or £11.99 a month if you opt for a 12-month contract.

Live stream: Viaplay Sports subscribers can stream the game live on the Viaplay website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Welcome

17:11 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifier against France tonight,

Kick-off inside Dublin’s Aviva Stadium is at 7.45pm BST.