Benjamin Pavard rolled back the years with a sensational winner as France got the better of a spirited Republic of Ireland side 1-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying Group B at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Monday.
Reinstated to the first XI, the Bayern Munich full-back finally broke down a beleaguered Ireland defence in the second half, as Stephen Kenny's side ultimately came away with nothing to show from their admirable endeavours.
With a vociferous wall of green behind them, Ireland enjoyed a positive start against the 2018 world champions, demonstrating control in possession and seemingly unaffected by the magnitude of the occasion.
Kenny's side unsurprisingly failed to trouble Mike Maignan, though, and France quickly gained the initiative following a largely passive opening 10 minutes from Didier Deschamps's team.
The effervescent Randal Kolo Muani asked a few questions of the Irish defence, but Kenny's rearguard had the answers, and the only noteworthy early chance was a blocked Antoine Griezmann effort from John Egan with 15 minutes gone.
Down the other end, Chiedozie Ogbene was causing Les Bleus a whole world of problems out wide, while Matt Doherty's explosive bursts were not going unnoticed either.
Griezmann sent a couple of chances wide as France's efforts to break down the Ireland backline continued to prove futile, and the Boys in Green were undoubtedly the happier of the two sides at half time.
However, Deschamps was the one cutting a happier figure within just five minutes of the restart, as returning right-back Pavard broke the Irish resistance thanks to a fatal error from Josh Cullen.
While trying to play out from the back, Cullen's pass to Jason Knight was quickly intercepted by Pavard, who proceeded to unleash a thunderous 20-yard effort into the net off the crossbar.
Shades of the Bayern Munich man's astonishing volley against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup arose when he rifled home the opener, but Ireland were not giving up the ghost in search of a leveller.
Pavard's effort was France's first shot on target at the Aviva Stadium, but their second nearly produced another goal, as substitute Moussa Diaby cut inside onto his left foot and forced Gavin Bazunu into a smart save at full stretch in the 69th minute.
The hosts relentlessly huffed and puffed for an equaliser in the final five minutes, but new France number one Maignan pulled off a pair of phenomenal saves right at the death, firstly from his own defender in Jules Kounde before somehow keeping out Nathan Collins's header on the 90-minute mark.
France remain top of Group B with six points from their opening two matches, and Les Bleus face a journey to Gibraltar in three months time, while Ireland sit fourth and are next in action away to Greece on June 16.
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