REPORT | WNT 0-3 France

Ireland put in a commanding performance in the opening 45 minutes, dominating long stretches of play and limiting France to occasional forays down the flanks that produced nothing more dangerous than the ball finding Courtney Brosnan’s side-netting.

The Girls in Green might even have taken the lead on 11 minutes when a superb through ball from Sinead Farrelly released Kyra Carusa who finished past Peyraud-Magnin in the French goal. But the assistant flagged for a very tight offside and the game remained level.

Then, against the run of play and in added time at the end of the first half, France struck twice to send the Irish women in two behind at the break. Maelle Lakrar bundled in the first after a spell of pinball in the Irish area, and Eugenie Le Sommer glided in a second two minutes later.

France started the second period like a different team and when their third came just after the hour mark it was no great surprise. It came from the head of Lakrar, smacking in her second of the night from Kenza Dali’s corner.

The result was beyond rescue at that stage and vera Pauw took the opportunity to send on a slew of substitutes, ensuring as many of of her squad saw some action before the flight to the Antipodes.

There were occasional half chances in the closing stages but Irish heads were, perhaps excusably, drifting towards the airport and the next monumental challenge. France showed them the kind fo quality they can expect to meet there, but Pauw’s side showed enough in the game to provoke considerable confidence.

Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Heather Payne (Aine O’Gorman 69), Niamh Fahey (Claire O’Riordan 69), Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly (Diane Caldwell 80), Katie McCabe (Izzy Atkinson 31); Sinead Farrelly (Abbie Larkin 80), Denise O’Sullivan, Ruesha Littlejohn (Lily Agg 69), Marissa Sheva; Kyra Carusa.

France: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin; Maelle Lakrar (Eve Perisset 74), Wendie Renard, Estelle Cascarino, Sakina Karchaoui (Viviane Asseyi 84); Grace Geyoro (Amel Majri 84), Sandie Toletti, Kenza Dali (Elisa De Almeida 61); Kadidiatou Diani (Clara Mateo 61), Eugenie Le Sommer (Naomie Feller 74), Selma Bacha.

Referee: Kirsty Dowle (England).