After the "Oranje", place to the "Boys in green", these "men in green" and their Aviva stadium in Dublin (less than 52,000 seats) announced full for the arrival of the vice-champions of the world, supported by a contingent of 2,900 French fans.

"The commitment will be there, with the public pushing well," said coach Didier Deschamps. "It will be a much more difficult match than we can think," Kylian Mbappe said in a conference on the eve of the match.

In the wake of their new captain, the French have brilliantly launched the qualifying campaign for the next European Championship, with a 4-0 victory against the decimated and disappointing Netherlands, Friday for their reunion with the Stade de France.

The trip to Ireland reserves for the Blues a completely different atmosphere in the boiling den of Lansdowne Road, fatal to their rugby counterparts a month earlier in the Six Nations Tournament (32-19).

This time, there is no question of a Grand Slam or a shock at the top of the world rankings, since the Republic of Ireland is only 48th in the FIFA tables with a rather anonymous generation, absent from the last Euro and the last five World Cups.

the 2023 calendar of Les Bleus © Jean-Michel CORNU / AFP

Irish "generosity"

"We tend, because of their reputation, to think that it will be a rough team, but that's not the case. It's a team that plays football," warned Mbappe. "This Ireland team has always had this generosity, this enthusiasm" but it has a certain "technical quality too", with a game "a little less direct", more on the ground, adds Deschamps.

The coach knows only too well the risk of these European trips in hostile territory: in 2022, his Blues have won none (defeat in Denmark, draws in Croatia and Austria). He is also aware that his group may appear more blunt than the Irish.

Exempt from meeting on the first day, Stephen Kenny's men were indeed able to fine-tune their preparation for this duel through a friendly match organized on Wednesday against Latvia, with a reshuffled team. They won 3-2 thanks to 18-year-old Evan Ferguson and Chiedozie Ogbene, who scored twice minutes into the game.

The France team, led by captain Kylian Mbappé, outclassed the Netherlands, on March 24, 2023 in Saint-Denis © FRANCK FIFE / AFP/Archives

Against Les Bleus, "it's a big test, but a test to enjoy. That will be the main message for the boys," said new assistant John O'Shea, formerly of Manchester United. "With a full stadium, it's a chance for us to show our young talents and our collective union," said the former defender, who started during the famous World Cup play-off in 2009, marked by Thierry Henry's hand.

Giroud in the rotation?

Since this confrontation, the France team has dominated the Irish twice, at Euro 2016 (2-1, double Antoine Griezmann) and then in preparation for the 2018 World Cup (2-0), with a goal from Olivier Giroud.

At 36, the N.9 hopes for a start in Dublin after starting France - Netherlands on the substitutes' bench. But Randal Kolo Muani impressed at Saint-Denis, redesigning the hierarchy of strikers.

Les Bleus striker Olivier Giroud (centre) started on the bench against the Netherlands, at the Stade de France, on March 24, 2023 © FRANCK FIFE / AFP/Archives

Another place is perhaps to be taken on the right of the attack, with Marcus Thuram or Moussa Diaby in postulants to push Kingsley Coman on the bench.

The position of left winger is reserved for several years by an unstoppable Kylian Mbappe. The armband of the new captain does not seem to slow down an irremediable rise: after his double Friday, the Parisian of 24 years is on a crazy series of 20 goals in 17 matches in the blue jersey.

If Deschamps reserves the possibility of making changes depending on the state of form, places will be expensive in defence - the Konaté-Upamecano hinge already seems well installed in front of goalkeeper Mike Maignan - as in the middle, where the trio Griezmann-Tchouaméni-Rabiot has convinced.

© 2023 AFP