France friendly ahead for the Boys in Green

While Republic of Ireland football fans would much prefer to be planning their trip to Russia for next summer’s World Cup, there is some ever-so-slight consolation with the news that the Boys in Green will take on France in a friendly in Paris on 28 May.

Ireland supporters who had booked and paid for World Cup tickets in the first ticket phase were refunded their money this week from FIFA following Ireland’s qualification elimination at the hands of Denmark last month. They may now look to convert some of that refund into a May trip to Paris.

Martin O’Neill’s men will be making a return to the Stade de France where they drew 1-1 with Sweden in their opening game of last year’s European Championship.

The Saint Denis stadium was of course also the venue where, under manager Giovanni Trapattoni, Ireland were ‘handed’ their exit papers in the playoff against Les Blues for qualification for the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

The 0-0 draw with France at the Stade de France in 2004, in front of close to 30,000 Irish supporters, was probably the highlight of the Brian Kerr managerial era.

This will be the 17^th match between the sides, with the most recent encounter being the 2-1 loss in Lyon in the last sixteen of Euro 2016 after which France went on to make the final of that tournament.

France are also due to play home friendlies against Colombia, Italy and the United States, along with a match away to World Cup hosts Russia in late March.

Didier Deschamps’ team will play their first game at the World Cup against Australia in Kazan. They will then take on Peru and Denmark in their remaining group games.

Ireland will begin their participation in the UEFA Nations League next September and the draw for that competition will take place on 24 January in Lausanne.

It is widely expected that the FAI will announce another friendly for March 2018 with a trip to Turkey on the cards.

BREAKING: Ireland will travel to the Stade de France to face France on May 28 in an international friendly. #COYBIGpic.twitter.com/rT2DeTuOM5

— FAIreland (@FAIreland) December 15, 2017