France boss Didier Deschamps hailed goalkeeper Mike Maignan after seeing his late heroics deny the Republic of Ireland a primary level for his or her Euro 2024 qualification account.
Maignan clawed away a Ninetieth-minute Nathan Collins header seconds after holding out team-mate Jules Kounde’s tried clearance to make sure Benjamin Pavard’s purpose was sufficient to safe a 1-0 Group B win in Dublin.
The AC Milan keeper has taken over from World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris within the nationwide aspect and totally justified his standing as primary on the Aviva Stadium on an evening when he had little to do till the top.
Deschamps stated: “It was an incredible save and we know what Mike is capable of. Hugo was captain for a long time and he also made great saves.
“Mike has great qualities, his stature and his mentality. He saved a penalty last Friday, but this was more significant. I never had any doubts about him. He is a great leader and a great player.”
Pavard’s Fiftieth-minute strike in the end settled a sport which France dominated for lengthy durations with out inflicting Ireland too many real issues.
However, it took Maignan’s beautiful intervention to maintain out Collins’ effort, which might have totally justified Stephen Kenny’s game-plan and the way in which by which his gamers carried out it.
Republic boss Kenny stated: “We have watched France’s last 20 games and we’ve never seen Kylian Mbappe, who I voted for as the best player in the world, have such a quiet night. I’ve never seen it, never seen it.
“We didn’t concede any chances up to the goal and that was disappointing. The substitutes made an impact and we finished strongly in the last 15 minutes.
“Our goalkeeper made an excellent save, but the save from Nathan Collins was out of this world, one of those incredible saves, so we’re disappointed not to get at least a point.”
Ireland will resume their marketing campaign in Greece in June earlier than welcoming Gibraltar to the Aviva Stadium, and people fixtures are more likely to have a a lot higher say of their future than what they do in opposition to the French dwelling and away.
Asked if they’ll nonetheless spring a shock within the group, Kenny stated: “It is a very important campaign for us and we’re disappointed we didn’t get a point.
“But for sure there’s a lot of points to play for and we want to make sure that we put ourselves really in contention coming into the last couple of games.”
Deschamps and his gamers headed for dwelling with a most six factors from their first two fixtures following Friday night time’s 4-0 demolition of the Netherlands.
Asked what he would take from the double-header, the supervisor stated: “A lot of positives: six points, five goals scored and none conceded.
“It was a tough schedule coming here after Friday and against a fresh opponent. We didn’t play as well – Ireland played well, they defended well.
“We didn’t create as many chances and we needed an amazing save at the end, which was as important as a goal. I am very content and very proud of the character of the group.”