The 24-year-old gave the assist but was not credited with a goal. Mbappé passed the ball to Aurélien Tchouaméni of Real Madrid on a tee instead of trying to take a shot or dribble into the area to start the scoring.
With the exception of a Chiedozie Ogbene header that forced a superb save from Mike Maignan, Stephen Kenny’s team struggled to trouble the hosts enough. Ousmane Dembele tormented Enda Stevens to the point where he was replaced at halftime, and Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann delighted a fervent home crowd.Gavin Bazunu, the Ireland goalkeeper, had been criticized heavily in France prior to the game for his propensity to allow goals from distance. However, there was little he could have done to stop Tchouameni’s beautifully struck effort in the 19th minute, and he was left exposed when replacement Thuram extended the lead after 48 minutes.
Although the result in Paris was never going to define their campaign, Ireland was up against it after their loss in Greece, and a repeat performance against the Dutch would practically put an end to all hope.Following a pull-back from Dembele, Adrien Rabiot hammered a shot into Bazunu’s stomach. Later, when Theo Hernandez had outrun the Irish right-back’s cover, John Egan had to make a crucial block to stop Olivier Giroud from scoring.
After Griezmann’s corner was taken out of Bazunu’s reach by Adam Idah, Mbappe could have done better from the ensuing corner, scooping a tame attempt over the top. The Ireland goalkeeper was relieved to see the Atletico Madrid star’s swinging free-kick, which reared up at him in the 15th minute, smuggled away after it reared up at him. He was, however, defeated four minutes later when Griezmann’s cross was knocked away by Nathan Collins after he had headed down for Dembele. Mbappe then recycled the loose ball to Tchouameni, who curled a beautiful strike across the Southampton goalkeeper and inside the far post from 25 yards.Giroud was replaced by Thuram after leaving the game with an injury after collapsing under Egan’s challenge in the 24th minute. With Mbappe dropping deep to gain possession, the visitors were under almost constant pressure, with Ogbene’s sporadic but largely unsupported forays down the right being their only significant outlet.
Bazunu comfortably stopped a speculative shot from Mbappe, but he was glad to see an offside flag save him after the Paris St. Germain star stabbed a shot between his legs in the 42nd minute.James McClean took over for Stevens at halftime, but within three minutes of the resumption, Thuram pounced on a loose ball to slam it into the roof of the net after Mbappe had failed to capitalize on a Theo Hernandez cross.Idah beat the offside trap and curled a left-footed shot that would have cut the score in half for the Republic had it not been for Maignan’s brilliant save. With little to lose, the Republic threw caution to the wind. A late offside flag saved Mbappe’s face after he had missed the goal in a one-on-one fight with Bazunu. Bazunu then did well to save another Tchouameni piledriver 23 minutes from time. Ireland’s newfound feeling of daring made them susceptible at the back.Only strong defense, a string of ineffective last balls, and a poor miss by Thuram prevented further damage to the visitors after Dembele rattled the upright from a tight angle with France in full control.
