Stephen Kenny needs at least one victory to revive Ireland's campaign
A beaming sun projecting rays onto the Abbotstown training pitch on Monday contrasted with the sense of darkness feared about what the next six days could condemn Ireland and their manager to.
These pair of matches against the top seeds of the group, France on Thursday and Netherlands on Sunday, were circled after last October’s draw for the European qualifiers as a pair with error margin factored in.
That vision was obscured once Ireland failed to take something from the French at home in March but moreover succumbed to a lower seed, Greece, next time out in June. The goalless first-half that ensued against minnows Gibraltar was, to some, the most worrisome 45 minutes of Stephen Kenny’s three-year reign.
The French team that welcomes Ireland to Parc des Princes has an unblemished record of four straight wins, all clean sheets, commenced with a 4-0 thumping of the Dutch.
A fifth in front of their fans will all but complete qualification before they get familiar with the host country by taking on Germany next week in Hamburg. The friendly has been interpreted as an exhibition match.
France possess the depth to rotate their squad and still afford the standouts like Kylian Mbappé gametime in both matches.
Ibrahima Konaté is their sole absentee from a group bulging with Champions League winners but Didier Deschamps has an able deputy in William Saliba to partner Dayot Upamecano in central defence.
The Dutch, too, are blessed with riches, testified by the fact the controversy surrounding Ronald Koeman on his first day in camp relates to Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool’s £35m recruit hasn’t taken kindly to his move not triggering a restoration to the senior fold and he’s rebuffed an Under-21 call-up.
Two nations armed with
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