FROM DALYMOUNT TO LYON: A ROUSING RIVALRY

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Republic of Ireland 3 France 5 World Cup qualifier, Oct 4, 1953 France raced into a 3-0 lead at Dalymount Park as goals from Leon Glovacki, Armand Penverne and Joseph Ujlaki put them in the driving seat with just five minutes of the second half gone. Reg Ryan’s penalty reduced the deficit, but Ujlaki’s second and Pierre Flamion’s strike meant late efforts from Davy Walsh and Frank O’Farrell counted for little.

Republic of Ireland 2 France 1 World Cup qualifier, Nov 15, 1972 Ray Treacy was Ireland’s hero with a 76th-minute winner after Jean-Michel Larque had cancelled out Terry Conroy’s first-half strike.

Republic of Ireland 3 France 2 World Cup qualifier, Oct 14, 1981 Even a late goal by French great Michel Platini could not rescue his team as Philippe Mahut’s own goal and further efforts from Frank Stapleton and Michael Robinson saw the Republic home despite Bruno Bellone’s ninthminute equaliser.

Republic of Ireland 0 France 1 World Cup qualifier, Sept 7, 2005 There was no question about Thierry Henry’s intervention on this occasion as the Arsenal striker’s 68th-minute goal was the difference between the sides at Lansdowne Road.

Republic of Ireland 0 France 1 World Cup play-off first leg, Nov 14, 2009 Ireland felt hard done by when a draw they believed would not be seeded eventually was and they landed the French, and their hopes of making it to South Africa were dealt a potentially fatal blow when Nicolas Anelka fired his side to a 1-0 win in Dublin.

France 1 Republic of Ireland 1 (aet) Second leg, Novr 18, 2009 Giovanni Trapattoni’s men headed for the Stade de France with nothing to lose and Robbie Keane’s first-half goal took the tie in extra time as they turned in a fine display, only to have their hearts broken when Henry’s handball during the build-up to William Gallas’ equaliser was missed by officials.

TALKING POINTS

Stick or twist? Martin O’Neill’s decision to replace John O’Shea, Ciaran Clark, Glenn Whelan and Wes Hoolahan with Shane Duffy, Richard Keogh, James McClean and Daryl Murphy for the Italy game was bold, but paid dividends. Jonathan Walters’ return to training could give him another decision to make. ÷Generation Game Shay Given, Robbie Keane and O’Shea have amassed a staggering 389 caps between them, but none was involved against Italy on a night when the baton was effectively passed on to a new generation of Irish stars.

Friend or foe? The team and fans have been welcomed to France with open arms but that will all go out of the window in Lyon today.

Fan power Ireland took Lille by storm as fans packed the Stade Pierre Mauroy and almost lifted the roof off when Robbie Brady headed his side to victory. However, the Irish fans have been allocated only 4,500 tickets for today’s match at the 59,000-capacity Stade de Lyon and while more will find a way in, they will be outnumbered by the French.