Key events
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! The whistles go around Europe.
Garry Breen on co-comms for Viaplay. This is a new experience for me. Plenty of pyrotechnics going off in Paris.
Can Republic of Ireland stop this man?
Josh Reynolds asks: “What about the sure thing thriller of Netherlands/Greece?!”
Here’s hoping …
“I expected Kazakhstan at home to be a tough opponent for Finland,” says Kári Tulinius, “but in the predatory bird derby the Eagle-Owls out-flew the Hawks and pounced first on every ball. The goal was a well worked move with Benjamin Källman sending a first-touch into the path of Oliver Antman, who slotted it in. Finland are top of their group at the half-way mark, which few were expecting, even here in Finland.”
They’ll be dancing on the streets of Helsinki tonight.
Have Republic of Ireland ever played France away before?
And there’s been late drama at Lithuania v Montenegro where Fedor Cernych scored a 94th minute equaliser after Stefan thought he had netted a last-minute winner of his own. The game finished 2-2.
A result from earlier … Finland went to Kazakhstan and came away with a 1-0 win thanks to an Oliver Antman goal.
As is the right of anyone doing these blogs, it is a fine chance to plug my work that is almost related to tonight’s events, even if it is not.
Starting lineups: Slovenia v Northern Ireland
Slovenia: Oblak; Karnicnik, Brekalo, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Subs: Belec, Vidovsek, Balkovec, Blazic, Stankovic, Matko, Lovric Kurtic, Drkusic, Zahovic, Celar
Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell; McNair, Evans, Brown; Hume, McMenamin, Charles, Saville, Kennedy; Price, Charles
Subs: Hazard, Southwood, Spencer, Toal, Smyth, Washington, Jones, Thompson, McCann, Lyons, Cathcart, Magennis
Starting lineups: France v Republic of Ireland
France: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lucas Hernández, Theo Hernández; Griezmann, Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Dembélé, Giroud, Mbappé
Subs: Samba, Areola, Pavard, Disasi, Camavinga, Kolo Muani, Tobido, Thurham, Saliba, Fofana, Kamara, Coman
Republic of Ireland: Bazunu; Collins, Duffy, Egan; Browne; Molumby, Cullen, Knight, Stevens; Idah, Ogbene
Subs: Kelleher, Travers, O’Shea, Smallbone, Keane, McClean, Hendrick, Connolly, McGrath, Lenihan, Ebosele, Manning
Preamble
International football is back! I think it is fair to admit there are not too many classics on the agenda tonight but we may be surprised by a few.
France host Republic of Ireland. In theory, it should be an exciting chance to witness one of the world’s best strikers in action but Evan Ferguson is injured, leaving us with the prospect of seeing Kylian Mbappe take the limelight. I fear for the Irish right-back.
Northern Ireland travel to Slovenia having secured one win in three matches and they really need to double that tally if they are to have any hope of qualifying. It is not exactly a vintage squad available to Michael O’Neill but they should create a tight match in Ljubljana.
The best of the rest? I think Czech Republic v Albania might be an intriguing clash. We shall see …
Join me for the 7.45pm BST kick-offs!