Now Pavard plays a ball in at the other end but Dara O'Shea is there to head it away.

The back three have been kept busy enough so far but have put their heads on everything.

Ah, now.

They try to be clever from the corner but Molumby takes a heavy touch and it's a chance wasted.

Matt Doherty is like a rampaging bull down the left.

He beats Kolo Muani and Pavard can't touch him as he's been booked.

He breaks into the area and Konate comes across to concede the corner.

Stephen Kelly
Former Republic of Ireland defender on RTE

It's absolutely brilliant from Evan Ferguson. He turns, spins away, a great little pivot from him and he's opened up into the space and takes the foul. It's amazing how that can relieve the pressure with Ferguson just holding onto the ball and bringing us into the game.

How did that not go in? It's pinball in the Irish area!

Olivier Giroud wins the header but his header bounces off Coleman on the six-yard line.

It could have gone anywhere and Mbappe is racing towards it, but Bazunu is alert and pounces on the loose ball.

Seamus Coleman puts in a big tackle on Mbappe as he broke into the area.

He's conceded a corner though...

Image source, Inpho

Benjamin Pavard is booked for hacking down Jason Knight as the hosts looked to break away.

Evan Ferguson, who has been kept quiet, did really well to hold the ball up and feed Knight.

Image source, Inpho

There's some lovely footwork from Mbappe and Rabiot on the edge of the area, but again Ireland stand firm and the ball is shuffled back to the halfway line.

Stephen Kelly
Former Republic of Ireland defender on RTE

Chances like that, from a great crossing position, we can't let those opportunities pass us by. It has to be a decent delivery in and if we can get that first contact, it's so important.

That's really got the crowd going.

Not that they had ever stopped, to be honest.

Jason Knight stands over this one. He throws it into the mixer and Dara O'Shea wins the initial header, but it falls to white shirts and the French break away.

Jayson Molumby stops the counter with a huge tackle on Rabiot, and he fist pumps to the crowd after winning it.

You love to see it!

Take two. Matt Doherty wins the ball of Kolo Muani, who takes his man down in return.

It's a lot further out but another chance to get the big centre backs into the area.

Josh Cullen whips it in towards John Egan but France manage to clear.

Not a bad delivery but the visitors dealt with it easily enough.

There's a brief shout for a handball as Kolo Muani tried to clear. There's VAR in operation but it won't be required for that one.

Ogbene wins a free-kick in the corner off Hernandez, who gave him a shove in the back. That's one very rapid battle.

This is a chance to get the big men forward.

Mbappe has his first shot at goal from the edge of the area but John Egan is out quickly to take the sting out of it.

France are building...

Stephen Kelly
Former Republic of Ireland defender on RTE

There's a bit of miscommunication on that left-hand side between Rabiot, Mbappe and Hernandez. It's not quite gelling, which is great for us!

John Egan has a little nibble at Olivier Giroud, who didn't really appreciate it, and France have the free-kick.

It's worked out wide to Kylian Mbappe but his ball is straight at Bazunu.

After a bright start the Republic have been forced well inside their own half. France are happy to keep it and wait for that space to open up.

The green wall is holding firm so far.

Stephen Kelly
Former Republic of Ireland defender on RTE

Ireland's shape has been fantastic. I know it's early on but they're making it very hard to play between the lines, they're picking up really good positions in the middle of the park, not letting those balls into the front men and then forcing balls like that where they can shift around and win the ball.

The ball by Dayot Upamecano for that chance was outrageous, by the way.

Found his man perfectly.

Speaking of Randal Kolo Muani, he's just been emptied by Josh Cullen but the Irish man avoids a yellow card.