Euro 2025 qualifier - France beat Republic of Ireland as NI draw with Malta

1. Northern Ireland v Malta (19:00 BST)
2. Watch live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website
3. France v Republic of Ireland (20:10 BST)

Final throw of the dice

Emily Wilson comes on for the last minutes.

Northern Ireland still searching.

Time running out

Things have gone a bit flat here.

Northern Ireland still controlling the game but Malta have been relatively comfortable across the last ten minutes or so.

Only three minutes plus stoppage time for Northern Ireland to find what they'll feel would be a deserved winner.

CLOSE!

Sandie Toletti with an absolute rocket of a strike from just outside the box which Courtney Brosnan does well to palm over the crossbar.

That would have been a stylish way for France to double their lead!

A Kadidiatou Diani corner causes a scramble in the box which leaves Griedge Mbock unmarked.

However, her resulting strike is off target.

France are still piling on the pressure - can they convert one of their chances and double their lead?

Great effort!

After a neat one-two between Chole McCarron and Megan Bell, the Glentoran midfielder tries her luck from distance.

Pushed away for a corner by Zuereb.

Another Malta injury

Emma Lipman struggling now.

The Malta skipper makes way having been really solid all evening, especially in the air.

Connie Scofield is on for her Northern Ireland debut too. She'll get 20 minutes in the green shirt after replacing Hamilton.

As I say that, Ireland have their best chance!

Katie McCabe shows great skill and pace down the left flank and the ball falls to Denise O'Sullivan at the edge of the box.

However, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin remains untested in the opening 15 minutes.

Frustration growing for NI

We've gone beyond the hour mark and still just those two efforts on target for Northern Ireland.

Their possession has hovered around two-thirds all game long but they'll know they need to do more with it.

Jackie Burns yet to have a save to make but there have been signs of Malta looking more dangerous on the counter as the hosts press forward.

Frustration growing in Belfast, all the more so with those big refereeing decisions having gone against Oxtoby's side.

Press Eye

France in control

It's been a dominant display from France so far and they are really pushing for another goal here.

Kenza Dali's corner is headed towards goal by Kadidiatou Diani, but it lacks the power to test Courtney Brosnan.

Substitutions

Keri Halliday and Megan Bell are on for Northern Ireland with Joely Andrews and Marissa Callaghan making way.

For Malta, Sultana has gone off injured with Kailey Willis taking the striker's place.

GOAL- France 1-0 Republic of Ireland

The perfect start to the game for the home side as a Kenza Dali free-kick from a dangerous position is flicked across the face of goal by Maelle Lakrar and Marie-Antoinette Katoto is able to steer the ball home at the back post.

BBC Sport

France goal

Eve Perisset is causing the Republic of Ireland problems on the right flank already and Heather Payne is forced to deflect the ball out for a corner, which the home side fail to take advantage of.

Foul or no foul?

Andy Gray

BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

The corner flag was lucky not to be booked there for catching Demi Vance. That was a manic 30 seconds.

Tanya Oxtoby threw her hands up in frustration in the technical area after that decision to not award a penalty shortly after.

After watching the replay, Magill definitely appeared to be caught by Alishia Sultana.

Things aren't going Northern Ireland's way on that front.

Northern Ireland Disallowed goal

Make up your own mind...is there a handball in there?

Watch: Simone Magill's goal is disallowed

Penalty claim

Simone Magill involved again. She gets to the ball first after Northern Ireland swing in a cross at the second attempt but is she tripped from behind by Alishia Sultana?

Northern Ireland will certainly feel the key decisions have gone against them.

KICK-OFF

We're underway in Metz!

France haven't lost a competitive game at home since the 2019 World Cup. Can they continue their impressive form or can Eileen Gleeson's side get their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign off to a winning start?

Better from Malta

An improved showing from Malta to start the second-half.

They string a few passes together before Shona Zammit flashes one past the post.

Second-half underway

With the disallowed goal the biggest talking point of the first-half, we get underway with the second 45.

No changes for either side at the break.

Northern Ireland still searching for that elusive breakthrough.

Team News

Republic of Ireland

A huge relief for the Republic of Ireland fans is that Denise O'Sullivan, who missed the friendlies against Italy and Wales, returns to the squad and is in the starting XI.

Anna Patten, who just received international clearance, makes her debut in Metz this evening.

Emily Murphy makes her starting debut after coming on as a substitute against Wales.

Katie McCabe, as ever, captains the side and Kyra Carusa leads the threat upfront.

One negative for Eileen Gleeson's side is that Jess Ziu will miss the game after picking up an injury.

France: Peyraud-Magnin, Lakrar, Mbock, Perisset, Karchaoui, Toletti, Dali, Geyoro, Diani, Katoto, Cascarino.

Subs: Picaud, Durand, Bacha, Baltimore, Becho, Cascarino, Dufour, Henry, Le Garrec, Le Guilly, Le Sommer, Renard.

Republic of Ireland: Brosnan, Louise Quinn, Hayes, Connolly, O'Sullivan, McCabe, Patten, Mannion, Payne, Carusa, Murphy.

Subs: Moloney, Whitehouse, Stapleton, Campbell, Caldwell, Littlejohn, Barrett, Lucy Quinn, Agg, Toland, Kiernan, Atkinson.

Debut for 'energetic soul' Scofield in the second-half?

Andy Gray

BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

Getty Images

London City Lionesses midfielder Connie Scofield could make her Northern Ireland debut this evening after her international clearance came through.

The former England Under-21 international qualifies for NI through relatives from County Down.

Here's what Laura Rafferty had to say about Scofield yesterday: "I know she's a very energetic soul on the pitch and she is box-to-box. I've learnt she is a top girl as well.

"She's a name that everyone in the Championship knows, so to have her come in and bring the energy that she does week in, week out for her club is fantastic.

"It's fantastic to see girls in full-time environments coming into camps and competition just gets better."