France boss Deschamps hails 'great leader' Maignan while Netherlands ease past Gibraltar

28.03.2023 - 04:53 thenationalnews.com

France held on to beat Ireland 1-0 in Dublin on Monday to win their second Euro 2024 qualifier, while the Netherlands eased past Gibraltar 3-0.

Right-back Benjamin Pavard pounced with half-an-hour remaining at a sold-out Lansdowne Road before two superb Mike Maignan saves in the final two minutes.

With 30 seconds to play in Dublin, AC Milan's Maignan, who has succeeded former captain Hugo Lloris as Les Bleus' goalkeeper, tipped over teammate Jules Kounde's panicked header.

From the resulting corner Maignan saved the visitors' skin as he made a similar save from Nathan Collins' powerful effort. "Mike's stop allowed us to stay in the match and claim a clean sheet, so I'm going to say that he's the man of the match," Bayern Munich's Pavard told television channel TF1.

Didier Deschamps Les Bleus Hugo Lloris Virgil Van-Dijk Nathan Ake Nathan Collins Benjamin Pavard Jules Kounde Mike Maignan Manchester France Netherlands Madrid Ireland Memphis Dublin Gibraltar Rotterdam

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