France defeated the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in a friendly international at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday night. The visitors took the lead through Vicki Becho before Maelle Lakrar doubled the advantage. Ireland captain Katie McCabe scored a late goal to reduce the deficit, but the home side could not find an equaliser.
McCabe said the result stings but insisted the team cannot feel sorry for themselves, according to The Irish Times. The defeat followed a 2-1 loss to Wales in Marbella last week. The matches served as preparation for the upcoming UEFA Women's Nations League campaign.
Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson praised the physical effort of her players against a side ranked 10th in the world. Per the Football Association of Ireland, the fixture attracted a crowd of 7,632 supporters. France controlled much of the possession, while Ireland struggled to create clear chances until the final stages. The squad now returns to domestic club duties before reassembling for competitive fixtures in April.
