Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 were left dangling by Aurelien Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram as France kept up their flawless qualifying record with a 2-0 victory in Paris.

With only three points from their first four games, Ireland’s match against the Netherlands on Sunday in Dublin could essentially determine their destiny. The pair scored either side of halftime to help France win Group B for a fifth straight time.

With the exception of a Chiedozie Ogbene header that forced a superb save from Mike Maignan, Stephen Kenny’s team struggled to trouble the hosts enough. Ousmane Dembele tormented Enda Stevens to the point where he was replaced at halftime, and Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann delighted a fervent home crowd.

Gavin Bazunu, the Ireland goalkeeper, had been criticized heavily in France prior to the game for his propensity to allow goals from distance. However, there was little he could have done to stop Tchouameni’s beautifully struck effort in the 19th minute, and he was left exposed when replacement Thuram extended the lead after 48 minutes.

Although the result in Paris was never going to define their campaign, Ireland was up against it after their loss in Greece, and a repeat performance against the Dutch would practically put an end to all hope.

Following a pull-back from Dembele, Adrien Rabiot hammered a shot into Bazunu’s stomach. Later, when Theo Hernandez had outrun the Irish right-back’s cover, John Egan had to make a crucial block to stop Olivier Giroud from scoring.

Bazunu was relieved to see the Atletico Madrid star’s swinging free-kick smuggled away in the 15th minute after it reared up at him off the turf and sailed through a crowded penalty area, though Mbappe might have done better from the ensuing corner after Adam Idah had taken Griezmann’s corner out of Bazunu’s reach.

He was, however, defeated four minutes later when Griezmann’s cross was knocked away by Nathan Collins after he had headed down for Dembele. Mbappe then recycled the loose ball to Tchouameni, who curled a beautiful strike across the Southampton goalkeeper and inside the far post from 25 yards.

Giroud was replaced by Thuram after leaving the game with an injury after collapsing under Egan’s challenge in the 24th minute. With Mbappe dropping deep to gain possession, the visitors were under almost constant pressure, with Ogbene’s sporadic but largely unsupported forays down the right being their only significant outlet.

Bazunu comfortably stopped a speculative shot from Mbappe, but he was glad to see an offside flag save him after the Paris St. Germain star stabbed a shot between his legs in the 42nd minute.

James McClean took over for Stevens at halftime, but within three minutes of the resumption, Thuram pounced on a loose ball to slam it into the roof of the net after Mbappe had failed to capitalize on a Theo Hernandez cross.

The Republic, who had little to lose, threw caution to the wind and might have cut the deficit in half after Ogbene’s header but for Maignan’s brilliance after Idah had beaten the offside trap. The Luton striker curled a left-foot shot just inches over seconds later as the nervous keeper could only watch.

A late offside flag saved Mbappe’s face after he had missed the goal in a one-on-one fight with Bazunu. Bazunu then did well to save another Tchouameni piledriver 23 minutes from time. Ireland’s newfound feeling of daring made them susceptible at the back.

Only strong defense, a string of ineffective last balls, and a poor miss by Thuram prevented further damage to the visitors after Dembele rattled the upright from a tight angle with France in full control.