Giroud leads star-studded Les Bleus as Ireland seek revenge

AC Milan forward veteran Olivier Giroud is expected to start against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday night in the most intriguing fixture on the EURO 2024 qualifiers' menu.

Giroud is much closer to the starting XI than Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram and new Paris Saint-Germain signing Randal Kolo Muani.

Kolo Muani revealed that he had suffered a sprained ankle, meaning that he would have to wait until after the international break to make his debut for his new club.

Therefore, he is not expected to get the nod from Didier Deschamps, although Kolo Muani will be in the squad for the match, and will be a useful option off the bench.

Arsenal's William Saliba is also expected to start in the absence of injured Ibrahima Konate, whilst Jules Kounde should probably get the chance ahead of Benjamin Pavard at right-back.

On the other hand, wounds have healed over the last 14 years for the Irish side, but that Thierry Henry's handball stays in collective memory even for tonight's game.

In November 2009, Henry's unnoticed handball at the Stade de France cost the Irish team a trip to the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

For Ireland's current assistant manager Keith Andrews and coach John O'Shea, who played that night, a measure of revenge in Paris might prove very welcome.

EURO 2024 QUALIFIERS

Thursday

17.00: (3.45) Kazakhstan (3.30) Finland (2.30)

19.00: (5.70) Lithuania (3.60) Montenegro (1.75)

21.45: (1.20) France (6.50) R.Ireland (16.0)

21.45: (1.45) Netherlands (4.30) Greece (7.75)

21.45: (1.55) Czech R. (3.90) Albania (8.00)

21.45: (1.15) Poland (9.50) Faroe I. (19.0)

21.45: (1.83) Serbia (3.60) Hungary (5.10)

21.45: (1.01) Denmark (22.0) San Marino (65.0)

21.45: (1.95) Slovenia (3.45) N.Ireland (4.50)

***odds are subject to change