Stephen Kenny wins vote of confidence after positive performance

POSITIVE PERFORMANCE: Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship Qualifier match against France at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The good news for Stephen Kenny on a night of bitter disappointment fused with undeniable positives is that it should not get any more difficult. Yet for all the green shoots on display, the result was still a cruel blow against the most talented team in Europe, arguably the world.

There was a twisted irony to Benjamin Pavard’s goal coming from a mistake by Josh Cullen that would not have occurred in the previous eras of getting rid at first opportunity. But it was also a reminder that, no matter the style of play or best intentions, errant passes in the defensive third will be punished more often than not when up against the true elite.