Nathan Collins ‘heartbroken’ after France edge Republic in Dublin qualifier

Les Bleus goalkeeper Mike Maignan pulled off a superb save to deny the Ireland centre half a late equaliser.

BLEUS MONDAY: Republic of Ireland’s Nathan Collins, left, and France’s Kylian Mbappe (Niall Carson/PA)

Nathan Collins walked away from the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2024 showdown with World Cup finalists France not quite sure how he had ended up on the losing side.

Ireland would have emerged with a hugely creditable draw had goalkeeper Mike Maignan not somehow clawed his 90th-minute header out of his top corner with a save manager Didier Deschamps later admitted was as important as the Benjamin Pavard goal which secured a hard-fought 1-0 Group B win in Dublin.