France women beat Ireland 1-0 with Malard's bicycle kick to secure direct World Cup 2027 qualification

Malard's moment of magic

France needed a win to be certain of top spot in Group A2 and a direct route to the 2027 World Cup. In the 40th minute, Sakina Karchaoui's cross deflected off Irish defender Megan O'Conolly and dropped onto Malard's head. The Manchester United forward improvised, flicking the ball up before executing an acrobatic bicycle kick past goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.

In fact, I got hit by a ball on the head (laughs) and I looked up and the ball was still there. So I said to myself: 'I'll try it.'

A tense finish after red card

France had dominated early, creating chances in the 3rd, 7th, 22nd and 24th minutes. But Ireland pushed back, and goalkeeper Constance Picaud-Inconnu was called into action. She recovered a miscued pass from Thiniba Samoura in the 43rd minute, later making an authoritative stop against Anna Patten in the 68th. The pressure intensified when Samoura received a second yellow card in the 72nd minute, reducing France to ten players.

We knew this match was a final. The Irish never gave up, they pushed until the very last second. But we showed tremendous collective strength.

Group A2 outcome

France finished the six-match campaign with 13 points, two clear of the Netherlands. The Dutch beat Poland 3-1 on the same evening but had lost the head-to-head advantage when Ireland defeated them 3-2 in the previous matchday. Only the group winner qualifies directly; the other three teams enter the autumn playoffs.

Road to Brazil

Coach Laurent Bonadei fielded the same starting eleven that beat Poland four days earlier and was rewarded with a fast start. The victory marks France's fifth consecutive Women's World Cup qualification. Now they have a full year to prepare before travelling to Brazil.