Emily Murphy started for Ireland against France in Grenoble, and that selection put france vs republic of ireland into focus before kickoff at Stade des Alpes. Ireland kept Murphy in the line-up over Larkin in a qualifier where every point carried weight.
Grenoble lineup pressure
France led the group with 10 points after five games, Ireland had nine, the Netherlands had eight and Poland had one. That left the top of the table crowded, with France, Ireland and the Netherlands separated by three points or fewer as the match began.
Murphy’s place ahead of Larkin was the clearest Ireland call before kickoff. Brosnan started in goal behind Mannion, Patten, Hayes, Connolly and Mustaki, while Murphy joined Sheva, O’Sullivan and McCabe in support of Carusa.
France under Netherlands pressure
France also had its own arithmetic to handle. A draw would leave the door open for the Netherlands, who played Poland at the same time and held a better head-to-head record against France.
That made the qualifier more than a single-night test. Ireland were already assured of a playoff place, and the result still shaped whether France could close out the group or go into the final day still exposed to the Dutch.
Early chances at Stade des Alpes
France made the first move in the match. At 4 minutes, Baltimore beat Mannion on the left wing and France created early chances.
Six minutes later, Brosnan kept Ireland level when she saved a Malard shot, and Patten headed away a France corner. At 23 minutes, Murphy’s back pass almost rolled into Ireland’s empty goal before Brosnan recovered, a moment that summed up the narrow margin Ireland were working with in Grenoble.
For Ireland, Murphy’s start was the important personnel decision, because it showed where the pressure sat before the game even settled. For France, the group table meant anything short of control could drag the race into the final matchday with the Netherlands still in range.
