Melvine MalardGetty Images

Manchester United striker Melvine Malard's fine goal broke Irish hearts in Grenoble

At a glance

  • Manchester United striker Malvine Malard scores acrobatic goal for France, who have Thiniba Samoura sent off for two yellow card offences

  • Victory helps Les Bleues top the group and qualify automatically for a sixth World Cup

  • Republic of Ireland finish third in the group and will have to go through play-offs in the autumn to reach next year's tournament in Brazil

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

The Republic of Ireland missed the chance to qualify automatically for the 2027 Women's World Cup as they lost 1-0 to France in their winner-takes-all final qualifier in Grenoble.

Manchester United striker Melvine Malard scored what proved to be the winner after 40 minutes with an acrobatic effort from a short corner routine.

Thiniba Samoura was then dismissed after two yellow card offences, but the Republic of Ireland were unable to make their numerical advantage count as France held on for the win which helped them top the group and reach a sixth World Cup.

Carla Ward's side finished third in Group A2 after the Netherlands' win over Poland, but can still reach next year's tournament in Brazil as they will be seeded for autumn's play-offs with the draw to discover their opponents to come on 18 June.

France dominated proceedings from the off in Grenoble, with Courtney Brosnan called into action early to thwart Grace Geyoro and Malard.

Brosnan palmed away a fierce strike from the French captain before denying Malard from a tight angle soon after.

The Republic of Ireland's resistance was eventually broken five minutes before the break through Malard's sumptuous acrobatic effort that bounced in off the crossbar after the ball fell fortuitously for her in the box.

Ward's side were much improved after the break with Marissa Sheva and Anna Patten forcing saves from Constance Picaud.

Their hopes of a fightback were boosted further when Samoura saw red for hauling down Emily Murphy as she was bursting through on goal.

But substitute Abbie Larkin squandered a huge chance to draw the Irish level soon after as she shot straight at Picaud from point-blank range as France held on for a narrow and important victory.

Republic of Ireland analysis: Big misses haunt spirited Irish in narrow loss

Abbie LarkinGetty Images

Substitute Larkin squandered Republic of Ireland's best chance on 78 minutes

It was always going to require a near-perfect performance from the Republic of Ireland to spring another surprise and beat France in Grenoble and it ultimately proved a step too far.

With automatic qualification up for grabs, Les Bleues, who last lost on home soil two years ago against England, were on it from the off and eventually got the breakthrough they deserved through a bit of quality from Malard, who also netted twice when France beat the Irish in Tallaght in March.

The Irish, as they have throughout the campaign, were defensively solid for the most part, but were surprisingly passive going the other way, particularly in the first half.

Ward's half-time team talk sparked her side into life in the second half and they will rue the fact that two big chances fell to unlikely goalscorers in the form of Sheva and Patten and that Larkin could not keep her composure to finish past Picaud.

The Netherlands' win over Poland condemned Ward's side to third place in the group, but that was their target at the start of the campaign and they performed admirably in becoming the first promoted side to avoid relegation and win three games in League A.

With a seeded play-off to come they still have a realistic chance of reaching back-to-back World Cups and given their displays in this tough group, they will be the side no-one wants to face when the draw is made later this month.