France 2 : 1 Republic of Ireland
France relied heavily on an improved second half performance to to advance past a stodgy and hardworking Irish side. Two Antoine Griezmann goals overcame the early loss of a penalty kick but there were few indications that France have the quality or the connectivity to win this tournament.
The game started in explosive fashion. Just 70 seconds had gone when Paul Pogba fouled Shane Long in the penalty area. Robbie Brady converted it to give the Irish an early lead.
From then on, it was a mostly though not entirely rearguard approach from the Irish. Shane Duffy produced an amazing defensive header to deny Olivier Giroud a simple chance from a quality cross by Antoine Griezmann
Hugo Lloris showed his sweeper keeper skills after 15 minutes as Long bore down on him. 4 minutes later, he made an actual save from a weak and hurried volley by Daryl Murphy before Randolph went down low to foil Griezmann at the other end.
Shane Coleman booked for a foul on Pogba as the game entered a chippy stage. N’Golo Kante joined him and will miss next game as will Jeff Hendrick and Adel Rami, who were also all booked in the first half.
Kante didn’t come out for the second half, replaced by Kingsley Coman.
France continued to look nervy in defence. Lloris palmed out a dangerous cross from the right after Laurent Koscielny just watched it. Between them, they combined to make it look far more dangerous than it was though.
The world was about to cave in on the Irish though.
When it seemed they had run out of ideas, France equalised.
Sagna’s delivery was perfect and Griezmann’s 58th minute header gave Randolph no chance. The Republic barely had time to recover their breath.
Within two minutes, France had the lead. Giroud headed a long ball with his back to the onrushing action, expertly and directly into the path of Griezmann who drove firmly past Randolph, who was perhaps hindered by a deflection off a defender. The previously injured Jon Walters replaced Murphy but things were about to worsen for Ireland.
A red card was issued to Shane Duffy for a professional foul on Griezmann whom he tripped just outside the penalty area.Replays showed the foul was outside the area and the referee had got the call 100% right. Although the subsequent free kick was wasted, there was no way back for Ireland.
Wes Hoolahan and John O’Shea came on for James McCarthy and James McLean. Andre-Pierre Gignac replaced Giroud and Long belatedly picked up a yellow card but the game was not going against the hosts thereafter.
Apart from one wayward Walters shot and two theatrical falls in the penalty area, the tired white shirts never threatened again.
Gignac hit the crossbar and then missed a sitter from a left wing cross and the underrated Irish keeper Randolph denied Griezman his hat trick.
France await the winners of England and Iceland.
