Euro 2016: France 2 Republic of Ireland 1 live blog: Antoine Griezmann’s quickfire brace puts hosts ahead in round of 16 in Lyon
France turn up the heat in second-half onslaught against Ireland
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REPUBLIC OF IRELAND take on host nation France looking to secure a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
- Martin O'Neill's side made it through to the knock-out stages after Robby Brady's header gave them a dramatic victory over Italy.
- The Irish have been boosted by the return to training of Jon Walters following an Achilles injury that ruled him out of Italy game.
- West Ham star Dimitri Payet has been one of the stand-out players of the tournament so far and returns to the France side after being rested for the Switzerland match.
- Leicester midfielder N'Golo Kante also in line for a recall as host nation look to confirm status as one of the favourites to win the tournament.
- The winners will face either England or Iceland in the quarter-finals in Paris on Sunday 3 July.
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16.03: That's all from me here. Join me later as I bring you all the action from Hungary v Belgium...
15.58: It was a valiant effort from the Irish but that French onslaught in the sec0nd-half was too much to withstand and, in all honesty, the 2-1 scoreline flattered Martin O'Neill's men. It could have been six or seven. So France progress to the quarter-finals and a match against England or Iceland. Exciting...
15.53: FT: FRANCE 2 IRELAND 1
15.52: Yet another chance for Griezmann to grab his hat-trick as he's clean through the middle but it's another fine save from Randolph. Is that it? YES IT IS! FRANCE COME FROM BEHIND TO KNOCK OUT IRELAND!
15.49: Half-hearted shout for a penalty as Shane Long goes down in the box but it's plainly not. Three minutes of added time.
15.45: That should be game, set and match for France but Gignac fluffs his lines as Matuidi's cross puts it on a plate for him. Moments later there's half a chance for Jonny Walters who tries his luck from distance but doesn't make Hugo Lloris work. Four minutes or so to play.
15.41: Talking of whom, it's Antoine Griezmann who once more nearly gets his hat-trick as he stretches to reach Dmitri Payet's pinpoint cross but is a stud's length away from converting it. Pogba would have reached that.
15.39: My Left Foot...
15.36: BOOKING! Shane Long goes in the book. He'll miss the next game, although at the moment it's not that likely they'll be another game. Meanwhile, Gignac has two chances in quick succession. His first shot is saved by the legs of Darren Randolph while his second is a curling right-footer that smacks off the crossbar. Ireland are well and truly on the ropes here.
15.34: Tell me about it, I couldn't even type that fast...
15.31: More changes now with Wes Hoolahan replacing James McCarthy and France about to bring on Andre-Pierre Gignac for Olivier Giroud.
15.27: After a bit of juvenile argy-bargy in the wall the free-kick is finally taken as Griezmann blasts it against Olivier Giroud and over the bar. Change for Ireland too now with John O'Shea coming on for James McClean. Daryl Murphy also came off earlier, replaced by Jon Walters.
15.24: Oh dear. RED CARD! Shane Duffy brings down Antoine Griezmann as he closes in on a hat-trick and he has to go. Ireland are down to 1o men and France have a free-kick right on the edge of the box.
15.21: GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! He's done it again! ANTOINE GRIEZMANN fires a sublime low, left-footed shot into the corner and Ireland are crumbling! They're a different side in this half. FRANCE 2 IRELAND 1
15.17: FRANCE ARE LEVEL! And it's a thunderous header from ANTOINE GRIEZMANN who climbs brilliantly to power it home from 10 yards. Great cross from Bacary Sagna too. FRANCE 1 IRELAND 1
GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!
15.15: This could be a busy half for Darren Randolph. Now he has to spring into action to turn round a rasper from Blaise Matuidi from distance. He had far too much time on the ball to weigh up his options there. Are Ireland feeling the pace already?
15.12: End-to-end stuff now as Daryl Murphy so nearly gets a boot on Shane Long's cross before France go right down the other end and Dmitri Payet drags a shot just wide from 20 yards. A goal either way here changes everything.
15.11: Will they still be celebrating in 40 minutes?
15.06: Less than a minute into this second half and you already sense this is going to be a backs to the wall half for the Irish. There's already greater urgency about the French and the addition of Coman working his magic will certainly make a difference. Meanwhile, Seamus Coleman, who's on a yellow card, fells Payet and the West Ham man will take the free-kick. He whips it into the box, there's a nick off Stephen Ward and there's Laurent Koscielny at the back post missing a golden chance to head the equaliser.
15.05: Kinglsey Coman is on for N'Golo Kante and we're ready to go again. Strange choice that. Oh well. PEEP! WE ARE OFF AGAIN!
14.58: That was an excellent first-half from Ireland who have frustrated the hosts with some high-energy pressing and stalwart defending. Crucially, though, they have the goal to hang on to. It's going to be a long and demanding second 45 minutes...
14.50: And there's the half-time whistle! Ireland are 45 minutes away from knocking out the hosts and reaching the quarter-finals! HT: FRANCE 0 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 1
14.47: Intense pressure from France as the game enters added time with Payet and Griezmann having their shots blocked by some desperate but effective defending from the Irish backline. Just get to half-time lads.
14.45: Lovely first touch from Hugo Lloris...
14.44: BOOKING! Yet another one as Adil Rami goes in the book for stopping Shane Long in his sprightly tracks. He'll miss the next game too should France go through. Good news for England or, indeed, Iceland.
14.41: BOOKING! Jeff Hendrick will now miss the quarter-final after picking up a yellow card, presumably for kicking the ball away in frustration after he could N'Golo Kante. Safe to say the French crowd appreciated that decision.
14.39: Is it just me or is there not a single really decent side in this competition?
14.37: Hendrick is back on and he's welcomed with a deafening chorus of boos from the French crowd. Two words: Thierry Henry.
14.35: Jeff Hendrick is receiving treatment after he took a boot high on the thigh from Paul Pogba. The French crowd think it's a time-wasting tactic but there is a stretcher coming on. Or is it a kayak? Not sure.
14.33: Like, ever...
14.28: AND ANOTHER ONE! This time it's N'Golo Kante who goes in the book for a high foot on James McClean. He'll now miss the next game should France progress.
14.25: BOOKING! Yellow card for the Irish skipper Seamus Coleman as he goes straight through the back of Dmitri Payet, leaving him in a crumpled mess on the lush Lyon turf.
14.24: It's a golden chance for Ireland to double their advantage as Daryl Murphy's shot is spilled. Sadly, Jeff Hendrick's follow-up from a tight angle is about as as feeble as my 16-year-old cat. Down the other end, there's a 30-yard free-kick from Paul Pogba that calls Darren Randolph into action again. They're getting closer.
14.19: France are gradually turning the screw here and it's Antoine Griezmann with another header that forces Darren Randolph into a save, albeit a comfortable one.
14.15: Proof that long legs are more trouble than they're worth...
14.12: Terrific defending from Shane Duffy as he intercepts Griezmann's pinpoint cross to Olivier Girous and puts it out for a corner. That was a vital touch.
14.11: You beauty Brady!
14.09: Early chances for the French now as Dmitri Payet has a free-kick from the angle of the box but it's straight into the arms of his club team-mate Darren Randolph. Moments later, Paul Pogba puts a lovely cross on to the head of Antoine Griezmann but he can't get over the header and it's well over the top.
14.07: 'Roy! Get the keys and put it in reverse! Quick!'
14.04: What a start for the Irish! Simply astonishing.
14.02: One minute 15 seconds in and IRELAND HAVE A PENALTY!!! Paul Pogba tangles with Shane Long and it's a spot-kick all day long! Robbie Brady to take it... In off the post but it's a GOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!! GET IN!!!! FRANCE 0 IRELAND 1
14.00: The handshakes have passed without incident, the coin tossed and the team huddles conducted. The French are in their normal blue kit and the Irish in their white change shirt. It's Ireland to kick off. PEEP! WE ARE OFF!
13.58: Excellent effort from the Irish fans despite being massively outnumbered in the stadium. But what about that Marseillaise? Wow. Still the most stirring anthem in the world IMHO. I've got goosebumps – and I'm from Rochdale.
13.53: The teams are in the tunnel in Lyon and we're almost ready to go. So who's your money on? France will start as overwhelming favourites to progress but you never know. Here they come...
13.42: The last five encounters between these sides have produced just four goals in total - including just one for the Irish (scored by Robbie Keane at the Stade de France in the controversial World Cup play-off second leg in 2009). I suspect we'll see a lot more today.
13.39: On that point, Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane says that "revenge doesn't come into it" for today's game. Anybody buying that? Really? Me neither.
13.36: Nice work. Well, not by Henry...
13.34: The French: liberal...
13.28: FACT ME! France have not allowed their opponents a shot on target in their last 205 minutes of action at Euro 2016. Easy life for Hugo...
13.23: They wouldn't let it lie...
13.20: FACT ME! France are unbeaten in their last five games against the Republic of Ireland (W2, D3) and their last defeat against them was in a World Cup qualifier back in 1981, when the hosts won 3-2 at Lansdowne Road.
13.16: For those of you interested in such things, the referee for today's match is the Italian with the girl's name. Yes, it's Nicola Rizzoli.
13.09: Just some idea of the uphill task facing Martin O'Neill's side this afternoon...
13.05: Remember Thierry Henry's scandalous handball that robbed Ireland of a World Cup place in 2009? Payback time today then. Come on Ireland!
13.01: Why so quizzical Shay?
12.58: And here is your Republic of Ireland team: Randolph; Coleman, Duffy, Keogh, Ward; Hendrick, McClean, McCarthy, Brady; Murphy; Long
12.56: So it's a little over an hour to kick-off in Lyon. And we have some team news with France reverting to the starting line-up that beat Romania in the opening game: Lloris; Sagna, Rami, Koscielny, Evra; Kanté, Matuidi, Pogba; Payet, Griezmann, Giroud
12.27: One definite starter for France will be Dimitri Payet. The West Ham man has become the main man for his national team over the course of this tournament. What will he deliver today?
12.25: Republic of Ireland team news is that Jon Walters has returned to training following an Achilles injury, though whether the Stoke man starts remains to be seen.
12.24: Supporters are already mingling well in the centre of Lyon as kick-off approaches. It is sure to be a colourful occasion for this match with both sets of supporters in good spirits.
