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          Euro 2016 round of 16: France vs. Republic of Ireland as it happened

          • ESPN staffJun 25, 2016, 10:16 AM

          Hosts France need to return to winning ways against Republic of Ireland after being held to a goalless draw by Switzerland in their final Group A game -- Lyon (3 p.m. CET/9 a.m. ET, ESPN)

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          France 2-1 Republic of Ireland - FULL TIME!

          REPUBLIC OF IRELAND ARE OUT, FRANCE HAVE WON 2-1!

          REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:6/10

          FRANCE: 7/10

          Game review: France had a pretty shocking first half but Griezmann pulled his side back into it and they rode the initial storm well. Ireland's sole goal just turned out a bit of turblence in what turned out to be a fairly routine-looking win for France in the end. From Ireland's perspective, they went down with a fight but their lack of quality in comparison to France clearly came through towards the end. However, not a performance to be ashamed of.

          90+3 MIN: Nearly Griezmann's hattrick! Fed through beyond O'Shea but his eventual left-footed finish is saved by Randolph. He is human after all ...

          Last minute French sub Sissoko on for Coman.

          90+2 MIN: Still Ireland struggling to grab hold of the ball as France go through the usual time wasting moves. Passing among their back four before finding Matuidi in the corner.

          3 MINUTES ADDED TIME!!!

          90 MIN: Hopeful long balls by the Irish back four now as we approach the end of the game. Nothing serious yet as Koscielny clears the latest ball in.

          88 MIN: Glimpse of an Irish attack but the final through ball to Long is collected with ease by Lloris. Evra did well to use his body strength to keep Long out of range of the Spurs keeper.

          87 MIN: Evra sends the ball in from the left which finds Gingac at the front post who slices it wide! Should've scored!

          85 MIN: Pogba looks like he's about to shoot on the edge of the box, but he takes one too many touches and can't get it away in time.

          83 MIN: France slowing the game down, picking their passes with joy and entertaining their home fans. Ireland, on the other hand, are winning the odd tackle but not managing to hold possession for more than a few seconds. They're going to need a Shane Long long-ball special if they're to have any luck in turning this scoreline around.

          81 MIN: Matuidi shoots from a tight angle but Randolph palms it away! France looking for a third to completely bury this game. Ireland haven't even got out their own half since Duffy was sent off.

          80 MIN: Ireland clear, but only to give away another setpiece on the other side.

          78 MIN: And again Gingac's causing trouble. He's earnt his team a corner.

          77 MIN: Gingac strikes again from outside the box but his right-footed curling effort hits the bar!

          76 MIN: And their latest pass finds Gingac -- who's just come on for Giroud -- beyond the Irish defense but his shot never really looked like threatening and Randolph saves.

          74 MIN: France -- pass, pass, pass. Pogba in full control pulling all the strings.

          72 MIN: France continuing to dictate the game now with all the possession. Ireland starting to look out of their depth and all of a sudden their decent first half is a distant memory.

          71 MIN: Looks like there's a substitute coming for France with Gingac coming on. Ireland have made on with Hoolahan on for McCarthy.

          69 MIN: France toying with it at the back now as they look to run down the clock and wear the Irish players into the ground as they try and chase possession.

          67 MIN: Griezmann hits it into the wall against Giroud! Goal kick. O'Shea's on for McClean.

          RED CARD FOR DUFFY WHO'S TAKEN DOWN GRIEZMANN ON THE EDGE OF THE BOX!

          The right decision, and France have the free kick on the edge of the box. Duffy needed to do that as Griezmann was through on goal and with his finishing ability there was only going to be one end result. Ireland down to 10 men, but Duffy's arguably kept the score still intact. He might score the setpiece, though ...

          64 MIN: Chance for Ireland! McClean goes beyond the defense and tries to whip the ball along the deck from the byline, but he can't quite pick out Long and it's away for France. Good opportunity!

          63 MIN: It's now France's turn to defend and all of a sudden the game has really been turned on it's head. Ireland opting for the long ball, but Koscielny continues to clear effectively.

          FRANCE GOAL!!! GRIEZMANN!!!

          And that, is how to finish! What a striker Griezmann is. Long ball is headed down by Giroud who's occupying by both of Ireland's centre backs. Griezmann, who's unmarked on the edge of box, calmly finishes beyond Randolph.

          60 MIN: Payet shoots from the edge of the box but it's gone just over! France don't want extra time, they want the winner. Ireland are still continuing to sit deep inside their own half just inviting pressure.

          59 MIN: Ireland headed chance goes wide!

          FRANCE GOAL!!! GRIEZMANN!!!

          It's his second headed goal of the tournament. Sagna whips a ball in and Griezmann, who's stood on the penalty spot, gets up and heads that beyond Randolph superbly. Nice goal and perfect technique on the header.

          57 MIN: Matuidi shoots from range for France but Randolph saves. Ireland will be happy if France opt to attack like that for the rest of the game.

          54 MIN: Coleman's direct ball up to Long is overhit and finds Koscielny instead. What looked like an opportunity for Ireland to build, is instead thrown away.

          53 MIN: France really trying to up the tempo now but aren't getting much luck as Ireland's tackles -- and fouls -- are continuing to fly in.

          51 MIN: Ireland ball into the box needs Lloris to palm away -- more good stuff from the Irish XI!

          49 MIN: Still France are on the attack but Coman's touch is poor and the ball rolls out of play for a goalkick.

          47 MIN: Another Irish foul gifts France the free kick. It's swung it and met by Koscielny in the box who heads it wide!

          46 MIN: All France so far as they continue to pass the ball around the Ireland box. They're looking for that darting run and defense-unlocking pass to climb their way back into this match but they still can't find it.

          BACK UNDERWAY!!!

          HALF TIME REVIEW: Great first half from Ireland, the game's played out exactly how they would've wanted. France are struggling to get going and are really lacking invention in the middle of the park. O'Neill and Keane's side have held firm, threatened on occasion and overall had the better chances. The game hasn't been a pleasant watch though, with fouls flying in all over the park.

          REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: 8 OUT OF 10
          FRANCE: 3 OUT OF 10

          HALF TIME!!!

          45+3 MIN: Long ball football to end the half it seems, with Ireland punting it up top to Long who can't quite get his head on it. France back in possession.

          45+2 MIN: Payet shoots inside the France box, but it's blocked! It rebounds to Griezmann who can't get a shot away and Ireland manage to escape that moment of danger.

          4 MINUTES OF ADDED TIME!

          45 MIN: Pogba looks to feed through Giroud, but his final ball is collected by Randolph. Nice idea, but not a successful execution.

          44 MIN: Yellow card for Rami -- who misses the next match -- for fouling Long. Cynical foul.

          43 MIN: And another Ireland cross is hopefully hit into the box towards their lone striker. Lloris collects, but it's another sign that France are struggling and are under the cosh.

          42 MIN: Free kick for Ireland is swung into the box and is then met by the leaping Duffy in the air who heads it wide!

          40 MIN: Another chance for Ireland as Coleman throws it long into the box, but it's cleared. Hendrick is unfairly booked for an earlier foul.

          38 MIN: Chance for Ireland! Ball into the box finds Long with his back to goal, but he can't quite get a shot away after a sublime first touch. Evra shuffles him off the ball but gives away a corner in the process, which is caught by Lloris.

          36 MIN: Scrappy game this, and it's exactly what Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane would've wanted. Foul after foul, long ball after long ball, clearance after clearance.

          34 MIN: Hendrick down again, and the stretcher's on. He's stood up though and he looks okay, I think...

          33 MIN: And another free kick, but this time in France's favour. Flies into the box but it's headed away by Ireland.

          31 MIN: Another foul on Hendrick slowing the game down even further in the centre of the park.

          28 MIN: The game's settled down a bit here, especially with these frequent fouls flying in from all over. France are still pushing, but in terms of chances created they're really lacking.

          26 MIN: And the referee's in his book once again for Kante, who now misses the next match. Free kick Ireland in the centre of the pitch.

          24 MIN: France continuing to probe the Irish box with wave after wave of attack. Griezmann looks to feed through strike partner Giroud but it's overhit and out for the goal kick. Coleman's been booked for a late tackle as well.

          23 MIN: Great effort from the Juve man, but Randolph saves.

          22 MIN: Another foul from Ireland gifts France another shooting free kick chance. It's a long way out -- maybe 35 yards -- but Pogba's got his eye on this one.

          21 MIN: Quickly stolen back by France who move the ball along to Griezmann who shoots from range. Randolph saves with ease as the shot rolls along the deck.

          20 MIN: Ireland pressuring down their left side, and have managed to earn the throw in deep inside France's half.

          19 MIN: Griezmann manages to get his head on it in the air off Payet's free kick, but Randolph's there to save the day as he catches the ball with ease.

          18 MIN: Another attacking opportunity for Payet as France earn the free kick.

          16 MIN: Fairly routine long throw from Ireland is nodded on down the left flank and for a brief moment it looks like Shane Long's in ... !

          However, Lloris storms out and punches away. That shouldn't have been THAT difficult for the French to deal with...

          15 MIN: O'Neill already on the touchline looking very animated, can only imagine the nerves he's feeling right now!

          14 MIN: Ireland on the ball now, but it's like they're playing "hot potato" as no one looks like they want the ball and they're quick to kick it long!

          12 MIN: France opting for the right flank this time and an inward-swinging cross is met by Giroud in the air who nods it wide -- great chance!

          10 MIN: Ireland try and release some pressure with a direct ball up to Long, but it doesn't take long before the French back four reclaim possession and start to initiate an attack again.

          8 MIN: Ireland already deciding to sit back very, very deep and inviting pressure onto them. This is going to be attack after attack for France and a very long 80 minutes or so for the Irish if they're to hold out.

          6 MIN: Payet shoots from the free kick but it's straight into the hands of Randolph.

          5 MIN: France finally starting to settle the game down. Payet and Pogba combine down the left flank before whipping a cross in. It's blocked, but by an Irish hand and the host nation have an edge-of-the-box free kick.

          3 MIN: France's reaction? Bundle it up the other end and earn the corner. Already get the feeling this is going to turn into even more of an French onslaught.

          BRADY SCORES THE PENALTY -- 1-0!!!

          Ireland worked the ball down the left channel well before floating it in the box where Shane Long is tripped up by Paul Pogba and the penalty is rightly given. Great start for Ireland! Penalty was nervy one, in off the right post!

          IRELAND PENALTY!!!

          1 MIN: Ireland kick us off but it's not long before they've gifted the ball to France's back four. In fairness to them, they did string a few pass together from the kick-off -- refreshing not to see a team aimlessly punt it long straight from the off.

          WE'RE OFF!!!

          13.59 BST: Late goals have been a common occurrence at this tournament so far, and France are specialists at them.

          13.57 BST: Anthem time!

          13.55 BST: The teams are in the tunnel ready to come out, it's nearly time!

          13.53 BST: Massive game again for this man. Not only is he now West Ham's talisman, but he's slowly turning into France's too. Outstanding tournament so far and if France are to win this game, you can't help but feel he'll definitely have a big involvement.

          13.48 BST: They might need it ... !

          13.42 BST: Ireland start with Shane Long up top again. Admittedly he's not been brilliant in this tournament so far, but Ireland will look to play direct football and he's perfect for that role. He'll need to take his chances today as it's likely he won't be getting many of them.

          13.35 BST: Interesting team selection for France, they've opted for the two strikers in Griezmann and Giroud. Perhaps they fear the fact Ireland are likely to sit back for entire game and will look to hit on the counter so need that extra attacking presence. Martial's absent from the starting line-up again -- he's not a bad player to bring on from the bench, though.

          13.30 BST: The final 2pm game of the tournament! Here we are, the host nation France take on Republic of Ireland!

          France XI: Lloris, Evra, Koscielny, Rami, Sagna, Pogba, Kante, Matuidi, Payet, Giroud, Griezmann.

          Republic of Ireland XI: Randolph, Ward, Keogh, Duffy, Coleman, McClean, Brady, McCarthy, Hendrick, Long, Murphy.