Griezmann double sends France into Euro 2016 last eight

Griezmann scores two in quick succession France will take on Iceland or England Ireland scored first with early penalty[caption id="attachment_281570" align="aligncenter" width="800"] France players pose for photos before the Euro 2016 round of 16 soccer match between France and Ireland, at the Grand Stade in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, France, Sunday, June 26, 2016. Photo: AP[/caption]LYON: Hosts France came from behind to beat 10-man Ireland 2-1 and reach the Euro 2016 quarter-finals after two second-half strikes from forward Antoine Griezmann at Parc OL on Sunday.A tactical switch from coach Didier Deschamps at the break revitalised the French, who struggled to find their feet early on after conceding a Robbie Brady penalty in the second minute, the fastest goal in the 2016 tournament.READ ALSO Germany cruise into last eight with 3-0 Slovakia winFrance will play either England or Iceland at the Stade de France next Sunday.[caption id="attachment_281600" align="alignnone" width="500"] France's Antoine Griezmann scores their second goal during Euro 2016 Round of 16 soccer match against Republic of Ireland at Stade de Lyon, on Sunday, June 26, 2016. Photo: Reuters[/caption]"We have difficulties getting into games, we saw that again today, and that's something we have to work on," said Griezmann."Finding ourselves trailing made it difficult but we showed we've got heart. Things were said in the dressing room at halftime and in the second half, it was a different France team."[caption id="attachment_281602" align="alignnone" width="500"] Republic of Ireland's Robbie Brady celebrates with Shane Long (L), Daryl Murphy (2nd L) and Jeff Hendrick (R) after scoring their first goal against France during Euro 2016 at Stade de Lyon, on Sunday, June 26, 2016. Photo: Reuters[/caption]It was the worst possible start for the hosts when midfielder Paul Pogba clumsily barged over Ireland's Shane Long in the penalty area, allowing Brady to dispatch the resulting spot kick to go 1-0 up on the second minute.Finding themselves behind for the first time in the tournament, the hosts seemed to lack the urgency to wrestle control of a stop-start first half.[caption id="attachment_281566" align="alignnone" width="500"] Ireland's Daryl Murphy, center, challenges for the ball with France's Eliaquim Mangala, left, and France's Adil Rami during the Euro 2016 round of 16 soccer match between France and Ireland, at the Grand Stade in Decines-?Charpieu, near Lyon, France, Sunday, June 26, 2016. Photo: AP[/caption]Their best chances fell to Griezmann who headed over the bar from close range, while a late strike by Dimitri Payet whacked into the Irish defence who desperately guarded their goal.SURGING RUNAt the other end, Ireland didn't really threaten apart from a bouncing shot from striker Daryl Murphy that forced keeper Hugo Lloris to dive to his left.[caption id="attachment_281599" align="alignnone" width="500"] France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring their second goal during Euro 2016 Round of 16 soccer match against Republic of Ireland at Stade de Lyon, on Sunday, June 26, 2016. Photo: Reuters[/caption]A flat first half ended with the French players trudging off to the noise of loud booing from the packed home support.Deschamps switched things up after the break, bringing on flying winger Kingsley Coman for holding midfielder N'Golo Kante and moving playmaker Pogba into the middle and Griezmann into a more central role behind strike partner Olivier Giroud.[caption id="attachment_281567" align="alignnone" width="500"] Ireland's Stephen Ward, right, is challenged by France's Antoine Griezmann during the Euro 2016 round of 16 soccer match between France and Ireland, at the Grand Stade in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, France, Sunday, June 26, 2016. Photo: AP[/caption]The strategy paid dividends immediately as France stretched a tiring Ireland. Griezmann equalised in the 58th minute from a Bacary Sagna cross, and then fired his team in front three minutes later when Giroud nodded the ball down into his path.[caption id="attachment_281569" align="alignnone" width="500"] France's Olivier Giroud, center, heads a ball past Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph during the Euro 2016 round of 16 soccer match between France and Ireland, at the Grand Stade in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, France, Sunday, June 26, 2016. Photo: AP[/caption]Another surging run from Griezmann saw him chopped down on the edge of the area by Shane Duffy, earning the defender a red card as the game started to look beyond the Irish.All was forgiven by the French crowd, who broke into a deafening 'Marseillaise' and cheered their team all the way to their first knockout stage win in the competition since winning Euro 2000.[caption id="attachment_281604" align="alignnone" width="500"] France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring the second goal against Republic of Ireland during Euro 2016 Round of 16 match at Stade de Lyon, on Sunday, June 26, 2016. Photo: Reuters[/caption]On a bum note, though, Kante and defender Adil Rami picked up yellow cards and will miss the quarter final through suspension.

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Griezmann double sends France into Euro 2016 last eight

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