Robbie Brady, who had netted the Republic’s winner against Italy, had converted a penalty with just two minutes gone to give the Irish a shock lead.
Victory in the last 16 clash at the Stade de Lyon means France face either Iceland or England in the Stade de France quarter-final next Sunday.
20:25 hrs IST:That’s it! France are in quarter-finals with 2-1 win over Ireland
20:22 hrs IST: Antoine Griezmann gets a great chance to seal his hat-trick but Darren Randolph does enough and blocks the shot.
20:20 hrs IST: We’re into the first of three added minutes
20: 16 hrs IST: Andre-Pierre Gignac gets another chance from inside the box but his free shot is scuffed and misses the target.
20:14 hrs IST: Andre-Pierre Gignac gets an excellent chance to make it 3-1 but he fails to connect with Blaise Matuidi’s dangerous cross and the ball flies wide.
20:12 hrs IST: France are piling forward here and Darren Randolph has to claw away a rasping cross form Blaise Matuidi.
20:09 hrs IST: Substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac comes close twice to making it 3-1 as his first shot is saved by Darren Randolph before his thundering strike from outside the box crashes against the crossbar.
200:04 hrs IST: Kingsley Coman gets into the right side of the box and his deflected cross goes up and over for a corner.
20:00 hrs IST: Hoolahan (in) – McCarthy (out) for Ireland
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19:57 hrs IST: Griezmann takes the resulting free-kick but hits the wall
19:56 hrs IST: RED CARD!! Ireland’s Shane Duffy sent off for foul on Griezmann
19:51 hrs IST: GOALLL!!! Griezmann again in the 61st minute
Olivier Giroud nods the ball back to Antoine Griezmann and the Atletico Madrid striker slots the ball passed Darren Randolph to make it 2-1.
19:48 hrs IST: GOALLLL!!!!Antoine Griezmann (FRA) in 58th minute
France have the equaliser! Bacary Sagna gets the ball down the right and whips a cross onto the head of Antoine Griezmann who buries it into the bottom corner of the net. Excellent header. 1-1.
19:45 hrs IST: Blaise Matuidi fires a shot at goal from outside the area which Darren Randolph turns around the post for a corner.
19:41 hrs IST: Republic of Ireland push forward and James McClean sends in a dangerous low cross but Hugo Lloris gets a hand to it and France are able to clear.
19:39 hrs IST: France have made a half time substitute as N’Golo Kante is replaced by Kingsley Coman. That’s certainly an attacking change from Didier Deschamps.
19:37 hrs IST: Free-kick for France! Payet takes it, but Koscielny’s header goes wide from close range
19:34 hrs IST: We’re back for the second-half!
19: 21 hrs IST: France tried desperately to get themselves back on level terms before half time but chances for Dimitri Payet, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann came and went.
19:19 hrs IST: Half-time! Ireland continue to lead France 1-0
19:17 hrs IST: France pile forward and have two good chances through Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann but both shots are blocked by the Ireland defence.
19:15 hrs IST: Paul Pogba’s loose shot is collected well by goalkeeper Randolph.
19:11 hrs: Shane Duffy gets onto the end of a looping free-kick from Robbie Brady and sends his header just wide of the post.
19:07 hrs IST: Ireland are increasing men around the box, the moment Griezmann looks to make an in-road.
19:05 hrs IST: Ireland are ahead as we enter the final 15 minutes of the first half. The game has slowed down somewhat, which will suit Martin O’Neill’s side
19:02 hrs IST: Plenty of mis-passes there from France. Ireland controlling the mid-field as of now
18:58 hrs IST: N’Golo Kante goes into the book for a late foul on James McClean. He’ll now miss the next round should France get there.
18:55 hrs IST: France have a free-kick from 30 yards, which Paul Pogba curls towards the top corner but Darren Randolph is on hand to turn the ball away from danger.
18:52 hrs IST: An incredibly fast game so far. France desperate to restore parity, while Ireland giving the hosts a tough time with the counter attacks
18:51 hrs IST: In a counter-attack, Ireland’s Jeff Hendrick lurks dangerously in the box but French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saves France the blushes.
18:48 hrs IST: Antoine Greizmann again looking dangerous in the box! But his shot on goal is easily collected by Darren Randolph.
18:46 hrs IST: After the initial shock, France seem to have regrouped. But they need a goal.
18:43 hrs IST: Corner for France. Dimitri Payet takes it but Olivier Giroud misses target
18:40 hrs IST: Antoine Griezmann then gets a chance with a close-range header but fails to find the target
18:38 hrs IST: Dimitri Payet gets a chance from a close-range free-kick but his curling effort lacks conviction and Darren Randolph makes a comfortable save.
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18:33 hrs IST: GOALLLL!! Robbie Brady takes the resulting spot-kick and sends Hugo Lloris the wrong way as the ball flies in off the post.
18:32 hrs IST: Penalty for Ireland
Paul Pogba brings down Shane Long inside the box and it’s a penalty to Republic of Ireland.
18:30 hrs IST: Welcome all!
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France are two-time champions of the Euro. They have won it at home too, way back in 1984, and looking at their current form, the ‘Les Bleus’ are certainly one of the top contenders for the prestigious continental title.
Though tougher tests lie further ahead, Ireland will make sure that the Round of 16 clash is no cake walk.
The hosts will certainly not take the Irish lightly after the latter stunned 2012 finalists Italy 1-0 in Lille on June 22. Though they were thrashed by Belgium 3-0 in Bordeaux, they played out a strong 1-1 draw against Sweden in their opening match.
Catch all the updates between France and Ireland here.
[Source NDTV]
