Griezmann double sends France into last-8

LYON, June 26

Hosts France came from behind to beat 10-man Ireland 2-1 and reach the quarterfinals 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. France will play either England or Iceland at the Stade de France next Sunday.

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. 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. 

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 Olivier Giroud. — Reuters