Euro 2016 - Round of 16 - France vs Ireland, 2 pm, RTE, ITV

Mr.Nice Guy

France vs Ireland

2:00pm Sunday 26th June
Stade des Lumieres

Hand, Henry, revenge...that about sums up the build for this game from our French friends, but I'd like to think we're focused on the bigger picture: the chance for us to reach the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time in over a quarter of a century. If we pull this off, it's hard to think of a bigger result in Irish football history because of what it would represent.

We go into this game against the hosts and tournament favourites as massive underdogs. The bookies don't give us much of a prayer with Skybet offering 4/9 for a France win and 9/1 for ourselves (3/1 a draw). We've also had our vocal fans get stiffed with only a fraction of the tickets that the home fans have been allocated.

But that being said, we are on a high after the Italy result and with Jon Walters returning to training there is a chance one of our key men may feature. We famously struggled for wins against teams ranked above us in competitive games for a long time, but yet by my reckoning we've recorded three such wins over the past 9 months (Germany, Bosnia, Italy).

Can we do it on Saturday? What team selection would you like to see? And how should we approach the game?

Overall I'm feeling pretty philosophical about it. I think all the pressure ought to be on the French and I'm hoping that the players don't produce a nervy showing like they did against Belgium. If we can keep it tight for the first half and not concede then you sense these fans will get frustrated and that could play in our favour. They do have terrific quality though and one of the tournament's stars in Payet so they can certainly produce moments of magic.

I'm not confident of a win but I am cautiously optimistic we can give them a bloody good game.

COYBIG

SantryRed

https://vimeo.com/172203469

That video brings all the emotions of Wednesday right back around.

Personally I think this will be one step too far for the lads after the effort that they put in against the Italians. I just hope if we are to lose, that we lose with the spirit and desire we showed against Italy, and not what we seen in Belgium.

Immensely proud regardless of the result. But my god, imagine a quarter final against the English? It would be crazy.

cj maxx

I predict a ireland win , and im always right on the first page of a new thread )

Peist2007

Will be tough but we are in bonus territory and the pressure is all on the French. Keep it tight for at least the first half hour and see if the majority French crowd start gettng on their backs. Take it from there. Get our players that can play on the ball as much as possible and see if we can put some pressure on their frankly dodgy defence. I have seen far stranger results happen. COYBIG

Arghus

Hope the boys can raise themselves again for another massive effort.

It's going to be tough, but I think France are flakey and disjointed and a really determined and unified effort could just about do it.

I'd love to stick it to them.

sheroman01

Didn't Andy Carroll destroy Koscielny when he scored that hat trick last season?! I reckon we give Murphy some good time on the pitch and see how he gets on :P

KungPao

2-0 to Ireland. Brady, coleman.

Not probable though! Ill go with 1-1, extra time, penalty heartbreak.

sword1

Doing it on Saturday won't be good enough

BorneTobyWilde

With so few Irish fans in stadium it will have a very different feel. Need to quieting the crowd. Would hate to see us drop off, we need to have positive attitude . We have a score to settle. We played a great game in that play off, we need same again and this time we can win.
France have been poor thus far, only creeping by the likes of Albania, draw with the Swiss. We have a super chance.

BorneTobyWilde

Hendrick will score, a goal is coming for him. He has gone close every game.

JustTheOne

We need someone quick in midfield to chase the game.

France have kante.

That will be the difference, who can do that job?

Lovely Bloke

JustTheOne wrote: »

That will be the difference, who can do that job?

McCarthy CAN do it, whether he does or not is a different story.

Iused2likebusts

Hopefully ward is fit to free up Brady to play further forward. I think we will lose 2 1 unfortunately. If we do win the country is going to go crazy Italia 90 style it would be great to see so here's hoping.

spock.

I think we'll score, and maybe get a 1-1 draw.
France to nick it in extra time though

Rock77

I think if Ward plays we will concede at least 2, not an international level defender in my opinion, ideally I'd like to see Brady in midfield but not if it means playing Ward.

I think we can give them a hell of a game but they have alot more quality than Italy did.

We could bring it to penalties though!

greendom

France haven't played anywhere near to their potential yet and if that continues, Ireland could well find themselves in the quarters. Imagine an Iceland Ireland Quarter Final!

Francie Barrett

Is Walters anywhere near fitness?

Iused2likebusts

Rock77 wrote: »

I think if Ward plays we will concede at least 2, not an international level defender in my opinion, ideally I'd like to see Brady in midfield but not if it means playing Ward.

I think we can give them a hell of a game but they have alot more quality than Italy did.

We could bring it to penalties though!

Ward has done quite well at the euros I'd much prefer bradys pace and creativity in midfield

Avatar MIA

I think a Belgian result far more likely than the Italy result.

But stranger things have happened. Come on Leicester IRELAND!

duffman13

JustTheOne wrote: »

We need someone quick in midfield to chase the game.

France have kante.

That will be the difference, who can do that job?

The better the opposition the better and more important Kante becomes to France. I don't think he'll be the difference and will probably be sacrificed if France decide to put the boot down. They will dominate possession, we need to keep shape and try and hit them on the break.

Hopefully Walters is back, McClean on the wing to try and expose Evra who has looked a liability so far!

Rock77

Iused2likebusts wrote:

Ward has done quite well at the euros I'd much prefer bradys pace and creativity in midfield

I'd have to disagree, Ward is slow, wasteful in possession and looks like he doesn't want the ball.

Brady is one of our best midfielders and I'd be desperate to see him play him there, I just think in this game we are going to be under so much pressure, our defence is the most important thing and Ward will be found out

fryup

Ward has got a big snooser...so he could sniff out a result for us

Umaro

I just hope we don't crash out due to a dodgy ref, or another Henry-esque incident.

Unearthly

I reckon we'll do them in. Very excited

vicwatson

Our defence will give away so many free kicks today that Dimi will be on top form, one time I don't want him to score mind you !

vicwatson

Prediction. FT 0-0 ET 0-1 KEANE he's due to do something at the Euros !!! COYBIG

Fr Tod Umptious

4-0 France.

Early goal will destroy Ireland, a bit like Spain last time.

I hope I'm wrong but worried I will be right.

ionadnapokot

Arghus wrote: »

Hope the boys can raise themselves again for another massive effort.

It's going to be tough, but I think France are flakey and disjointed and a really determined and unified effort could just about do it.

I'd love to stick it to them.

Each of those reasons are also both my major concern (tiredness) and cause for optimism (disjointed France)
This is prob MON toughest ever Team selection.
Team prob need fresh legs. But other than Wes and Quinn ...and maybe Clark I wouldn't play any of the alternatives in this game.
Walters Is surely still crocked . & ward?

Kante is the one player that is stiching their "team" together. & How to stop Pogba breaking from midfield?
SC, SD, RK, RB;
JMcC
WH SQ JH
SL JMcL

Come on Ireland!!!

sjb25

Can't wait for the game very nervous hope they can do it part of me believes they can just can't shake thinking it will be a game to far for the lads

But can you imagine if they do it nobody will be in work for the week

JustTheOne

Umaro wrote: »

I just hope we don't crash out due to a dodgy ref, or another Henry-esque incident.

Surely our last 2 games has got the bad refereeing decisions out of our way.

fryup

greendom wrote: »

France haven't played anywhere near to their potential yet and if that continues, Ireland could well find themselves in the quarters. Imagine an Iceland Ireland Quarter Final!

Imagine an England Ireland Quarter Final

willowthewisp

Important question lads, are we wearing green or white today?

Koobcam

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

With so few Irish fans in stadium it will have a very different feel. Need to quieting the crowd. Would hate to see us drop off, we need to have positive attitude . We have a score to settle. We played a great game in that play off, we need same again and this time we can win.
France have been poor thus far, only creeping by the likes of Albania, draw with the Swiss. We have a super chance.

In fairness, everyone has been poor so far, the whole tournament has been absolutely awful. I reckon we have been one of the more positive teams so far and I'm hoping to see a positive approach today. My wife was saying to me after the Portugal Croatia match (possibly the most boring football match ever) that if we lose, at least let it be after a good, attacking effort and not after defending for two hours and not having a go. We definitely have a chance.

OwaynOTT

willowthewisp wrote: »

Important question lads, are we wearing green or white today?

I dunno but they will be wearing Frnch scalps later and that will be a feather in their hats.

fryup

Koobcam wrote: »

In fairness, everyone has been poor so far, the whole tournament has been absolutely awful.

no it hasn't

Kerrydude1981

A good solid start,try and keep the ball when we have it and not be lumping it up and giving them possession, it will be a long day out like the Belguim game if we start at that craic again,

COYBIG

JustTheOne

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

A good solid start,try and keep the ball when we have it and not be lumping it up and giving them possession, it will be a long day out like the Belguim game if we start at that craic again,

COYBIG

I think we actually conceded against Belgium when we tried keeping the ball and making things happen.

Dirty Dingus McGee

I'm really worried about this.

Just think a hiding could be on the horizon.

France don't look that great in the air at the back so I'd say Murphy might start and I'd like to see us be quite direct in this game and use the wings a lot as we need to do whatever we can to bypass Frances powerhouse midfield, we haven't a hope of getting on top their so try ti take it out of the equation as much as possible.

Kerrydude1981

JustTheOne wrote: »

I think we actually conceded against Belgium when we tried keeping the ball and making things happen.

That's when we were one nil down so we had to try something,we were lucky to be at nil all at half time we kept giving the ball back to them.

Koobcam

fryup wrote: »

no it hasn't

Guess we will have to disagree on that so. And I suppose even a crap tournament is better than no tournament, especially as we are in it

chris241111

We should play McGeady in the starting 11. I don't know why he doesn't, Then scrap Shane Long

fryup

its a hard one to call....

ireland were great in the last game but were playing the italy B team...France haven't been firing on all cylinders as yet but today could be the day for them to click

i think an early goal for france and it could be curtains

duffman13

chris241111 wrote: »

We should play McGeady in the starting 11. I don't know why he doesn't, Then scrap Shane Long

Play McGeady over Long? I'd say one of the reasons he doesn't is cause Long has produced much more for Ireland than Aiden, add into it that McGeady has been struggling for games and form for two years while Long has been paying regularly at Southampton.

Oh and McGeady is not a striker and never will be!

Iused2likebusts

chris241111 wrote: »

We should play McGeady in the starting 11. I don't know why he doesn't, Then scrap Shane Long

Take it easy on the beer it's still over 3 hours to kick off.

chris241111

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Take it easy on the beer it's still over 3 hours to kick off.

HaHA, but really , McGeady is hands down the best player we have and only comes on in the 70th minute

chris241111

duffman13 wrote: »

Play McGeady over Long? I'd say one of the reasons he doesn't is cause Long has produced much more for Ireland than Aiden, add into it that McGeady has been struggling for games and form for two years while Long has been paying regularly at Southampton.

Oh and McGeady is not a striker and never will be!

Sorry I wasnt clear, I didn't mean swap them, I know they are completely different players
But our strategy is not working

SteelyDanJalapeno

We'll be in white

ollie1

willowthewisp wrote: »

Important question lads, are we wearing green or white today?

White as France are the Home team

Esse85

chris241111 wrote: »

HaHA, but really , McGeady is hands down the best player we have and only comes on in the 70th minute

The best player Ireland have?

Are you 7?

Pudsy33

chris241111 wrote: »

HaHA, but really , McGeady is hands down the best player we have and only comes on in the 70th minute

He's the most naturally talented and balanced dribbler of the ball we have. Unfortunately he's also incredibly wasteful and lacks end product. Brady and Walters are superior options.

lukesmom

Ireland 1 - 0 France