IT’S END OF THE LYON!
Griezmann’s double for France dashes Ireland’s Euro dream
MARTIN O’NEILL said France were ‘six or seven minutes’ from pressing the panic button in the Lyon den yesterday before Antoine Griezmann ended the Republic of Ireland’s Euros dream.
Ireland led 1-0 for almost an hour against the much-fancied hosts before a two-goal salvo in three minutes by striker Griezmann swung the last-16 tie decisively. ‘I don’t think there is any good time to go out of the tournament. We really had a go and the players could not put an ounce more into the game,’ said the O’Neill, who felt Robbie Brady’s early penalty might have been a victory springboard.
‘At half-time we were not just well in the game, we felt we could win the game,’ he said.
‘We had them under severe pressure, we were playing well and I felt we could win the game.
‘If we had gone another six or seven minutes without conceding we could have used that to our advantage as France were getting a bit panicky.
‘Then they equalised and scored so quickly again afterwards. Eventually, the sides with the very best players
should win the game.’ The introduction of Kingsley Coman ignited a French fightback and Ireland’s ‘Frexit’ was compounded by Shane Duffy’s sending-off for tripping Antoine Griezmann. Duffy became the second Irish player to see red in the final game of the Euro finals after Keith Andrews’ dismissal against Italy four years ago. Along with Robbie Brady (24), Jeff Hendrick (24) and James McCarthy (25), the towering Duffy (24) shone in the finals. O’Neill (right) saluted his tyros for ‘coming of age’ in France and has challenged them to ‘take it further’ in the World Cup qualifiers in the autumn. ‘The tournament has been great for the players. The last 16 is still an achievement, if not something we want to rest on.’ He also hailed the Irish fans ‘who gave extra energy to the team for the tournament’. Didier Deschamps oozed relief afterward. ‘I knew this game would be difficult,’ said the French coach. ‘When Ireland took the lead it made us uncomfortable. We had to dig deep.’ Replacing Ngolo Kante with the speedy Coman at half-time fuelled the French revival. ‘Ireland were playing deep and we needed more space on the flanks,’ admitted Deschamps. O’Neill has yet to sign his contract extension as Ireland manager, having agreed with a handshake before the finals to stay on for the World Cup campaign. But FAI chiefs will move quickly to make the contract arrangements formal as they will be aware his stock has risen after the finals.