The France went close to a disaster and has long feared being eliminated from the Euro held its ground before qualifying for the quarter-finals by beating Ireland (2-1), thanks to a brace of Antoine Griezmann.
By quarters, the Blues will face the winner of Sunday, July 3 England - Iceland, held Monday.
Who could have said before the meeting that such relief would host the qualification against Ireland, team expected to be much lower? This relief was however the measure of fear that have made the French because of a catastrophic start to the match, which could send them to the worst fiascos in recent history.
They were carried out after 120 seconds after a penalty conceded by Paul Pogba, decidedly disappointing in this Euro. This thunderclap sounded the start of a disastrous period for the French, clenched by pressure, unable to develop their game and constantly endangered in their surface by the Irish.
It was not until the second half to see Griezmann score a liberator doubled (57 and 61), while coach Didier Deschamps had muscled the French attack by bringing Kingsley Coman after halftime.
Griezmann joined the Welsh Gareth Bale and Spaniard Alvaro Morata scorers in the top of the ranking (3 each).
The heart, but what else?
France has even finished at 11 against 10 after excluding Duffy (66), but failed to score again, missing Griezmann hat-trick in the final minutes.
For Deschamps, relieving the qualification does not mask the many outstanding issues for the rest of the competition after the first round already generally uninspiring (wins in extremis 2-1 against Romania and 2-0 against Switzerland zero 0-0 against Switzerland).
While we awaited his fire attack, while Pogba was supposed to splash the Europe of his talent, the team of France has mostly shown up to now she had the heart and the mental resources to reverse a situation.
By themselves, these laudable qualities may not be enough. And the Blues will do much better if they want to walk in the footsteps of their elders, winners of the previous competitions organized at home, the Euro 84 Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane World 98.
Especially in quarters, France will be without middle N'Golo Kante and central defender Adil Rami suspended after receiving a second yellow card on Sunday.
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