For brief periods during all three of their group stage games, France have looked the best team in the tournament but consistency over 90 minutes has been their problem. Like Roy Hodgson with England, Didier Deschamps does not give the impression yet that he knows his best starting XI but in Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet they possess two players that could still go on to be the best player at Euro 2016.
Ireland got it done in their do or die clash against Italy’s second string and they give the impression they are able to raise their game against the bigger nations. It is worth remembering they took 4 points off of Germany in qualifying.
Add to that the lingering sub plot of ‘revenge’ for the Thierry Henry World Cup Play-Off handball and the Irish look primed to be competitive in Lyon.
#BestBets – France vs Ireland = BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
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