#360fans: France vs Ireland – Euro 2016 UAE fans preview

Sport360 staff 12:30 26/06/2016
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  • Who will win between Ireland and France?

    Ahead of their last-16 clash in Lyon on Sunday, France and Ireland UAE-based fans give their verdict on the game.

    To gain an insight into the mindset of the fans we asked UAE fans to share with us their predictions, likely line-ups and players to watch.

    Do you agree or have they missed the mark? Use #360Fans to share with us your thoughts.

    FRANCE – Yves Thapele (E-commerce manager, Dubai)

    Irish fans will never forget that night at the Stade de France in November 2009 when Thierry Henry handballed before laying off the ball to William Gallas to score the goal that sent Les Bleus to the 2010 World Cup at their expense.

    The French fans of course felt bad about what happened and Henry received a hard time from the French press, though I still think if it had been the other way around Ireland would have just been happy to have qualified for the World Cup. Still, that bad blood from seven years ago is certainly bubbling under the surface ahead of our last-16 match against Ireland in Lyon.

    Ireland are looking for revenge but they are also going to be looking tired. They put in an incredibly gutsy performance to beat Italy and sneak through to the knockout stage but their players have had three days less to recover than France and I think this will be their undoing. We were frustrated against Switzerland and still we haven’t produced that incredible performance to really stir the supporters – though Paul Pogba was brilliant against the Swiss.

    This time, I think France will only need our feet to beat Ireland.

    PREDICTION: France 2-0 Ireland

    LIKELY FRANCE XI: Lloris; Sagna, Rami, Koscielny, Evra; Kanté, Matuidi, Pogba; Griezmann, Giroud, Payet

    FRANCE PLAYER TO WATCH: Dimitri Payet – The new maestro of the national team, he has influenced our creativity and our results with a pair of important goals. Great skills, great set-pieces – he can do everything. The new Zinedine Zidane?!

    IRELAND PLAYER TO WATCH: Robbie Keane – Scored against us in that World Cup playoff back in 2009. Amazing that he’s still going strong at his age! Will likely be used off the bench but has a great goalscoring touch and is of course deadly from the penalty spot if it gets that far.

    WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME: Girders at the JA Ocean View Hotel, JBR.

    REPUBLIC OF IRELAND – Stephen Fleming (Teacher, Dubai)

    It’s a true David vs Goliath game with hosts France awaiting in Ireland’s fist ever European knockout game. The Boys in Green certainly left it late to qualify but they never know how to make things easy. Still a victory over Italy, even if it wasn’t their full strength team should be enough to give the boys belief that they can defeat another football superpower.

    One name that has been mentioned over and over again since Ireland progressed is a French player who has absolutely no involvement in this game: Thierry Henry. The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker’s infamous handball in the 2010 World Cup qualifier will definitely stir the emotions of the Irish players, who to be honest don’t really need any extra motivation for this clash.

    This Ireland squad is a special bunch because even though they are limited in terms of talent, they make up for it in hard-work, intensity and unity. If they play like they did against Sweden and Italy, I genuinely believe Martin O’Neill’s men can pull off an unbelievable upset against a France team that is feeling the pressure of being hosts.

    PREDICTION: France 0-1 Ireland

    LIKELY IRELAND XI: Randolph; Coleman, Duffy, Keogh, Ward; McCarthy; McClean, Hendrick, Brady; Murphy, Long

    IRELAND PLAYER TO WATCH: Jeff Hendrick – He epitomises the fighting Irish spirit with his work ethic and all-energy approach stifling opposition midfielders. He has gone close in this tournament to opening his account with some long- range efforts – one is bound to go in, right?

    FRANCE PLAYER TO FEAR: Dimitri Payet – The West Ham attacker has been the most consistent player for France so far and if he gets any chance at shooting from 30 yards in, we should be worried.

    WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME: McGettigans in JLT is where most Irish people will gather to cheer on the Boys in Green.

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