Darren Randolph 7
He had lots to do in the early stages and was assured in his handling of efforts from Griezmann, Pogba and Payet in the first half, which was followed by a fine parry from Matuidi’s stinging shot in the second. Got his fingertips to the header from Griezmann but couldn’t keep it out and was buried for the second goal. Late save denied Griezmann a hat-trick.
Seamus Coleman 6
The captain was booked for going through Payet from behind and also had Pogba drifting to his side, which limited his chances to get forward, but was still trying to create something there in injury-time.
Shane Duffy 3
It all went wrong in the second half for the Derry man. He made a poor decision to try to win the header against Giroud for Griezmann’s second goal, which allowed the winger the time and space to slot the ball past Randolph. Mistakes like that get punished at this level. Sent-off after 66 minutes for a last-ditch tackle on Griezmann.
Richard Keogh 5
Tried in vain to lead out the defence as they sat back under French pressure. Handled Giroud well enough when he came his way in the first half but could have stepped up and attacked the cross for the opening goal. The miscommunication for the second goal was all too costly.
Stephen Ward 6
His early burst forward and cross into the box led to the penalty and he made a number of runs forward in tandem with McClean. Made several timely blocks, especially late in the first half as Payet look certain to score from close-range.
James McCarthy 6
Really encouraging first half display in the screening role, with a crucial intervention on Griezmann when Ward was caught out of position, the type of thing he missed against Belgium. He will be unhappy with his positioning for the opening French goal, which will be grist to the mill of his critics. Taken off after the second goal as O’Neill brought on Hoolahan.
Jeff Hendrick 6
Snatched at a chance after Murphy’s effort was parried by Lloris and had little chance to show what he could do thereafter. He was also hindered by the dead leg he got in a challenge with Pogba. Picked up another silly booking for kicking the ball away, which would have put him out of the quarter-final.
Robbie Brady 6
Showed composure to step up and take the penalty under pressure. It went in off the post, but Ireland were owed that luck against France. Tried to get on the ball and make things happen but much of his work was done tracking backwards and tackling Pogba.
James McClean 6
His final ball is somehow still a work in progress as he wasted two chances to pick out Long and Murphy in the box either side of the half. Could have got closer to stop the cross for the first goal. Worked flat out again and has developed a good partnership with Ward behind him. Replaced by O’Shea after Duffy’s dismissal.
Shane Long 7
The Southampton striker, who was fouled for Brady’s penalty, was so often the fifth man in midfield because he’s more mobile than Murphy. Soldiered for the cause as much as anyone and drew a number of fouls to relieve pressure in the first 45. Looked exhausted in the second half.
Daryl Murphy 6
The lone front man gave as good as he got as he battered and clattered Rami and Koscielny as much as they hit him. Plenty of willing runs down the channels. Denied his first international goal by Llorris but was involved in the penalty incident. Taken off for Walters.
Subs
Jon Walters 5
It’s a tournament of what might have been for the Stoke man. He had a half-chance late on with a snatch shot but Lloris had it covered.
John O’Shea 5
Brought on to shore up the defence after Duffy was sent-off.
Wes Hoolahan 5
No late magic this time from the little man.
Man of the match – Antoine Griezmann
Ireland’s man of the match – Darren Randolph
Talking points
All of Ireland’s good work in the first half was undone by some basic defensive errors in the second to let France draw level and then go ahead. The shape and endeavour was there in the first half but to go out of the tournament through your own mistakes is galling, as good as France were in parts, particularly Griezmann. It was perhaps inevitable that tired minds would set in after the exertions of Wednesday’s night.
Managers
Martin O’Neill named an unchanged side for the first time in his reign. Many will feel he erred by not going for more experience in such a big game but those who starred against Italy deserved their shot again.
Didier Deschamps named his strongest side and the one that started the opening game against Romania. He mixed it up and went for broke at half-time as he brought on Kingsley Coman for defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante at half-time. Sadly for Ireland, it paid off.
Referee
Italian Nicola Rizzoli had a mixed game. He got the penalty decision and the sending off spot on but was a bit too eager to dish out the cards and awarded some soft free-kicks to the French.
Crowd watch
There was far more blue on show as the Irish fans were massively outnumbered but they made plenty of noise. Come On You Boys in Green was even audible above the din of the pre-game show. ‘We’re going to beat the French’ rang out from the small pockets of green around the ground after Brady's peno. The home crowd booed their team off at half-time but Greizmann’s talents saw them home in the end.
Where next?
France are back at the Stade de France next Sunday to play the winners of England and Iceland, while Ireland can only dream of that as they fly home disappointed this week. Still, they’ll always have that win over Italy.
