France – $1.45 at Sportsbet
Draw – $4.20 at Bet365.com
Republic of Ireland – $10 at Sportsbet
On paper, the hosts have pulled one of the easiest matchups for the round of 16.
France ($1.18 at CrownBet.com to qualify) are the outright favourites to win the 2016 European Championships, even though they hardly hit top gear in the group stage.
It took a last-ditch Dimitri Payet winner to get past Romania on the opening night, while they left it even later to find the score sheet in the 2-0 win over Albania.
Then came an inconsequential 0-0 draw with Switzerland – widely dubbed the worst game of the tournament so far.
What’s frightening, from an opposition point of view, is that the French have so much upside.
Payet has shone from the start, but the likes of Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Anthony Martial haven’t exactly hit the ground running.
There are signs of life, however; it was Griezmann who broke the deadlock against Albania, while Pogba could easily have bagged a first-half treble against the Swiss.
Didier Deschamps experimented with his squad in the group phase, rotating the likes of Blaise Matuidi, Yohan Cabaye, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Moussa Sissoko through the first team.
But the France coach is expected to recall the likes of N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud and field his strongest XI against a determined Irish outfit on Sunday.
This will be the first time these two teams have met since 2009, when Thierry Henry’s infamous handball led to the goal that knocked ROI out of World Cup qualifying.
Ireland ($6 to progress at Bet365.com) are still sore about that, and they would love to do to France what they did to Italy on Wednesday.
On the brink of elimination after their hammering at the hands of Belgium, Martin O’Neill’s men could hardly have responded any better.
They pressed and prodded the Azzurri all night long, launching attack after attack before Robbie Brady finally broke through to snatch a 1-0 win in the dying minutes.
It is the first time ROI have reached the last 16 of a major tournament since the 2002 World Cup, and the only time they’ve ever done so at the Euro finals.
Shane Long was three years old when Ireland, in their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals, stunned everyone by reaching quarterfinals at Italia 1990.
Speaking to the press on Friday, the Southampton striker made it clear the Irish had their sights set on achieving something spectacular at France 2016.
“I don’t think anyone expected us to get out of the group,” said Long.
“To do it that way is up there with some of the best moments in Irish football history. But we can really make it special now.
“It’s not going to be easy – we’re playing one of the favourites, the host nation and in front of lots of French fans.
“It’s going to be a hard job, but we fancy ourselves to cause an upset.
“We’re going to leave it all out on the pitch and hopefully get that bit of luck to help us over the line.”
Dimitri Payet betting specials
Three weeks ago, Payet was far from a certain starter at Euro 2016.
It’s just as well for France that Deschamps backed him in, because they may have struggled to get this far without him.
With two top-shelf goals to his name already, the West Ham United star is among the frontrunners for both the Golden Boot and the UEFA Player of the Tournament titles.
In a team packed with class, Payet is the guy who has lifted when his country has needed someone to take charge and get things done.
That quality is what makes him the player Ireland will most want to shut out of the game.
Payet to score in regular time and France to win – $3.40 (Sportsbet)
Payet to score the first goal – $6.20 (CrownBet)
Payet to score the last goal – $6.20 (CrownBet)
Payet to score from outside the penalty box – $6.50 (William Hill)
Payet to score a hat-trick – $81 (William Hill)
Jeff Hendrick Euro 2016 bets
Casual football watchers probably didn’t know who this guy was when the tournament started.
But Hendrick, who has spent all of his six-year senior career at Derby County, has been one of Ireland’s best at Euro 2016.
He was a constant menace from midfield against Sweden, denied a maiden international goal only by Andreas Isaksson’s crossbar.
Alongside Brady, the 24-year-old Dubliner ran the show against Italy and was always looking to make things happen in the final third.
If he gets half a chance in Lyon, you can bet he will try to put one past Hugo Lloris in the France goal.
Hendrick to score Ireland’s first goal – $15 (Sportsbet)
Hendrick to score anytime – $17 (Bet365)
Hendrick first goal insurance bet – $25 (Sportsbet)
Hendrick first goal + Ireland 1-0 scorecast – $111 (Bet365)
Hendrick to score two or more goals – $151 (Bet365)
