Proud Martin O'Neill Praises French But Rues Lack Of Recovery Time
Stephen Doyle in Lyon
There was not many second half minutes on the clock when the Republic of Ireland players began to look heavy legged while France looked like a side who had the benefit of a week off the pitch.
Left-back Stephen Ward admitted after the game that he was feeling the ankle he had injured in the Italy game while midfielder Jeff Hendrick played on with a dead leg.
But it was the tiredness that got to them as Robbie Brady admitted after the game.
"Maybe some tiredness kicked in, in the second half, not only in the legs, maybe in the mind, a couple of tired decisions and then we found ourselves 2-1 behind to a good French team and down to ten men."
Martin O'Neill had to play his best players against the Azzurri and then get the same eleven right for the Euro 2016 last-16 clash today, just four days later.
France manager Didier Deschamps had the luxury of resting players for the final group game against Switzerland last Sunday, having already qualified, and O'Neill admitted the lengthy break gave them an advantage.
“I was asked at the press conference yesterday about the difference that three days makes to one side, and we definitely got the short straw in that aspect.
“I know that we knew about it before, but it is an incredible amount of time one side could have as an advantage over another team.
“That said, France are a really, really fine team and good luck to them in the tournament."
When asked after the game if he felt proud of his players he went on to explain if they had hung on a little longer they could have got a better result.
“I think you're right. There's natural disappointment considering the position we got ourselves into during the course of the game, and the goals that we conceded, perhaps maybe just another six or seven minutes.
“I know that's a long time in a game, but another six or seven minutes without conceding, maybe we could have used that to our advantage with France maybe getting a little bit panicky without getting the goal.
“They equalised and then they score so quickly afterwards, from our viewpoint, there was naturally disappointment."
O'Neill also expressed his belief that this Irish team can go on to achieve more.
“We put heart and soul into the game, as has become almost a pre-requisite for us, but more importantly than that, we played, we played in the tournament and some of the younger players, as I have mentioned here, have come out great.
“It's up to them now to take it further. I don't think reaching the last 16 was something – it's still an achievement in that sense, but it's not something they would want to just rest on."