Friday, June 24, 2016

Extra rest could help France play with more pace vs. Ireland (The Associated Press)

Ireland's coach Martin O'Neill, center right, gestures during the Euro 2016 Group E soccer match between Italy and Ireland at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve dAscq, near Lille, France, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

With the benefit of three days' extra rest, France is hoping to set a punishing pace that will wear Ireland out when they meet on Sunday in the last 16 of the European Championship. France settled for a draw against Switzerland last Sunday, while Ireland beat Italy 1-0 on Wednesday in Lille and only got back to its Versailles base outside of Paris at around 5 a.m. on Thursday morning. ''Three days is important in a tournament and qualifying earlier does give you more rest,'' France's assistant coach Guy Stephan said Friday.


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