Didier Deschamps: France got 'crazy' to beat Republic of Ireland at Euro 2016

France head coach Didier Deschamps said his team are better when they "go a bit crazy" after their Euro 2016 last-16 win over Republic of Ireland.

The hosts made a terrible start in Lyon as Paul Pogba fouled Shane Long in the box inside the opening two minutes and Robbie Brady converted the penalty.

'Ireland should be proud'

Republic of Ireland's players and fans should be proud of their performance despite their defeat

But two goals from Antoine Griezmann in a vastly improved second-half performance helped France turn the game around and book their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face either England or Iceland.

"Sometimes it's difficult. When you concede a penalty at the start of a match it made us tense and the Irish can play a bit," Deschamps told TF1.

Deschamps said the three tight last-16 matches on Saturday, two of which went to extra-time, showed there are no easy games in the tournament.

"It was hard for us too, but mission accomplished," he said.

"You shouldn't be too calculated. The players need discipline but sometimes we're better when we go a bit crazy. We really speeded things up and that's when we are most dangerous."

France introduced Kingsley Coman at half-time in place of N'Golo Kante, and Griezmann revealed there were a few home truths aired at the interval.

"We didn't play well in the first half and we said things in the changing room. The coach said things, the players said things, but we were playing for France to give everything we had," said the Atletico Madrid forward.

"Our fans helped us and we are happy that we managed to get there. In the second half, we were more like a team which wanted to fight until the end.

"The stress has been like this all year with Atletico. We win games 1-0 and so have to keep fighting until the end. I thought it would different here with France but there you go, we have to suffer."