France coach Didier Deschamps said his side had "gone a bit crazy" as they made a second-half comeback to beat Republic of Ireland 2-1 and reach the Euro 2016 quarterfinals.
Hosts France were behind after only two minutes when Robbie Brady struck from the penalty spot, but two second-half goals from Antoine Griezmann turned the game around before Shane Duffy was sent off four a foul on the France forward.
And Deschamps told TF1: "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. It was hard for us, but mission accomplished.
"The players need discipline, but sometimes we're better when we go a bit crazy. We really sped things up, and that's when we are most dangerous.
"We really had to dig deep to get through this situation. This team is really bringing a lot of emotion to the crowd and making everybody fall in love with them.
"There's a lot of emotion here in Lyon and we really needed this great support that we had from the fans.''
Goal hero Griezmann revealed that some impassioned half-time words had helped France turn the game around.
The Atletico Madrid striker said: "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.
"Our fans helped us, and we are happy that we managed to get there."
France defender Adil Rami outlined Les Bleus' problems in the opening 45 minutes, but hailed their recovery.
"This is the case since the start of the Euro. It's hard to start our matches," Rami said.
"The good thing to remember is that we are mentally strong. If that's enough to take us to the final, why not? But I think it will be difficult.
"At 1-0, sincerely we were afraid and we had trouble. But it was impossible that [we would be] going home now."
He added: "We played with more possession. It allowed me and [centre-back partner Laurent] Koscielny to be further apart.
"The game [could breathe] and [we] had Griezmann [in] his true position ... it is very hard to stop him. He was lovely and could even have scored a hat trick."
Meanwhile, defender Patrice Evra congratulated Republic of Ireland, telling ITV Sport: "It was difficult, and that's why I want to congratulate the Irish team because they were tough and it was a great game.
"They played a good tournament and all the fans and the Irish people should be proud of their team.
"We knew it would be difficult, and I am really happy with my teammates, but as I say I congratulate all of the Irish players."
He said a potential quarterfinal against England would be "tough" -- but stressed that France should not necessarily expect Roy Hodgson's side to be the opponents.
"They play against Iceland, and they are really difficult," he added. "But if it is England it will be a special game for me because I have some great memories of English football and Manchester United."
