FRANCE, Germany and Belgium sealed their places in the quarterfinals of the European Championship Sunday as three of the pre-tournament favorites lived up to their promise.

    There was a scare for the host nation after Ireland scored a second minute penalty, but Antoine Griezmann struck twice after the break to give France a deserved 2-1 victory in Lyon.

    While France was made to work hard to advance, Germany had no such difficulties in a polished 3-0 victory over Slovakia, while Eden Hazard inspired Belgium to a crushing 4-0 win over Hungary.

    The relief was palpable at the Stade de Lyon after France finally overwhelmed an Ireland side that had led through Robbie Brady’s spot-kick, after France midfielder Paul Pogba bundled Shane Long to the ground.

    Ireland chased for every ball and worked tirelessly to defend its slender lead. But Griezmann’s two goals in the space of three minutes midway through the second half saw the natural order restored, and a red card for Shane Duffy in the 66th minute all but ended the contest.

    France’s reward is a quarterfinal next Sunday at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis against either England or Iceland, which meet later.

    Germany scored early and never looked back against a Slovakia side that had surprisingly beaten Joachim Loew’s world champions in a friendly last month.

    Jerome Boateng broke the deadlock after just eight minutes in Lille with a deflected shot, his first goal in 63 appearances for Germany.

    Mesut Ozil missed a penalty shortly afterward, the first by a German player at a European Championship since 1976. But Mario Gomez stabbed home Germany’s second just before the break after a clever cutback by Julian Draxler, who then volleyed home the third midway through the second half.

    Hazard lit up the Stade de Toulouse on Sunday. After Toby Alderweireld headed Belgium into a 10th minute lead, Hazard turned victory into a rout in the closing stages.

    He began by surging past Hungary’s defense on the left side and sending over a low cross for substitute Michy Batshuayi to steer home in the 78th minute.

    The Chelsea playmaker then followed up by scoring a spectacular solo goal, breaking down the left on a counterattack before cutting inside, skipping past three Hungary defenders and curling a shot into the bottom right corner.

    (SD-Agencies)