Euro 2016: Opinions on every Sunday match

Ireland vs. France, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, Sunday, 9 a.m. ET

Ireland +925
France -225
Draw +300
Total 2 (Under -115)

How they got here:

Ireland doesn't have an illustrious history of dominance on the international stage. Their 1-0 win over Italy may go down as their greatest triumph since the 1994 World Cup (beating Germany in Dublin during qualification was pretty special too). The win was extra sweet coming on the heels of a 3-0 whitewash against Belgium in the previous match.

Every soccer fan keeps waiting for pre-tournament favorite France to fire on all cylinders. Les Bluez finished the group stage with seven points but lacked a true killer instinct. Three of their four goals came at the 89th minute or later; relying on late-game heroics will get you burned against elite sides.

Who to watch:

Robbie Brady scored the goal that changed the Irish football narrative but Shane Long and Wes Hoolahan are the players to keep tabs on if this football fairy tale continues. Darren Randolph needs to be stout when he comes under attack from the French onslaught.

France has a bevy of world-class stars; you wouldn't know it by their trio of uninspired performances, aside from a few moments of brilliance. Expect Paul Pogba, Dmitri Payet, and Antoine Griezmann to raise their games as the stakes increase. Hugo Lloris remains the unsung hero at the back, erasing any potential mistakes made by a questionable back line.

What will happen:

We keep waiting for the favorites to wake up and play a full 90 minutes. I'm not sure that kind of effort will be needed to dispatch a pesky Irish side, but Didier Deschamps better hope he sees a sense of urgency soon with a murderers' row of opponents looming. France wins but the price at -225 is prohibitive, so I'll look for them to win inside regulation while keeping a clean sheet.

The Play: France wins to nil (-125)

Slovakia vs. Germany, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, Sunday, 12 p.m. ET

Slovakia +850
Germany -230
Draw +315
Total 2 (Over -125)

How they got here:

Things started slowly for Slovakia but the small eastern European nation played its best soccer when it mattered most. The Slovaks dropped their opener to Wales before rebounding with a resounding win against Russia followed up by a pragmatic draw against England.

Germany is known for its firepower more than airtight defense. You wouldn't know it after they kept three clean sheets to top the group with seven points. Manuel Neuer is one of the world's top keepers although his job gets significantly easier when fullbacks contribute. The real challenge for Germany becomes finding a true No. 9 up front to make opponents pay.

Who to watch:

Marek Hamsek is the straw that stirs the Slovakian drink. The talented midfielder is pivotal when it comes to creating chances off set pieces and adding a key layer when they take a defensive posture. Slovakia surrendered 27 shot attempts to the English and 52 through three group games, a number bound to get them burned against a more dynamic German side.

Take your pick on this roster. Mario Gomez got the nod in Germany's final group game up front and will be counted on heavily to finish any service coming from the midfield, assuming he's back in the starting 11. Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller, and Mesut Ozil have failed to support a sustained attack, yet the pedigree exists for a breakout performance here.

What will happen:

Slovakia wants to bottle up the German blitzkrieg as long as possible. Unfortunately, they've show plenty of vulnerabilities in the midfield and on the back line that a loaded German side will exploit. I keep looking to find an upset, but it's not happening here.

The Play: Germany Team Total Over 1.5 goals (-125)

Belgium vs. Hungary, Stadium Municipal, Toulouse, Sunday, 3 p.m. ET

Belgium -160
Hungary +625
Draw +255
Total 2 (Over -115)

How they got here:

For all the talk of Iceland as this tournament's surprise, it's the Hungarians who pulled off the biggest upset, winning their group as 15/1 underdogs. There was nothing flukey about the effort; they tallied six goals in three matches, highlighted by a three-goal outburst in the draw against Portugal.

Belgium showed vulnerability in their tournament opener against Italy, dropping a 2-0 decision. They rebounded over the next two matches, keeping back-to-back clean sheets to earn a full complement of points. Belgium drew a favorable road to the semifinals, giving a team with high expectations coming in the opportunity for a deep run.

Who to watch:

They're not household names, so listing one or two Hungarian stars worth watching wouldn't do this team justice. Unlike some of their overmatched brethren on paper, Hungary hasn't shied away from pushing pace and tempo when opportunity presents itself. This is a feisty bunch hell bent on keeping the improbable run going.

So much has been expected of Belgium on the international stage in the last few major tournaments. A young generation of stars highlighted by Eden Hazard has come of age, and now the road to Euro 2016 glory is paved with continental lightweights. Until the semifinals, that is. Keep an eye on Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne; both played major roles throughout the group stage.

What will happen:

Hungary won't go quietly against a superior Belgium side. They'll try and counter attack when opportunity allows. Unlike the Irish and Swedish sides Belgium handled with ease, Hungary should be able to score. I really believe this game could have sneaky fireworks and we're getting a good price to back that outcome.

The Play: Both teams to score (+175)

Note: All bets for the knockout phase are regulation only unless otherwise stated.