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Martin O'Neill and assistant Roy Keane at the draw yesterday. Adam Davy

'I'll fret now for the next couple of weeks and then I'll look forward to it with enthusiasm after that'

Martin O’Neill has plenty to think about after yesterday’s draw in Paris.

IRELAND MANAGER Martin O’Neill will draw hope from his side’s remarkable recent win over Germany after they were handed a tough Euro 2016 draw on Saturday.

The Irish were pitted alongside Belgium, Italy and Sweden in Group E at the finals, arguably the toughest section of all.

With Belgium currently ranked as the number one team in the world and Euro 2012 runners-up Italy widely regarded as the side to avoid from all the teams in pot two, O’Neill admitted his team face an enormous challenge.

“I think the draw is difficult for us. But we’ll go there with confidence. We’ll go and try and compete,” he told reporters in Paris where the draw ceremony was held.

“Naturally you’re talking about Italy in our group, who are effectively a pot one team, and Belgium are considered now the best side in the world — whether you agree with that or not, they are certainly one of the top five or six teams playing in the competition.”

“And Sweden know about these competitions, they’ve got so much experience and seem to know how to qualify and get through.

“It’s one I think our fans will look forward to even if the games are hard for us.”

Sweden will be Ireland’s first opponents at the Stade de France on Monday 13 June, with a trip to Bordeaux to face Belgium following that five days later. They will then tackle the Italians in the northern city of Lille on Wednesday, 22 June in a daunting final group game.

It is a repeat of Euro 2012 for the Irish, who lost 2-0 to Italy in their final group game in Poland, when they went home without a point and with just one goal to their name.

Nevertheless, Ireland showed they could compete with the very best at international level when they took four points off Germany during qualifying, a very respectable 1-1 draw away being followed by a stunning 1-0 victory in Dublin in October thanks to a Shane Long strike.

“We have actually beaten the world champions so we’ll get some confidence from that,” added O’Neill, whose side finished third in qualifying Group D but made it to France thanks to a two-legged play-off success against Bosnia-Herzegovina in November.

“It’s a long way away, there’s another six months to go. I’ll fret now for the next couple of weeks and then I’ll look forward to it with enthusiasm after that.”

- © AFP 2015

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    Mute Paddy Murray
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    Feb 25th 2012, 8:18 AM

    Can’t see Ireland losing but it won’t be pretty to watch.

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    Mute Idont Care
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    Feb 25th 2012, 9:18 AM

    Irish boys to win but a hard game it should be.

    Also well done to the Irish women’s team for beating Italy 40 points to 10 last night.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Feb 25th 2012, 9:50 AM

    Who……?

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    Mute jrbmc
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    Feb 25th 2012, 10:41 AM

    Why weren’t we told about this? Did they swap jerseys at the end?

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    Mute Andrew Storan
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    Feb 25th 2012, 8:32 AM

    Comprehensive victory.. 6 tries, 3 for earles !

    17
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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Feb 25th 2012, 8:21 AM

    Ireland to slug it out for a 10 to 12 point win.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Feb 25th 2012, 9:15 AM

    Italy are far from the whipping boys they once were in this tournament, and any side that writes them off or takes their eye off the ball could pay a high price. Also, Ireland and England are the only two scalps they have yet to take in the six nations, so you can bet they’ll be up for this one.

    That said, Ireland should have the firepower to do it as long as they stay focussed and keep complacency out of their mindset.

    Ireland by nine points…..

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    Mute Spillinksuz
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    Feb 25th 2012, 8:25 AM

    Our boys in green are the only greens doing it right way!!
    Hard honest graft reaps rewards!
    Best of luck today boys

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    Mute Shane Keaveney
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    Feb 25th 2012, 8:41 AM

    Plus 15 points

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    Mute David Mc Elroy
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    Feb 25th 2012, 10:50 AM

    Kick off is 1.30pm. We don’t want anyone missing it!

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    Mute C
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    Feb 25th 2012, 10:15 AM

    19-15 to Ireland…

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    Mute South Ayrshire
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    Feb 25th 2012, 12:30 PM

    Close defensive first half. Ireland to dominate in the second and run in a couple of tries. #6nations

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    Mute Des Carroll
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    Feb 25th 2012, 11:34 AM

    12 to 1 half time draw. could be worth a few yoyos. also paul o c man of the match 9 to 1.

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    Mute Tom McDermott
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    Feb 25th 2012, 2:14 PM

    Nearly des , nearly,

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    Mute mattoid
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    Feb 25th 2012, 2:16 PM

    I bet you were almost planning how you’d spend the half time money – bad luck… :-/

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    Mute mattoid
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    Feb 25th 2012, 3:14 PM

    How the hell did Sexton get motm??
    Place kicking was good but kicking from the hand was brutal, and he was absolutely anonymous with ball in hand. Rob Kearney for my money, with PoC a close second….

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    Mute Michael Russell
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    Feb 25th 2012, 1:54 PM

    Thanks a lot guys… “kick off 2pm”. Just missed the first half hour

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    Mute Richard Brownebacher
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    Feb 25th 2012, 1:53 PM

    19-13 good guys.

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    Mute John Meenan
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    Feb 25th 2012, 12:02 PM

    will be tight italy on the up ireland by 3 pts

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