A few days later, Ireland needed two penalties to secure a 2-2 draw with Slovakia as Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane’s Euro 2016 squad began to take shape
Ireland’s final pre-Euro 2016 friendly took place in Turner’s Cross, though it was not the send off the team would have wanted as they lost 2-1 to Belarus
That kiss! 17 pictures that sum up the men's international football year
Ireland started the year with a 1-0 friendly win against Switzerland in a largely empty Aviva Stadium
Though Kevin Doyle’s Euro 2016 hopes were left hanging by a thread after a gruesome leg injury
A few days later, Ireland needed two penalties to secure a 2-2 draw with Slovakia as Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane’s Euro 2016 squad began to take shape
Ireland’s final pre-Euro 2016 friendly took place in Turner’s Cross, though it was not the send off the team would have wanted as they lost 2-1 to Belarus
After which O’Neill announced his Euro 2016 squad to the assembled media
Ireland opened with a frustrating 1-1 draw with Sweden, a game they could have — perhaps should have — won
Worse was to follow as a 3-0 hammering by Belgium left Ireland in real danger of not getting out of the group
Last up was Italy and Ireland were left frustrated as it looked like the dream of qualification was beginning to slip away
But then Robbie Brady stepped up and headed Ireland into the knock-out stages
And found his girlfriend and brother in the crowd
Against the hosts France, Ireland made the perfect start with another Brady goal
But then Antoine Griezmann took over and Ireland’s adventure was over
Robbie Keane brought an end to his remarkable Ireland career with a 68th goal against Oman in his final international
O’Neill’s men began their qualification for the 2018 World Cup with a 2-2 draw away to Serbia
And followed it up with wins over Georgia…
And Moldova…
Before rounding out the year on top of Group D after a 1-0 win away to Austria
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2016 soccer pics In pics Say Cheese sporting year in pics xmas16