Ireland and Sweden fans in Paris today ahead of Monday's Euro 2016 fixture. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

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• The Ireland squad were given the day off training and media duties today by the management team ahead of their first game at Euro 2016 on Monday against Sweden.
• The FAI announced that it has reduced its bank debt by €10 million after agreeing a debt refinance programme with Bank of Ireland.
• Ireland head coach Nigel Carolan has made one change to the side which defeated Wales in their World Rugby U20 Championship opener for tomorrow’s meeting with New Zealand.
• Lansdowne playermaker Matt D’Arcy and Clontarf speedster Mick McGrath have been included in an Ireland 7s development squad bound for England this weekend.
• Munster have confirmed that Jacques Nienaber will join the province as defence coach ahead of next season.
• Meath, Louth and Tipperary all named their teams for this weekend’s football championship action.
• Kieran McGeeney has laughed off RTÉ pundit Joe Brolly’s criticism of him following the county’s Ulster SFC defeat by Cavan.

The Stade de France looking superb ahead of tonight's Euro 2016 opener between France and Romania. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Away

• Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David De Gea dismissed as “a lie” claims that he organised a party at which women were forced against their will to have sex with footballers.
• Four years after Alex Ferguson signed him from Crewe and billed him as a potential successor to Paul Scholes, Nick Powell has been released by Manchester United.  
• World athletics governing body IAAF today announced that it was provisionally suspending its deputy director Nick Davies over charges that he contrived to conceal news of positive Russian drugs tests in 2013.
• After an incredible season with Wasps, George Smith has signed a two-year deal with the Queensland Reds for the 2017 and 2018 Super Rugby seasons.

The best thing we shared

New Plymouth Boys High School waited 13 years for a win over their north-west neighbours Hamilton. But they ended that unwanted streak with a 19-16 victory yesterday after unleashing an incredible five-tiered Haka in their intimidating pit of a rugby pitch.

Where we were today

Rory Keane was keeping tabs on the Ireland rugby camp in Cape Town ahead of tomorrow’s Test against South Africa, while Ben Blake was sampling the vin rouge and escargots around Paris as the Irish football team enjoyed a day off ahead of Monday’s Euro 2016 opener against Sweden.

Ireland fans Sean Mulligan, Sean Evans and Ben Ellard on a couch in the middle of a Parisian street. And why not? James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

On the record

We see him [Zlatan] week in, week out in the Champions League and we know what a threat he is, but they are a good side as they have shown in qualifying and in previous major tournaments, so it’s not only him we have to be wary of. Obviously we will look at him, but there are others as well and we need to make sure first and foremost we prepare as a team to give everything. He’s obviously a great player and hopefully we can keep him quiet.”

There’s more to Sweden than Zlatan Ibrahimovic, insists Ireland defender Stephen Ward.

Showbiz, baby!

Breaking your phone is a pain in the ass but at least having it smashed by a baseball is a better tale to tell than dropping it down the jacks bowl after a few shandies.

The fixture list

• The hosts and Romania kick off the action this evening but Euro 2016 sparks into life tomorrow with three games down for decision: Albania v Switzerland (2pm), Wales v Slovakia (5pm), England v Russia (8pm).
• There’s also plenty of rugby to keep an eye on, most notably from an Irish point of view the first Test against South Africa (4pm) and the U20 World Championship game against New Zealand (1.30pm).
• On the GAA front, Kilkenny begin their All-Ireland defence with a Leinster semi-final clash with Dublin in Portlaoise (7pm).

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