IRELAND HAVE DISCOVERED their group opponents for next summer’s European Championships with Martin O’Neill’s side to face Belgium, Italy and Sweden.
The Boys in Green will open their Group E campaign against Sweden at the Stade de France on Monday 13 June 2016.
Ireland will then move onto Bordeaux to face Belgium on Saturday 18 June before concluding the group stages against Italy, who they faced at Euro 2012, in Lille on Wednesday 22 June.
The draw presents Ireland with a difficult set of fixtures with Belgium currently top of the Fifa world rankings and Italy representing the toughest option from Pot 2.
Like Ireland, Sweden came through the play-off system to qualify and much will depend on whether O’Neill’s men can leave Paris with points on the board.
It is Ireland’s second successive European Championships after Giovanni Trapattoni guided the team to Poland/Ukraine three years ago.
The Boys in Green endured a forgettable campaign, failing to win a single point as they suffered defeats to Croatia, eventual winners Spain and Italy.
“The matches will be very difficult. But they are games to look forward to and we have a couple of months to prepare for them,” said Ireland manager Martin O’Neill after the draw in Paris.
“[The draw] couldn’t have been tougher. There are lots of plots and sub-plots, I don’t think the fans’ enthusiasm will be diminished by the draw, in fact I think they might even be enhanced.
“They are big games to look forward to, a really tough draw, and we’ll see what develops.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland, who qualified for their first major tournament in three decades, have also been handed a tough draw alongside world champions Germany, Poland and Ukraine in Group C.
England, who enjoyed a perfect record in qualification, will meet neighbours Wales – a match-up which Chris Coleman admitted he was eager to avoid given the media “circus” which could surround the encounter.
Slovakia and Russia, who dismissed former England boss Fabio Capello during qualifying, complete Group B.
Host nation France have been given one of the kinder draws, with Albania, Romania and 2008 co-hosts Switzerland lining up to face Didier Deschamps’ side in Group A.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal have been handed a far simpler-looking group against Iceland, Hungary and Austria.
Ireland’s Euro 2016 fixtures:
- Ireland v Sweden, Monday 13 June Stade de France (5pm)
- Ireland v Belgium, Saturday 18 June Bordeaux (2pm)
- Ireland v Italy, Wednesday 22 June Lille (8pm)
Euro 2016 draw:
Group A: France, Romania, Albania, Switzerland
Group B: England, Wales, Slovakia, Russia
Group C: Germany, Northern Ireland, Poland, Ukraine
Group D: Spain, Turkey, Czech Republic, Croatia
Group E: Belgium, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Italy
Group F: Portugal, Iceland, Hungary, Austria
