Updated at 15.40
Ben Blake reports from Versailles
THE IRELAND SQUAD has been given the day off training and media duties by the management team ahead of their first game at the Euro 2016 finals.
With just three days to go until the Boys in Green line out against Sweden at the Stade de France, a session had been scheduled at their training facility in Versailles this morning.
However, the FAI released a statement last night revealing that Martin O’Neill has opted to allow the players a day to recover instead after yesterday’s open session.
The Ireland boss has been known to change his plans at late notice and the move is in line with his policy of breaking up the everyday routine by giving the players free time — as he did over the past two weekends.
Watch O’Neill explain the decision:
Listen to The42′s Ben Blake on the 98FM Euro 2016 Daily podcast throughout the tournament
