Martin O’Neill on Euros draw: ‘It couldn’t be tougher really’

Martin O’Neill and the FAI have set about finalising their schedule for next summer’s European Championships after being handed a tough group to get out of at this evening’s draw at the Palais des Congres at Porte Maillot in Paris.

O’Neill acknowledged that Ireland will have a tough time getting out of a group that includes Belgium, Italy and Sweden. The team’s record against them certainly won’t inspire much confidence with just one win (over Italy at the World Cup in 1994) to show for 20 competitive games against their three rivals down the years, but the manager said he hoped that his players and the supporters would relish the prospect of the team taking on highly-rated opponents.

He expressed frustration, however, at having landed Italy from Pot Two, something that came very late in the process and significantly dented Ireland’s prospects of making it to the last 16 of the tournament.

“It’s tough,” he said. “Italy are effectively a Pot One team. So we seem to have two Pot One teams in our group. Belgium are considered the best side in the world certainly in terms of their position (in the current Fifa rankings they are, indeed, number one). Sweden know their way around the block and they have Ibrahimovic as well as a sturdy side. They just seem to know how to qualify and get through so it’s a difficult one for us but we’ll look forward to it.

“I thought I was coming here to enjoy the draw but I’m not so sure that that is the case anymore,” he continued with a laugh. “But I certainly wouldn’t give anything up, certainly not. There was a pot beside us that each time a 50-50 draw came up and we felt like we had a chance of getting a team, each time it went the other way but I’m quite sure that other coaches will think the same thing and we’ve still got a chance.

“The opening game (against the Swedes in the Stade de France, Paris) will be very important and if the World Cup in Brazil is anything to go by where teams seemed to throw off the shackles in the first game and try to go for it then that will be the case with us.”

In fact the group has more than a faint hint of Poland about it with the Irish kicking off their tournament with the game that looks to be the most winnable, then taking on the group’s top seeds before facing Italy in a game that either or both sides might need to win.

In the event that the Irish are chasing a third-place finish to progress there is some slight advantage in being drawn in Group E as Ireland’s last game, against the Italians in Lille, will be one of the last two to be played in the group stages. The post season lay-off before the tournament will be that little bit longer for the Irish as a result of the draw, however, as Group E is also one of the last to get under way with Ireland’s opener set for Monday, June 13th, four days after the hosts kick things off against Romania in Saint Denis.

Ireland’s other game, against Belgium in Bordeaux, will take place on June 18th and O’Neill and his employers immediately set about finalising their training base from the shortlist they had compiled after finding out when and where their games will be taking place.

Dijon, in the south-east of France, was rumoured to be the likely venue for the Ireland camp to be situated. The FAI is expected to confirm the location soon and also name the opponents for at least one of the team’s other friendlies – Switzerland have already been confirmed for March 25th.

Northern Ireland were handed an even tougher task than the Republic with Michael O’Neill’s side drawing Germany, Ukraine and Poland. The Republic of Ireland boss said that he would help his northern counterpart out in any way he could if asked to do so.

“I just saw Michael up there and any information Michael wants . . . but Michael’s pretty studious, he’ll know exactly what to do and I’m sure any information I could give him will only put him off. Poland are very strong, they have very decent players, Lewandowski obviously and Germany are tough so we’ll console each other in about an hour . . . ”

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND’S GROUP E RIVALS

SWEDEN
Coach: Erik Hamren
Star player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Chances: While they have Ibrahimovic, they have a chance. Their hopes rest on his shoulders, just as he likes it.
Tournament best: Semi-finalists 1992.
Qualifying record: W5 D3 L2. Beat Denmark in a play-off 4-3 on aggregate.
Need to know: Including the play-offs, Sweden scored 19 goals in total in their qualification campaign and Ibrahimovic helped himself to 11 of them.

BELGIUM
Coach: Marc Wilmots
Star player: Eden Hazard
Chances: With a star-studded squad, Belgium are capable of winning the tournament but much depends on how they gel as a team and are coached.
Tournament best: Finalists 1980
Qualifying record: W7 D2 L1
Need to know: After winning Group B, Belgium – 66th in 2009 – moved to the top of Fifa's world rankings for the first time in their history.

ITALY
Coach: Antonio Conte
Star player: Gianluigi Buffon
Chances: The Italians may have qualified comfortably but lack the star quality of the past and can only be regarded as having an outside chance of glory.
Tournament best: Winners 1968
Qualifying record: W7 D3 L0
Need to know: Italy were short of goals in qualifying with Southampton's Graziano Pelle their top scorer with three.

FULL GROUP AND DAY BY DAY SCHEDULES
(all times Irish)

Group A
June 10: France v Romania, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0
June 11: Albania v Switzerland, Lens, 2.0
June 15: Romania v Switzerland, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0
June 15: France v Albania, Marseille, 8.0
June 19: Romania v Albania, Lyon, 8.0
June 19: France v Switzerland, Lille, 8.0

Group B
June 11: Wales v Slovakia, Bordeaux, 5.0
June 11: England v Russia, Marseille, 8.0
June 15: Russia v Slovakia, Lille, 2.0
June 16: England v Wales, Lens, 2.0
June 20: Russia v Wales, Toulouse, 8.0
June 20: Slovakia v England, St-Etienne, 8.0

Group C
June 12: Poland v Northern Ireland, Nice, 5.0
June 12: Germany v Ukraine, Lille, 8.0
June 16: Ukraine v Northern Ireland, Lyon, 5.0
June 16: Germany v Poland, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0
June 21: Ukraine v Poland, Marseille, 5.0
June 21: Northern Ireland v Germany, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0

Group D
June 12: Turkey v Croatia, Parc des Princes, Paris, 2.0
June 13: Spain v Czech Republic, Toulouse, 2.0
June 17: Czech Republic v Croatia, St-Etienne, 5.0
June 17: Spain v Turkey, Nice, 8.0
June 21: Czech Republic v Turkey, Lens, 8.0
June 21: Croatia v Spain, Bordeaux, 8.0

Group E
June 13: Republic of Ireland v Sweden, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
June 13: Belgium v Italy, Lyon, 8.0
June 17: Italy v Sweden, Toulouse, 2.0
June 18: Belgium v Republic of Ireland, Bordeaux, 2.0
June 22: Italy v Republic of Ireland, Lille, 8.0
June 22: Sweden v Belgium, Nice, 8.0

Group F
June 14: Austria v Hungary, Bordeaux, 5.0
June 14: Portugal v Iceland, St-Etienne, 8.0
June 18: Iceland v Hungary, Marseille, 5.0
June 18: Portugal v Austria, Parc des Princes, Paris, 8.0
June 22: Iceland v Austria, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
June 22: Hungary v Portugal, Lyon, 5.0

LAST 16

June 25 – Match 1: Runner-up Group A v Runner-up C, St-Etienne, 2.0
June 25 – Match 2: Winner D v Third-place B/E/F, Lens, 8.0
June 25 – Match 3: Winner B v Third-place A/C/D, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0
June 26 – Match 4: Winner F v Runner-up E, Toulouse, 8.0
June 26 – Match 5: Winner C v Third-place A/B/F, Lille, 5.0
June 27 – Match 6: Winner E v Runner-up D, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
June 27 – Match 7: Winner A v Third-place C/D/E, Lyon, 2.0
June 27– Match 8: Runner-up B v Runner-up F, Nice, 8.0

QUARTER-FINALS

June 30 –QF1: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2, Marseille, 8.0
July 1 – QF2: Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4, Lille, 8.0
July 2 – QF 3: Winner Match 5 v Winner Match 6, Bordeaux, 8.
July 3 – QF4: Winner Match 7 v Winner Match 8, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0

SEMI-FINALS
July 6: Winner QF1 Portugal v Winner QF2, Lyon, 8.0
July 7: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 , Marseille, 8.0

FINAL 
July 10: Stade de France, Paris, 8.0

DAY BY DAY GUIDE
(all times Irish)

Friday June 10
Group A: France v Romania, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0

Saturday June 11
Group A: Albania v Switzerland, Lens, 2.0
Group B: Wales v Slovakia, Bordeaux, 5.0
Group B: England v Russia, Marseille, 8.0

Sunday June 12
Group D: Turkey v Croatia, Parc des Princes, Paris, 2.0
Group C: Poland v Northern Ireland, Nice, 5.0
Group C: Germany v Ukraine, Lille, 8.0

Monday June 13
Group D: Spain v Czech Republic, Toulouse, 2.0
Group E: Republic of Ireland v Sweden, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
Group E: Belgium v Italy, Lyon, 8.0

Tuesday June 14
Group F: Austria v Hungary, Bordeaux, 5.0
Group F: Portugal v Iceland, St-Etienne, 8.0

Wednesday June 15
Group B: Russia v Slovakia, Lille, 2.0
Group A: Romania v Switzerland, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0
Group A: France v Albania, Marseille, 8.0

Thursday June 16
Group B: England v Wales, Lens, 2.0
Group C: Ukraine v Northern Ireland, Lyon, 5.0
Group C: Germany v Poland, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0

Friday June 17
Group E: Italy v Sweden, Toulouse, 2.0
Group D: Czech Republic v Croatia, St-Etienne, 5.0
Group D: Spain v Turkey, Nice, 8.0

Saturday June 18
Group E: Belgium v Republic of Ireland, Bordeaux, 2.0
Group F: Iceland v Hungary, Marseille, 5.0
Group F: Portugal v Austria, Parc des Princes, Paris, 8.0

Sunday June 19
Group A: Romania v Albania, Lyon, 8.0
Group A: France v Switzerland, Lille, 8.0

Monday June 20
Group B: Russia v Wales, Toulouse, 8.0
Group B: Slovakia v England, St-Etienne, 8.0

Tuesday June 21
Group C: Ukraine v Poland, Marseille, 5.0
Group C: Northern Ireland v Germany, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0
Group D: Czech Republic v Turkey, Lens, 8.0
Group D: Croatia v Spain, Bordeaux, 8.0

Wednesday June 22
Group F: Iceland v Austria, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
Group F: Hungary v Portugal, Lyon, 5.0
Group E: Italy v Republic of Ireland, Lille, 8.0
Group E: Sweden v Belgium, Nice, 8.0

LAST 16

Saturday June 25
Match 1: Runner-up Group A v Runner-up C, St-Etienne, 2.0
Match 3: Winner B v Third-place A/C/D, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0
Match 2: Winner D v Third-place B/E/F, Lens, 8.0

Sunday June 26
Match 5: Winner C v Third-place A/B/F, Lille, 5.0
Match 4: Winner F v Runner-up E, Toulouse, 8.0

Monday June 27
Match 7: Winner A v Third-place C/D/E, Lyon, 2.0
Match 6: Winner E v Runner-up D, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
Match 8: Runner-up B v Runner-up F, Nice, 8.0

QUARTER-FINALS
 
Thursday June 30
QF1: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2, Marseille, 8.0

Friday July 1
QF2: Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4, Lille, 8.0

Saturday July 2
QF3: Winner Match 5 v Winner Match 6, Bordeaux, 8.0

Sunday July 3
QF4: Winner Match 7 v Winner Match 8, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0

SEMI-FINALS

Wednesday July 6
Winner QF1 v Winner QF2, Lyon, 8.0

Thursday July 7
Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 , Marseille, 8.0

FINAL
Sunday July 10
Stade de France, Paris, 8.0