Getting off to a good start is not beyond us this time

IT IS time for Ireland to dream and believe again. Yes, we are in a tough group, and we could have had a more favourable draw but we still have a good chance of progressing to the last 16.

First and foremost the players have to enjoy the tournament, on and off the pitch.

There will be nerves among the squad now, which you get in any game at international level.

But there is a more positive feel around the squad coming into Euro 2016 then there was four years ago in Poland.

You don’t get the feeling we will go into the tournament just to contain and make up the numbers. We will have a go and carry more of a threat this time. Credit goes to Martin O’Neill for bringing that change in mentality.

It’s good news, too, that his contract has been resolved on the eve of the tournament. It won’t make much of a difference but it gives players stability to know who the manager will be going forward.

We can do something at these finals. The Sweden game will be tight; it could be that a set piece from Robbie Brady will be the difference, which is how it has been against the better nations.

The Holland game showed how much damage he can do from free-kicks and corners and hopefully he will put it in areas which can hurt Sweden, Belgium and Italy.

We can’t afford to lose the opener but we don’t have to go all out for the win. There are a few who were involved in 2012 who will recall that the tournament felt done and dusted after defeat to Croatia because we had Italy and Spain to play. That isn’t the case this time.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic needs no introduction. He comes into the Euros full of confidence, playing in Paris, a move to Manchester United on the cards, and possibly his last finals... It’s all set up for him.

He’s proved his worth to Sweden before in Dublin, which probably put an end to our hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil.

It is difficult to keep him out of the game, all the time. He is going to be a threat and given half a yard or half a chance, he will score.

If we switch off, it could be curtains. Martin O’Neill will have drilled the importance of nullifying the threat of Ibrahimovic and stoked up the team, as he does, but then it is up to them to handle any situations in the match. We have to set an early marker, stay focused and give him nothing, or he will punish us.

Like every Ireland fan, I was full of optimism four years ago, but it was really my heart ruling my head.

There is a more positive outlook this time and the squad knows what is at stake, understands their role and the importance of getting a result tomorrow.

I am confident we can do that and get something from the next two games.