I’ll cry if we beat Swedes, says O’Neill

MARTIN O’NEILL says he will cry tears of joy if the Republic of Ireland can get the better of Sweden in their Euro 2016 opener at the Stade de France this evening.

After watching an emotional Dimitri Payet leave the field at the same venue following his stunning winning goal for France last Friday, the Ireland manager has admitted he would also find it hard to maintain his composure should his players deliver all three points.

‘Naturally, it’s a big occasion. We have spent some time now trying to get through to this. What you want to do is try and make a mark; the players individually want to get through that,’ he said.

‘It’s an emotional type of game, football is in general. I’m not surprised that Payet, whose had a fantastic season at West Ham, is going to show some emotions. If we score a few goals I’ll probably be joining him.’

Ireland players and supporters know all about being left in tears in this stadium after Thierry Henry’s infamous handball during the World Cup play-off seven years ago, and Robbie Keane insists there will be happier memories this time around.

‘I’m not one to dwell on the past, I am just looking forward. Are we ready now? Of course we are, there’s no question about it. The lads are excited, everybody is just looking forward now,’ the Irish skipper said.

‘I’d forgotten about it (Henry’s handball) until you brought it up there. I remember. It’s something that, like any game that you’ve played before, you have to forget about it as soon as possible because this is completely different. We are playing against a different team and as a group of players, and certainly me and the coaching staff, we are fully focused on the Swedish game.’

Despite so much riding on the outcome of this clash between the two teams most evenly matched in a group also containing Belgium and Italy, O’Neill attempted to play down its significance and feels Ireland will still be in with a chance of progressing to the knockout stages when they face Italy in Lille.

‘No, I don’t think it’s a must-win,’ he insisted. ‘It’s very, very important, of course, it would be great to get off to a great start, and I’m sure that Sweden are targeting us in the sense that they feel that if they could win this game against us, it gives them a great chance.

‘We must feel the same way. The way the competition has evolved I think the third game you’d be still in it fighting for something.

‘Overall, I think the players can deal with that. It’s the size of the game, it’s just terrific to be involved. This is what they’re playing for. We deserve to be here, so let’s try and do something about it when you are here at the tournament.’

And the Ireland boss also had strong words for the English and Russian supporters involved in the violence in Marseille, both in the days leading up to their match on Saturday and also in the stands at the final whistle.

‘(They) are pretty tragic. They’re something that we thought we might not see for quite some considerable time at any part of the tournament, but to start off on that note, it’s unedifying, it’s shocking,’ continued O’Neill (left).

‘People are talking about maybe the segregation wasn’t strong enough, but do you know what? If people are setting out for trouble, I think they will cause it regardless and from the pictures that we saw, it was pretty disconcerting.’