In Uefa-speak, today is MD-1, that is to say, eve of match but also, in this case, eve of tournament.

20 sportspeople, reporters and fans look forward to Euro 2016 and reveal their own predictions for Europe's festival of soccer.

Jack Charlton was Ireland manager the last time Ireland played a senior international match in Cork, and Munster’s finest provided the opposition, writes Martin Claffey.

First there was the disconcerting sight of Robbie Keane stepping gingerly down from the team bus before entering Turner’s Cross, not to take his place on the pitch, but in the stands.

Martin O’Neill wouldn’t say whether David Meyler will start against Belarus tonight, but the Hull City midfielder will have longer to impress than the last time he effectively auditioned for a current member of the Ireland management team at Turner’s Cross.

James McClean is determined to make the most of his opportunity to go to a second major finals tournament with the Republic of Ireland.

All eyes will be on James McCarthy when, if all goes according to plan, the Everton midfielder joins the rest of the Irish squad for training at Turner’s Cross today.

It looks like it will be all-change upfront for Ireland in Turner’s Cross tomorrow night, with Shane Long — who opened the scoring against the Netherlands on Friday but also opened a pre-existing cut on his knee — set to be rested and wrapped in cotton-wool so nothing more serious befalls him between now and June 13.

Friday night marked four years almost to the day since Ireland’s last adieu to their Dublin faithful ahead of a European Championship bid and there were moments aplenty to make you wonder at how much has changed in that snapshot of time.

For the newest generation of Irish football fans, Euro ‘88 belongs to the remote past. France 2016 will be their first time, and just maybe, let’s hope, the best of times too.

Jason McAteer thinks that the lure of a return to club football means there’s “a big possibility” of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane departing as the Ireland management team after next month’s European Championships.

Sweden’s national team are leaving nothing to chance when it comes to their efforts in getting out of Group E in the European Championship this summer.

Ireland face off against Bosnia in the first leg of their European Championship play-offs tonight in Zenica.

Ireland coach Mark Aston has included eight members of his 2013 World Cup team in his 21-man squad for the 2015 European Championship

FAI boss John Delaney is confident Ireland can still set up what he calls “a big October” in their current European Championship qualifying campaign.

Evelyn Daly doesn’t have to look far to tap into a fighting spirit ahead of today’s UEFA Women’s Under 17 European Championship opener because her brother is a cage fighter.

Scotland 6 Gibraltar 1