Packie Bonner reflects on Ireland's past tournaments and looks forward to Euro 2016

From Germany in 1988 to Japan/Korea in 2002, goalkeeping legend Packie Bonner reflects on the ecstasy, the agony, the comedy and the uproar of Irish football’s big tournament experience — and the lessons to be learned for France 2016.

WHEN he turned 55 last May, the jolting realisation struck Packie Bonner that he was now the same age Jack Charlton was when the manager took Ireland to their first ever World Cup finals in 1990. “And I used to think he was old then,” Packie smiles.

With the passage of time also marked by a related milestone in 2015 – the 25th anniversary of Italia ’90 itself – Ireland’s legendary goalkeeper finally allowed himself to be persuaded to commit his memoirs to print.