Little in the way of southern comfort beyond Euro 2016

Get beyond the feelgood factor as Euro 2016 looms and there is real cause for concern for the Republic of Ireland when attention turns to a tough-looking World Cup qualifying campaign, writes Brendan O’Brien

Tuesday’s performance and result at Turner’s Cross aside, it has been a pleasant enough run-in to the European Championships, with the blue skies and sunshine that has framed training at the National Sports Campus in Dublin and Cork’s Fota Island doing its bit in keeping the mood upbeat and optimistic.

It isn’t just the Republic of Ireland who have benefited.