Martin O’Neill says still time for players to impress and earn Euro 2016 place

Speaking in Dublin earlier this month, Damien Duff highlighted some of the problems which face players in late-season and pre-tournament international friendlies.

“They’re difficult games,” he admitted. “I think we had Bosnia before we went to the last Euros and it was walking pace. So they are difficult games. Especially nearer the time, people don’t want to get injured or what have you.”

By contrast, Duff made no bones about the rather more accelerated impact he expects to see in the warm-up games between now and June — starting with tonight’s friendly against Switzerland —from those players who have a point to prove and, perhaps, a place to play for in Martin O’Neill’s Euros squad.