The countdown to Euro 2016 is in full flow as managers and representatives of all 24 teams are meeting in Paris to mark the 100-day countdown to the tournament.
Off the Ball's Nathan Murphy spoke to Ireland manager Martin O'Neill in Paris at the UEFA Workshops as preparations continue for the side ahead of friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia.
O'Neill revealed that the workshop involves discussions with referee Pierluigi Collina ahead of the tournament. Issues like deliberate handball and what referees will expect from teams during Euro 2016 was discussed.
Ireland's Euro 2016 opponents play two games in the weeks before the competition begins, compared to Ireland's one and O'Neill does not see any issues with that. He spoke in Paris about how players may be involved in the Football League Play-Offs and expects some of his players to be playing competitive games in the weeks before the European Championships begins.
Euro 2016 will be O'Neill's first international tournament as a manager and he says there will be no issues with players and boredom throughout the tournament. "There's not too many competitions that even the very best players in the World will be involved in every single time. This idea of getting bored, you can get bored for the rest of your life after that. I don't see that changing."The Irish manager also revealed at the event in Paris that Shay Given has travelled to Qatar to have knee surgery and to try and keep his Euro 2016 dream alive. The Donegal goalkeeper last played for Ireland in the 1-0 win over Germany before he injured himself late in the first half.
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