Euro 2016

Martin O'Neill: 'Ireland Euro 2016 places still up for grabs'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 21 March 2016

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill warns his players that time is running out for them to prove that they deserve a place in his Euro 2016 squad.

Republic of Ireland head coach Martin O'Neill has warned his players that time is running out for them to prove that they deserve a place in his squad for Euro 2016.

Ireland take on Switzerland and Slovakia in Dublin over the international break and have just one more scheduled fixture after that before the summer tournament in France.

O'Neill is expected to experiment in the double-header and insists that there are still places up for grabs in his squad if any of the fringe players impress.

"After these two games, that means we are down then to the Dutch game - there's a possibility of trying to organise another match as well after the Holland game, that's something we are thinking about - but then really after these two games, it's finalising a certain number of players and hoping they come through unscathed in the next couple of months," he told reporters.

"But I want to see a couple of the lads. The Euros are just around the corner, you are talking about very little break-time after that and then going into the World Cup qualifiers. One or two players, I am quite sure, the older players, might feel as though this is their last tournament, so I just want players to be prepared and be ready so if they step into the international arena, they are not overawed by it.

"There are one or two players there who have shown their worth in the qualification games to me and to themselves and to the nation and barring injury, there's a really great chance of them going, obviously. But there are other places up for grabs."

The Republic have been drawn alongside Belgium, Italy and Sweden in Group E at Euro 2016.