Time was when the prospect of taking on the Netherlands would have really set Irish pulses racing at the sheer world-beating glamour of it all, inspiring reverential and perhaps even fearful murmurings among the natives about Dutch masters like Gullit, Van Basten, Bergkamp, Kluivert, Overmars, and, yes, perhaps even a certain Mr Van Gaal.
EURO 2016: TOP STORY
BREAKING SPORTS
Jose Mourinho agrees deal to take charge at Manchester United
Jose Mourinho has agreed to become manager of Manchester United, Press Association Sport understands.
GAA - TODAY'S NEWS
Clarke: "I would love to see the game move towards professionalism"
Jamie Clarke fears Gaelic football will suffer from a player drop-off if it doesn’t move towards professionalism in the near future.
SOCCER - TODAY'S NEWS
Ibrahimovic: If you want to win, you bring Mourinho
Zlatan Ibrahimovic deliberated, tapped his fingers on the desk in front of him and let out a beaming smile.
RUGBY - TODAY'S NEWS
Connacht dream close to reality
Tiernan O’Halloran and his Connacht team-mates have stopped dreaming, because winning the Guinness PRO12 final is a realistic objective.
LATEST SPORTS COLUMNISTS
Jose Mourinho: A huge personality for a huge club
Manchester United has appointed a wounded animal with a ferocious appetite to prove some people wrong, writes Tony Leen
GOLF - TODAY'S NEWS
Danny Willett wants Rory McIlroy-like support
Masters champion Danny Willett wants to experience the same support which roared Rory McIlroy to a home victory last week after making a flawless start to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
RACING - TODAY'S NEWS
Pallasator blows Dynamite away
Pallasator emerged a worthy winner of a tactical renewal of the Group Three BetVictor Henry II Stakes at Sandown yesterday.
OTHER SPORT - TODAY'S NEWS
Obituary of handball player Joseph Patrick 'Joey‘ Maher: 'A moment in his time was a moment to savour’
You’ve seen them around, these crumbling old theatres of concrete and stone. The countryside is dotted with them.
Can't stretch to an African safari? You can stay near the lions at London Zoo
See photos from the largest gathering of DeLorean cars and their owners in Belfast
Tense scenes as Carla Connor leaves Coronation Street - and Callum Logan's body is discovered
Python bites Thai man whilst he's on the toilet
Mars ice age ended about 370,000 years ago, scientists say
Great news! You can now opt-out of nuisance calls by simply sending a text
Gruesome pic shows the cost of Westmeath U21 victory against Kilkenny
Footballer Shane Long's wife Kayleah expecting third child
Mario Balotelli set for return to Liverpool after interest from AC Milan cools
People can't quite believe that Westmeath U21 hurlers beat Kilkenny
Here's how the internet reacted to Mourinho becoming the new Manchester United manager
Image rights complicate deal as Mourinho edges closer to United appointment
Rory McIlroy’s putting woes a godsend to Jordan Spieth and Jason Day
Chelsea’s ownership of ‘Jose Mourinho’ name delays Man United deal
Colm O’Neill: Don’t write Cork's epitaph yet
Darragh Clinton stars as underdogs Westmeath stun Eddie Brennan’s Kilkenny
- NEWS
Homeless boy in emergency accommodation barred from hotel garden
Canadian ambassador tackles protester during state ceremony in Dublin- WORLD
Recession led to 260k extra cancer deaths, experts claim
Donald Trump needed 1,237 votes — he got 1,238- BUSINESS
Eir considers future free-to-air Setanta channel
North’s economy ‘would be more vulnerable’ outside EU- SPORT
- Jose Mourinho: A huge personality for a huge club
- Clarke: "I would love to see the game move towards professionalism"
- LIFESTYLE
How to find a balance between 'clean' eating and healthy eating
Laughter is a tonic for kid's in hospital with serious illnesses