The Republic of Ireland prepared on Sunday (12th June) for their Euro 2016 Group E meeting with Sweden, holding a training session and news conference in Paris.

The Republic of Ireland kick-off their Euro 2016 campaign on Monday (13th June), facing Sweden at the Stade de France.

Despite finishing behind Germany and Poland in qualifying Group D, Ireland went unbeaten in their two meetings with the world champions - grabbing a point in Germany and winning 1-0 in Dublin.

Manager, Martin O'Neill knows it will be a tough first test in a difficult group and is well aware of the threat that Zlatan Ibrahimovic brings.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Martin O'Neill, Republic of Ireland coach (Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic):

"He's a top class player. He's one of the best in Europe, if not the world. He's Sweden's talisman and he will be, hard to keep quiet during the course of the game."

Robbie Keane will be looking to add to his national record of 67 goals in 143 caps at some point in the tournament and is determined to see Ireland perform betrter than 4 years agto when they lost all three group games.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Robbie Keane, Republic of Ireland captain (asked if the spirit in the squad is better than four years ago):

"We had a great spirit four years ago. We played against three of the best teams, at that time, possibly you would say, and we didn't win a game. But we went into that group, we were.... as a group of players we went in thinking that we've got a good chance of getting out of the group. The team spirit's always been high, but as I said, we've played against top, top teams so, that's just the way it goes sometimes in football. Are we ready now? Course we are."

It's the third time Ireland have reached the European Championship finals and this will be their second successive appearance at the Euros.

After Monday's match, Ireland will continue their campaign against Belgium in Bordeaux before facing Italy in Toulouse, which will evoke memories of the 1994 World Cup win over the 'Azzurri'.