Sunday 19 June 2016 13:28, UK
Sky Sports’ voice of football Martin Tyler is commentating at Euro 2016 for UEFA’s world feed – but he’s sharing his experiences with us here on skysports.com. In his latest diary entry, he reflects on the positive atmosphere during Republic of Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Sweden…
Republic of Ireland have already done better than they did in 2012.
They are the oldest side at Euro 2016, but against Sweden that was an advantage and it's good to see them put a point on the board, which they didn't manage to do four years ago.
On Sunday, Northern Ireland were perhaps overawed by the occasion but you can't say the same of this experienced Republic of Ireland team, who started well and had the better of the first half. Jeff Hendrick hit the bar (he will surely score his first international goal soon?) and the defence did a good job on Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
They took the lead through Wes Hoolahan's half volley and I would argue that of the goals scored so far at this tournament, that was technically the most difficult. He couldn't have hit it any better.
He was named Man of the Match and with him on one side and Robbie Brady on the other there was a nice bit of flair in Martin O'Neill's team - despite all the accusations of them being workmanlike.
Those two Norwich players impressed me for Ireland and a third - Martin Olsson - was excellent for Sweden. However Ireland juggled their midfield they just couldn't stop him getting his crosses in.
Norwich City fans might not have had much to cheer about last season, but they can be very proud this evening - especially in a stadium which was yellow at one end and green at the other!
I felt sorry for Ciaran Clark, scoring an own goal on such a big stage. He had to touch it or else Seb Larsson would have put it in. There had been five headed goals at Euro 2016 before that one and unfortunately for him it's now six of the 16 scored so far.
In the end I think Ireland will be the side slightly more disappointed than Sweden not to win, but I think both teams will be thinking more about the two points dropped than the one they gained, given the quality of the other teams in the group.
The Hoolahan goal brought the best out of Sweden going forward, but after the equaliser O'Neill's side continued to attack, throwing on Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady. Only in stoppage time did the two teams settle for 1-1.
It was an invigorating game between two well-matched teams and there was a feeling of joy around the Stade de France.
I know people will have seen some of the unsavoury scenes in Marseille, but I've been in Paris for this game and the Croatia v Turkey match and both carried an air of positivity and good behaviour.
Of course we don't expect anything different from Ireland and Sweden. They have great fans who perhaps have the capacity not to take themselves too seriously.
They were a credit to their countries.
