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Match Day Experience at the Euros in Paris

I arrived in Paris last Monday exactly seven days before the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 group E...
TodayFM
TodayFM

3:44 PM - 14 Jun 2016



Match Day Experience at the Eu...

Sport

Match Day Experience at the Euros in Paris

TodayFM
TodayFM

3:44 PM - 14 Jun 2016



I arrived in Paris last Monday exactly seven days before the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 group E opener against Sweden. I couldn’t wait for the tournament to kick off and it wasn’t long coming around once I touched down on French soil.

I’ve been in Paris before so that has helped me get around more efficiently this time around and I decided the best way to get to the Stade de France on match day was on the metro. I had taken a taxi to the stadium the day before for the pre match press conferences but I was warned the traffic would be too heavy to do the same before the match.

My starting point was Montmartre so you have to get the number 13 metro from Place de Clichy to Saint Denis. The only problem was that a lot of Irish fans were thinking the same thing. I’d say we were in the metro station for almost half an hour and we were packed in like sardines on the steps of the station so it was not for claustrophobic.

However the Irish fans made the most of a bad situation as chants of “ Ole Ole “ rang through the station. Throw a few Swedes into the mix and there was plenty of noise being made so I can only imagine what the locals made of it all as they made their way home from work.

Upon arrival in Saint Denis it took 10 minutes to walk to the stadium and then there were security checks which have become the norm at these Championships with France on high alert for terrorist attacks. They were quite slow to move but it has to be done in the interest of safety.

I was in my seat 20 minutes before kick off and the stadium was a sea of green and yellow. The atmosphere was electric from start to finish and the Irish fans have certainly made their mark on this tournament in a truly positive way.

As for the game itself I was very impressed with the Irish performance in the first half and Martin O’Neill’s side deservedly took the lead after the break with a superb goal form Wes Hoolahan. Unfortunately we couldn’t hold on for the three points which will make it tough to get out of the group but I’m feeling a lot more upbeat about things four years on from Poland.

Roll on Belgium in Bordeaux on Saturday afternoon.



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