RTÉ soccer analyst Ronnie Whelan has every confidence the Republic of Ireland will make an impact in France despite the anti-climactic farewell defeat to Belarus at Turner's Cross.
The visitors took a deserved 2-1 win in Cork to spoil the party, but with most minds on Martin O'Neill's looming announcement of his final squad for the tournament after the game, it wasn't a result that will linger long in the memory.
Whelan lamented the absence of Bournemouth's Eunan O'Kane from the travelling party, but has faith the boys in green have enough to make their presence felt.
“I’m a bit disappointed that O’Kane isn't in the squad," Whelan told RTÉ Sport.
"I’ve seen enough of him in the last three or four games that he could have forced his way in. Even when he came on tonight he looked a different player [than anyone else] in the midfield but it wasn't to be."
Darron Gibson started in Cork and caught the eye with some crisp passing, but he didn't make the cut - and Whelan wasn't surprised.
"I didn’t think he was too bad in the first half. He was trying to create play, trying to get things moving and he was doing okay, but Martin’s thinking, 'I need you to be doing that throughout a season at a top club' and he hasn't been doing that.
“Before the game I was thinking, ‘this doesn't mean anything’. I'm sure Martin knew his squad even before they started the game. I'm still confident we can do okay out there.”
