And so Ireland’s European Championships adventure has come to an end - but the next journey is only a matter of months away.
Martin O’Neill’s side produced one of the greatest nights in Irish sporting history as they beat Italy in Lille last week.
And against France on Sunday they showed further glimpses that O'Neill and Roy Keane have built a team to be taken seriously on the international stage.
The next task for Ireland’s current crop is to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and if they manage it it would be the nation’s first appearance at the tournament since they reached the second round in Japan and South Korea in 2002.
O’Neill will already have a good idea of what he wants his side to look like for the first qualifier away to Serbia on September 5th.
But before the qualification campaign begins he has the chance to get his troops together when Ireland welcome Oman to the Aviva Stadium for a friendly on August 31st.
Ireland last met Oman in September 2014, winning 2-0 in Dublin in their final match before they began their successful Euro 2016 qualification journey with a win over Georgia four days later.
And O’Neill will be hoping the friendly against Juan Ramon Lopez Caro’s side sets them up for a similarly fruitful campaign which sees them make it to Russia 2018.
After the Serbia fixture there’s a month break before Ireland take on Georgia again in Group D, before a trip to Moldova and the final fixture of the international calendar against Austria on November 12th.
For now the dust is still settling on Ireland’s Euro 2016 exit, but there is plenty to look forward to in the near future.
Upcoming Ireland fixtures:
August 31st 2016, Friendly, Ireland v Oman
September 5th 2016, 2018 World Cup qualifier, Serbia v Ireland
October 6th 2016, 2018 World Cup qualifier, Ireland v Georgia
October 9th 2016, 2018 World Cup qualifier, Moldova v Ireland
November 12th 2016, 2018 World Cup qualifier, Austria v Ireland
