The Republic of Ireland got their Euro 2016 campaign up and running with a 1-1 draw against Sweden at the Stade de France on Monday evening.
Here, we take a look at five things we learned from the opening Group E fixture.
1. Ireland have not come to France to make up the numbers
Former Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni was conservative by nature and built his team around defensive solidity. Successor Martin O'Neill may not be quite so rigid in his approach, but the freedom with which his players performed in their opening fixture came as a breath of fresh air and it appears they are going nowhere without a fight.
2. Wes Hoolahan is an international footballer
At 34, Hoolahan has earned just 31 senior caps, a crying shame for one of the most naturally-gifted members of the squad. He simply did not fit into Trapattoni's blueprint, but given his head by O'Neill, he demonstrated not only his creativity, but his finishing ability with a goal of genuine quality to give the Republic the lead.
3. Zlatan does not have to be particularly good to make an impact
Much of the pre-match hype revolved around what departing Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic might do on the night - one Paris bar even billed the game as 'Zlatan v Ireland'. For much of the game, he was a virtual spectator marshalled expertly by the Irish rearguard, but ultimately it was his cross which was headed into his own net by the unfortunate Ciaran Clark as he finally made an impact.
4. You don't have to hit the target to score a goal
For all Sweden improved markedly after a poor first half, the statistics show they did not manage a single attempt on target. Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph had just one save of note to make, and that from a miscued clearance by Clark, before he was ultimately beaten by his team-mate.
5. The Irish and the Swedes like a party
Okay, this may come as no surprise, but the green and yellow contingents lit up not only the stadium, but the streets of Paris both before and after the game. They mingled in the stands and on the boulevards and sang and roared throughout, leaving the city's bar owners slightly deafened, but significantly better off.
Fans celebrate:
