Robbie Brady says the Republic of Ireland can progress at Euro 2016

Robbie Brady says the Republic of Ireland can make the knockout stages of Euro 2016 despite being pegged back in their tournament opener against Sweden.

Monday's 1-1 draw with the Swedes at the Stade de France secured a point for the Irish, one more than they managed from three games at Euro 2012, but it could have been so much more with Martin O'Neill's men well on top before succumbing to a second-half fightback.

They now face the task of collecting the points they will need from Belgium in Bordeaux and Italy in Lille if they are to emerge from Group E and, on the evidence of their performance in Saint Denis, Brady is confident they can do it.

Asked if they could win at least one of their remaining group games, he said: "Yes, 100 per cent, especially the way we played today in the first half pushing forward.

"If we finish a couple more of them off in the next couple of games...we've shown that we can hurt teams. I'm really looking forward to the next two games and I've got really good feelings that we can get out of this group."

For 50 minutes, the Republic pinned Sweden back to the extent that Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the man earmarked as their opponents' greatest threat, was largely ineffective.

Jeff Hendrick forced a save from goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson and hit the crossbar before Wes Hoolahan's excellent strike gave Ireland the lead shortly after the interval.

Sweden responded as the second half wore on before the unfortunate Ciaran Clark headed Ibrahimovic's 71st-minute cross into his own net, but Seamus Coleman believes he and his team-mates have put down a marker ahead of their forthcoming fixtures.

He said: "I wouldn't say it felt like a defeat. It's a point on the board, but it's disappointing all the same not to see it out. We were quite dominant for a lot of the game and had a lot chances, but we didn't get three points.

"But it's a point on the board and we go into Saturday's game now and we know that we're a hard team to beat and not many teams will like playing us. We'll be looking for three points in the next couple of games."

The performance of 34-year-old Hoolahan underlined his ability to mix it on this stage and once again raised questions over former Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni's hesitance to play him.

The Norwich midfielder was making just the 31st appearance of his senior international career, and that remains a mystery even to his team-mates.

Brady said: "It's a shame for football, a shame for Irish football especially, that he did miss that much time and people didn't get to see him for more time.

"But he's here now, so people just need to tune in and catch the best of him because he's still a top-class player. He's a class act and I'm over the moon for him.

"He was excellent, which he always is. He's one of these lads that you think might get caught on the ball sometimes and he just manages to come out with something to get himself out of it. He's a joy to play with and it's a joy to watch him play. All credit to him."