Thousands of Irish soccer fans are in Lyon for today’s Euro 2016 last 16 match against host nation France.

Hundreds of thousands more will be watching the match here at home.

Special screenings are taking place across the country and there’s a special family friendly fanzone in Smithfield in Dublin City Centre.

The Minister for Tourism and Sport has said the behaviour of Irish soccer fans at the Euros will bring thousands of visitors to Ireland.

Eyes around Ireland will be on big screens this afternoon as the boys in green take on France at the soccer tournament.

It is the first time that Ireland has reached the final stages of the competition and thousands of fans have made the trip to Lyon for the occasion.

Among those cheering on the team will be Minister Shane Ross – he believes the team and supporters’ performance will encourage more people to visit Ireland: “What’s happened in the last few days of course in terms of tourism we are expecting Brexit to affect it adversely.

“But the extraordinary way these guys have behaved, these fans have carried themselves impeccably, they have carried the Irish flag with dignity and with honour .

“All the matches I have been to, they are all talking about the fans as much as they are talking about the players and I believe, that they are going to bring in a large number of tourists.”