Following the game’s full time whistle, Italy’s legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon – who was among the Italian substitutes – raced onto the pitch to not just congratulate Keane and O’Neill on their team’s achievement but to celebrate that with them, in an act of unbounded sportsmanship.
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“It’s a great achievement, because this group that Ireland were in, nobody gave them a chance to get out of it, they were probably the weakest team in there”.
With just five minutes of normal time to play in their game against Italy at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille, the Republic of Ireland were on the verge of being eliminated from Euro 2016.
With three minutes left in Bordeaux it was 1-1, a result that would have meant that Spain progressed as group winners, when a shot from Aritz Aduriz was blocked and allowed Croatia to break from the edge of their area, leaving Ivan Perisic to score the victor.
Ronaldo showed an array of anguished expressions and gestures as Portugal, needing at least a draw to advance, trailed three times to a Hungary side that already was sure to advance – yet sought to top Group F.
Portugal had defeated Croatia 3-0 in Euro 1996 group stage but both teams have had monumental changes to their team since the match and surely that result will have no bearing when the two clash on Saturday night. “He’s definitely been a massive plus to us”. We’re talking about one of the best teams in the world.
Hendrick, meanwhile, was reduced to tears at the final whistle against Italy, as the magnitude of Ireland’s achievement sank in.
“It is nice to see some younger players coming through, feeling as if they belong”, O’Neill said.
It was night to remember for the 32-year-old Dublin native and her young son Robert as they cheered on the boys in green.
“There was two years qualifying and we’ve been away for a month now”.
“The Icelands and ourselves – maybe if later in the competition we’re still in it, you go maybe yeah (it is a surprise), but in terms of getting out of the group and where the teams are now, I don’t think there have been any real surprises or shocks”.
“We are very focused, this is an important game for us”. The one bit of quality we did have – Wes Hoolahan created it and Robbie Brady finished it.
Hoolahan said: “I was thinking when it happened ‘Oh no, what’s going to happen at the end?’, but luckily enough Robbie got the goal”.
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Southampton striker Long said: “I don’t think anyone expected us to get out of the group. For him to break the line and get in front of the keeper, he was fearless and he got his rewards”.
