“It was very special”.
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“We’ve beaten some world class teams and I don’t think we have anything to fear. I haven’t got an ounce of energy left”. “We deserved to win. We now have that ability”, he added.
But O’Neill went for a more ambitious approach by fielding Hoolahan who had managed only a single shot on target in their first two group games which had resulted in a goal against Sweden.
O’Neill took some criticsm for his team selection, but it proved to be spot on as replacements Daryl Murphy, Richard Keogh, Shane Duffy and James McClean all put in stellar performances, Conte’s changed Italian lineup offered little threat for much of the match. And obviously I’m delighted.
“It’s a proud night for myself and fantastic for the team”. “All applause is for Wes Hoolahan”.
“We don’t have to go back as far as 1994 for inspiration”, O’Neill said Tuesday.
“It looked as if we should have had a penalty – it was pretty clear-cut – but it doesn’t matter now”.
“Look around and see what it means to people”. I am emotional. I grew up waiting to play at this stage – to do it in front of my family is great. “We are talking about one of the best sides in the world, end of”.
But seconds later he regained his composure and delivered a pinpoint, whipped cross from the right flank which Brady met ahead of Sirigu to plant a firm header past the Paris Saint-Germain stopper.
“After the drubbing we got from Belgium, we responded tonight”. We know some of their players in the Premier League; we know quite a bit about them but we’ll need to do our work. “If we do things well together, we will have a good chance of winning”. There were a lot of second balls, challenges, balls thrown into the mixer. “Congratulations to the Republic of Ireland because they really wanted to go through and they were rewarded, perhaps more than they deserved to, but they were rewarded nonetheless”.
Live stream – The game will be carried online via WatchESPN, which is free for users who have a cable subscription.
If only there was something like that going on during the Italy-Ireland game like there was happening behind Frank Drebin in the Naked Gun…
Regarding the draw, it’s definitely odd to win the group and then come up against Spain, then the victor may play Germany and then the victor may play France.
“It’s a pretty problematic, tricky road to the final”, Conte said.
“I don’t know, my legs just sort of carried my body into the box and I just trusted Wes [Hoolahan] to put it where it hurts”.
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– Ireland start positively and create the first significant chance in the 10th min when winger Jeff Hendrick uses his strength to hold off a tackle before unleashing a powerful shot that shaves the post.
