Robbie Brady rekindled memories of 1994 when he headed the Republic of Ireland into a dramatic 1-0 victory over Italy last night to book a dream Euro 2016 showdown with the hosts.
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With Brady scoring, the Irish celebrations began.
Asked what he had said to Keane, O’Neill replied: “I told him to shave his beard”. “If we were to play the match on paper, there would be no contest but luckily there’s the pitch”, Conte said on his Federation’s official website (www. figc.it).
“He has run from the inside of his own half and to show that determination to get on the end of it”.
He added: “We know they’re a top-class team and they have got some unbelievable players, but if we can stick together and click like we clicked tonight, we can hurt anybody, so I don’t think we have anything to fear”.
“In many ways, the evening was reminiscent of great European nights at Celtic, it really was”, said O’Neill.
“We’ve come up big at the end of the game, and deservedly so, so to have qualified and gone through is huge in that sense”.
The win sets up a last-16 clash with France, one of the tournament favourites, on Sunday, but Morrison thinks Ireland’s spirit gives them a chance of upsetting the odds.
The supplier of the goal, Wes Hoolahan, had just missed a cast-iron opportunity when he supplied the cross.
The lack of rhythm of what was essentially an Italian B team played into the hands of Ireland, who came out of the traps flying, adrenaline pumping and with a vast support behind them. It’s a matter of whether we could take it and we did. “To come out of the group we were in is an fantastic achievement because Italy are no Pot 2 team”. I said to him after the game to enjoy this moment because they don’t come around very often and when they do, it’s some experience.
Spain have had the better of Italy in their meetings since Euro 2008, when they won on penalties in the quarter-finals before going on to win the tournament.
Those that were most hyped up -France, England, Spain and Germany- have played well enough to make it to the knockout stage, but they have yet to prove why they are some of the best teams in the world.
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So here is how Group E looks at the end of the 3 knock-out games. “Players have come in and played their third game in nine days, but it’s the same for a lot of other sides”.
