Brady pops up to keep Irish Euro dream alive
THEY left it late, but Ireland’s remain campaign ended in the most dramatic victory last night and they stay in Europe for another four days at least, a mouth-watering date with hosts France their reward.
Substitute Wes Hoolahan had just missed a sitter, side-footing tamely at the goalkeeper. That was it, chance gone, little Wes the fall guy in what would have probably been his last appearance for his country.
Then that same left boot which had just passed up the most glorious gift conjured a moment of magic, landing a cross on the head of Robbie Brady, arriving at pace in the Italy penalty area.
There was still work to be done, not least holding his nerve to ignore the onrushing Salvatore Sirigu. But Brady showed the ‘balls’ assistant boss Roy Keane had called for, connecting with the bravest of brows to steer home five minutes from time. They had closed the roof at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy for fears of a thunderstorm but the boys in green raised it as bodies jumped, spun and tumbled in the stands.
Martin O’Neill had invited his players to make their own history when asked if they could draw inspiration from the famous 1-0 win over Italy at USA 94.
And boy did they accept the challenge to etch their name into Irish footballing folklore, the first team to make it to the knockout rounds of a European Championship.
For Ray Houghton — matchwinner that day at Giants Stadium 22 years ago — read Brady. The Norwich midfielder cried afterwards. He knew the significance of his goal, for his legend is now guaranteed in his native Dublin and beyond.
Earlier in the day, the Irish masses had strolled through the Eglise Saint-Maurice, the stunning gothic church in the centre of Lille. And their prayers were answered here with a performance of spirit, wit and class. To think Marco Tardelli — the 1982 Italy World Cup winner and former Ireland assistant — had accused Irish players of lacking football intelligence.
It is Tardelli who looks a bit thick today. For Ireland outsmarted the Italians throughout.
It did, however, feel like we were back in 1994 as Ireland — clearly adhering to the instruction of Keane — thundered into a string of early tackles. Keane had urged the players to ‘take out’ any Italian who threatened their goal. He had not, however, encouraged them to kick their opponents on halfway inside the first 60 seconds. But James McClean was happy to apply his own interpretation to Keane’s words and duly booted Federico Bernardeschi to the ground.
Jeff Hendrick took his teammate’s lead and Alessandro Florenzi was soon eating what little grass there was on a patchy surface. Neither player was booked and so it was a risk worth taking, rattling the Italians and rousing the Irish.
Hendrick is the resident chess champion at the team’s base in Versailles but he wasn’t messing around with patient approach play here and the Derby midfielder came within an inch of scoring when taking the direct route with a blast from 25 yards.
Sirigu watched that effort shave an upright but he could not afford such a luxury moments later when Daryl Murphy’s head connected with Brady’s out-swinging corner, forcing the custodian to scramble before slapping over his bar.
Inside 20 minutes Ireland had produced more meaningful attempts on goal than they did during the entirety of Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Belgium, a performance panned for its lack of energy, ambition and ideas. They were certainly good for that trio of ingredients here. And no player more so than McClean, who looked like Ireland’s answer to Gareth Bale with one left-wing charge which panicked two retreating defenders and drew a trip from Andrea Barzagli.
Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan was happy to award that as a foul. It was outside the box, after all; no big deal. So why didn’t he penalise Bernardeschi when he toppled McClean with a careless shove moments later? Answer: it was inside the area, where referees lose judgment as well as bottle.
So it would have been cruel on Ireland had they gone in behind at
half-time me after Ciro Immobile bile slammed narrowly wide from 25 yards a minute shy of the interval.
Ireland, though, could not keep passing up opportunities, even those you would deem half chances at best. And there was no better warning of that than the sight of Simone Zaza lashing over at the other end after Italy had broken and Mattio de Sciglio located his comrade on the penalty spot.
But Ireland were soon back on the offensive and again they should have scored when a sloppy clear- anceance fromfr Leonardo Bonucci rolled to SeamusSea Coleman. He slammed his shotsho into Angelo ogbonna.
Hendrick remained Ireland’s most likely match-winner and he arrowed wide from 25 yards on the hour as the Italians continued to surrender ground. o’neill brought on Aiden McGeady late on and he, too, took aim from range only for the ball to sail over Sirigu’s goal.
But o’neill wanted a new hero and he got one. Let us hope it is not another 22 years before another emerges.