Brady’s late, late show takes Ireland into knockout stages of Euro 2016
ROBBIE Brady struck with just five minutes remaining as the Republic of Ireland claimed a dramatic 1-0 win over Italy in Lille on Wednesday night to reach the knockout phase of Euro 2016.
Brady’s goal arrived just when it looked as if Ireland were heading out due to a combination of Italy goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan.
Ireland had to win the match at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy against an Italian side already assured of first place in Group E and got the win they needed to set up a last-16 tie against hosts France.
Before Brady struck, Sirigu, standing in for Gianluigi Buffon in the Italian goal, made a superb save to deny Daryl Murphy, while Hategan twice waved away Irish penalty appeals in the first half.
“It’s what dreams are made of. We have done the job for everyone who came to see us and all the Irish fans around the world,” said Brady.
“It is a proud night for myself and fantastic for the team.”
With top spot in the group sewn up and with one eye on their last-16 tie against Spain on Monday, Italy coach Antonio Conte made eight changes to his side.
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.
The roof was closed at the stadium, a decision which had the effect of raising the noise levels but also helped to protect a shocking pitch from further deteriorating before it is replaced for the knockout rounds.
Penalty appeals
The surface may not have lent itself to flowing football but Jeff Hendrick showed great technique to fashion a shooting opportunity on his left foot that flew inches wide from 20 metres out early on.
Murphy, who had never scored for Ireland in 21 previous appearances stretching back nine years, came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a header from Brady’s 21st-minute corner that was tipped over by Sirigu.
Ireland were the better side and were twice left fuming at the officials as penalty shouts went against them in the final five minutes of the half.
First the Romanian referee and his assistants failed to spot Angelo Ogbonna wrestling with Murphy in the area and then he ruled that Federico Bernardeschi played the ball fairly as he took out McClean.
In between those two incidents, Italy threatened as Ciro Immobile shot narrowly past from 25 yards.
It took 43 minutes for the Azzurri to worry Darren Randolph but they needed only eight minutes of the second half to come close again, and the momentum began to slip away from Ireland after Sirigu turned away a Murphy strike from a difficult angle and captain-for-the-night Seamus Coleman’s follow-up effort was blocked.
Italy sub Lorenzo Insigne then curled a shot against the post and the last 16 looked to be slipping away from Ireland as Wes Hoolahan was denied by Sirigu when left with just the keeper to beat on 84 minutes.
But Hoolahan was the source of the winning goal only a minute later as his cross from the right found Brady steaming in to head home.
Iceland to face English
Iceland, meanwhile, set up a last16 clash with England as substitute Ingvi Traustason’s last-gasp winner earned the Euro debutants a famous 2-1 win over Austria.
Belgium beat Sweden 1-0 to move into the last 16, ending the international career of Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic in defeat.
“I am proud, this was my last game in the national team, I have many fantastic memories,” said the 34-year-old Ibrahimovic.
The Irish, Belgians and Iceland, along with Portugal, join hosts France, Wales, Germany, Croatia, Italy, Switzerland, England, Poland, Spain, Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Hungary in the last 16.
Ireland will take on hosts France in Lyon on Sunday (8pm Cambodian time).
Traustason’s strike at the death ensured Iceland their first ever win in a major finals and second place in the group and a date with England in Nice.
“I’ve a lways supported England at big internationa l tournaments when we haven’t been play ing,” said Icela nd’s co-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. “It’s a dream come true, but we go into the game to get a result. We believe in our ability.”
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson swept Iceland into an 18th-minute lead at the Stade de France, with Austria paying dearly for Aleksandar Dragovic’s missed first-half penalty.
Substitute Alessandro Schoepf levelled for Austria on the hour, but Traustason’s 94th-minute strike condemned Marcel Koller’s side, highly fancied to shine before the tournament, to a premature exit.
Farewell Zlatan
There was no fairytale ending for Ibrahimovic who announced before the match that he would retire from international football when Sweden’s Euro campaign ends.
Ibrahimovic alluded to his rags to riches story brought up in a tough Malmo district as he said goodbye.
“It’s a nice story because where I came from, a little . . . what people call the ghetto, and I made that country my country.”
“I hope we can find another player, not a Zlatan as I don’t think in a small country like Sweden you can find someone like that, he’s really unique,” said Sweden boss Erik Hamren.
Ibrahimovic did have the ball in the net midway through the second-half against the star-studded Belgians, but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Marcus Berg in the build-up.
Belgium had a series of chances to kill the game off with Romelu Lukaku particularly profligate.
With six minutes remaining, Radja Nainggolan’s arrowed drive into the far corner ended Swedish hopes to set up a last 16 clash with surprise package Hungary.