Quotes OF THE WEEK

‘Trust me when I say this: we hurt every bit as much as you do.’ James McClean, Republic of Ireland star, addressing fans after Tuesday night’s 5-1 defeat by Denmark

‘I was surprised that Ireland gave a lot of space in the centre of midfield for Eriksen. Thank you very much for giving him space!’ Age Hareide, Denmark coach, after Christian Eriksen picked up a hattrick in Denmark’s 5-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland

‘I took the political jousting a step too far.’ Barry Walsh, who stepped down from Fine Gael’s executive council this week over tweets in which he described women as ‘bitches’ and heaped abuse on opponents

‘It was a way, when you come on camera, of creating that connection with the viewer.’ Gerry Fleming, retiring weatherman, on the reason for his famous wink at the end of forecasts

‘In Iceland, especially in my teenage years, we didn’t date. You just went out and you got plastered and you woke up the next morning with someone and... and you married them! Bjork, Icelandic singer

‘Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me “old” when I would never call him “short and fat”?’ Donald Trump, insulting the North Korean dictator on Twitter

‘They don’t call him The Crocodile for nothing. He never says a word but suddenly he bites.’ Friend’s description of Emmerson Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe’s former henchman who organised the coup in Zimbabwe

‘If I get one more plate put in front of me with six dots of sauce I will go mad.’ Delia Smith, hitting out at today’s chefs over their ‘poncey’ cooking