Italy 0-1 Rep of Ireland Robbie Brady 85
It was an occasion that called for quality, cohesion and courage, and the Republic of Ireland were not found wanting. It was also one that demanded a decisive moment in front of goal, something to spark a result for the ages and, to the unconfined joy of those in green, Robbie Brady provided it.
The stadium clock showed 85 minutes in a match that Ireland had to win to progress into the last 16 of Euro 2016 and, at that point, it looked as if Martin O’Neill would get the performance he wanted from his players but not the result.
Moments earlier, the substitute Wes Hoolahan had blown a glorious one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, Salvatore Sirigu, but he did not allow his head to drop. Neither did any of his teammates. Taking a pass from Aiden McGeady, another substitute, Hoolahan dropped over an inviting ball and Brady, timing his arrival to perfection, headed home.
It was the prompt for bedlam and a richly deserved victory, which might just be Ireland’s finest of all time. Never before have they won a final group to advance into the knock-out rounds of a major finals and this result, lest anybody forget, came against the mighty Italians, who had already qualified for the last 16 as group winners. They had complained bitterly about why James McClean had not been given a first-half penalty for what was a push on him by Federico Bernardeschi but, in the end, it did not matter. Ireland advance to face France in the next round.
Ireland always knew they would need one victory to emerge from this group, and that it had to come against opponents as illustrious as Italy made the task so arduous. Antonio Conte had promised he would not make as many as the nine changes that had been forecast and he was telling the truth. The Italy manager made eight. But the replacements came from clubs such as Juventus, Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. It did not feel like a B team.
Ireland were determined to leave nothing on the pitch. That had been a regret against Belgium and O’Neill was bold with his approach. James McCarthy – a more technical player than Glenn Whelan – was charged with screening a new-look back four while Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady provided further creativity from central areas.
It was a surprise Wes Hoolahan was a substitute. Ireland played with aggression and tempo. The only thing that stopped Seamus Coleman picking up a first-minute booking for a lunge on Mattia De Sciglio was, presumably, that it was the first tackle of the game and Ireland appeared determined to leave a few other calling cards. They called the tune in the first half, squeezing the space to leave Italy with no room for manoeuvre. Apart from a Ciro Immobile pot-shot on 42 minutes which flew wide, Conte’s team contributed little before the interval.
Ireland won the right to play and they were dangerous. Hendrick has showcased his shooting ability at these finals and he was a whisker from opening the scoring with a vicious left-footed drive from outside the area. Salvatore Sirigu did not look to have his top corner covered and could be relieved.
Ireland also had their threat from Brady’s set-pieces. O’Neill had changed both of his centre-halves, bringing in Shane Duffy and Richard Keogh, with the former owing his selection, partly, to his aerial threat. It was Daryl Murphy, though, the No9, who worked Sirigu from Brady’s corner in the 20th minute. Sirigu tipped over the crossbar, acrobatically, but it was a flicker to fire Irish belief.
There were some stand-out moments for Ireland in the first half, from Darren Randolph, the goalkeeper, executing a nerveless Cruyff-turn to flummox Simone Zaza to James McClean running at Andrea Barzagli to draw a foul. There was also the sight of McCarthy diving to make a low clearing header, as Zaza’s boot was high.
The non-award following the penalty appeal provided the controversy. McClean had shaped to shoot inside the area, from Murphy’s pass, only for Bernardeschi to barge into the back of him and knock him off balance. The Italy wing-back was nowhere near the ball. Ireland could not believe the Romanian referee, Ovidiu Hategan, was unmoved.
The Ireland fans nursed a sense of injustice. But they already had their cause. They had descended on Lille in their droves and, on a steamy evening, they were desperate to witness history. Their support and non-stop singing was a feature of the occasion. With Shane Long working off the right and, towards the end, through the centre, and Brady ever eager to get up the field, there was a balance to O’Neill’s attacking intent. They had to find cutting edge.
Zaza volleyed narrowly over the crossbar from De Sciglio’s cross but it was Ireland who continued to press on to the front foot in the second half. Seamus Coleman, following slack Italian defending, saw a shot blocked by Angelo Ogbonna, which caused Irish hearts to jump, and Hendrick dragged another shot wide.
Italy were uncharacteristically sloppy – much to Conte’s annoyance. He was a prowling, volcanic presence on the touchline. They almost sneaked into the lead when the substitute, Lorenzo Insigne, curled a shot against the post and, when Hoolahan blew his one-on-one with Sirigu, the game looked up for Ireland. Brady had other ideas.
Guardian