Wow!!! 43 seconds in the life of sub Wes Hoolahan.
He’d only been on the pitch for 8 minutes
Hoolahan of Norwich was clean through in the 85th minute but shot tamely.
MISSED A SITTER.
He’d scored the goal against Sweden.
But now he’d fluffed the chance of a lifetime to put the Republic of Ireland in the last 16 to join England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Less than a minute later Hoolahan has the ball again and sends a sublimely curling cross over the head of Bonucci and Robbie Brady heads in for 1-0.
What an astoundingly dramatic moment!
After missing a goal, Hoolahan creates one 43 seconds later and Brady converts the chance, so Ireland play France, the host nation in the Last 16.
Antonio Conte, knowing Italy are playing Spain in Paris on , rested eight of his first eleven against the Irish – and it showed.
Ireland were superior throughout the game.
Organised, passionate, positive – a phenomenal team performance.
Hoolahan’s cross was so accurate that Brady was able to head it home without jumping or getting a punch on the ear from keeper Sirigu.
Remarkably, two players from Norwich had propelled the Republic of Ireland into the last 16, alongside Northern Ireland, Wales and England.
Four points from the tough Group E is commendable. Heroic even.
Right now it’s fun to look at eight games in a bloated misconceived tournament of 24 teams.
AT LAST WE HAVE 8 GAMES
The beauty of football is its simplicity.
The following 8 games will give us 8 quarter-finalists.
I reckon Italy will beat Spain because they know Alvaro Morata so well and have a stronger defence.
Croatia are not a one-man team. That’s why they’ll beat the temperamental Portuguese.
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Italy v Rep of Ireland line-ups
Italy: Sirigu, Barzagli, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Bernardeschi, Sturaro, Thiago Motta, Florenzi, De Sciglio, Zaza, Immobile.
Subs: Buffon, Chiellini, Darmian, Candreva, Pelle, De Rossi, Eder, Parolo, Insigne, El Shaarawy, Giaccherini, Marchetti.
Rep of Ireland: Randolph, Coleman, Duffy, Keogh, Ward, Hendrick, McClean, McCarthy, Brady, Long, Murphy.
Subs: Westwood, Clark, O’Shea, Whelan, McGeady, Keane, Walters, Christie, Meyler, Hoolahan, Quinn, Given.
Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hategan (Romania)