This one's for all the @FAIreland fans who follow this page, very well done indeed! #COYBIGpic.twitter.com/jDSAyEORvg
— Celtic Archives (@CelticArchives) June 22, 2016
Don’t call it luck of the Irish.
The Republic of Ireland advanced to the Euro 2016 knockout round on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over Italy on a dramatic goal by Robbie Brady in the game’s dying moments.
Brady’s historic goal puts Ireland through to the European Championship’s last 16 for the first time in the nation’s history. The Irish victory earns Robbie Keane’s squad third place in Group E and a date with host country France in Lyon on Sunday.
"You hear people [who score last minute goals] saying it's like an out-of-body experience," Brady said of his late winner. "I was lucky enough to experience that."
Martin O’Neill’s team adopted an aggressive posture against an Italy squad that made wholesale changes after earning their passage to the knockout round. Despite a substantial advantage in possession, the Irish could not find their winner until Brady’s finish in the closing moments of the game.
Ireland found their winner in the 85th minute when Wes Hoolahan delivered a sublime cross from the right side of midfield to the head of Brady, who nodded it into the back of the Italian net for the winner.
LA Galaxy captain Robbie Keane did not feature in Wednesday’s victory.
