Hand of History

The Irish camp is keen to dimiss it but for the French, it’s on everyone’s lips. We’re revisiting an extract from French Football Weekly’s Jeremy Smith’s interview with Phillipe Auclair, author of Thierry Henry: Lonely At The Top. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Henry is a divisive figure in French football. Perceived as aloof, an adversary of Zidane, and the apparent leader of a shameful strike at the 2010 World Cup, we look at the Frenchman’s standing in history, and that night in Paris.

Up the Duff – The Comeback Kid

Parachuted into the team, green giant Shane duffy was superb in our historic triumph over Italy. Having suffered a life-threatening injury on international duty six years ago, the Derry native knows all about comebacks.

France View: Drama or Karma?

The French both admire, and fear, Ireland’s work ethic, and ahead of their last 16 showdown, the hosts can’t escape thoughts of the infamous last meeting between the sides, writes Jeremy Smith.

One Centimetre From Glory, Pinilla’s Tattoo

Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla has had an image of THAT shot which struck the crossbar against Brazil tattooed on his back. In the final minute of extra-time, the strike from the edge of the box crashed off the bar saving the hosts from elimination. Pinilla also missed a penalty in the shoot-out defeat but it was the last drama of extra-time that will remain with him. The inkwork is accompanied by the line ‘One centimetre from glory’.

June 16, 2002: Rep. of Ireland 1 Spain 1 (Spain win 3-2 on penalties)

In one of the best games of the tournament, Ireland came from behind to batter Spain with Damien Duff in particular, a star of the show. Robbie Keane scored from the spot in the last minute to level and make up for Ian Harte’s earlier miss. But heartbreak came in the shoot-out.