Robbie Brady v Italy: quick facts
- When: 22 June 2016, Euro 2016 group stage, Lille, France.
- The situation: Ireland had to beat Italy to reach the knockout rounds.
- The goal: an 85th-minute header by Robbie Brady from a cross by his Norwich City team-mate Wes Hoolahan.
- Result: Italy 0, Ireland 1. Ireland reached the knockout stages of a European Championship for the first time.
- Next: a last-16 tie against hosts France in Lyon, where Brady scored again, from the penalty spot.
Ireland needed a win. Italy, already through, had rested half their team, but they still weren’t giving anything away. With five minutes left it looked like another brave Irish exit. Then Wes Hoolahan lifted a ball into the box and a lad from Baldoyle in Dublin got there first.
Here are the highlights, from the FAI’s own channel.
The goal
Minutes earlier, Hoolahan had been clean through on goal and fired straight at the Italian keeper. Most players would have hidden after a miss like that. Instead, he got the ball again on the right and floated in a perfect cross. Robbie Brady, running in from deep, rose highest and headed it past Salvatore Sirigu.
The Irish end of the stadium in Lille went up like nothing else. Martin O’Neill’s side were through.
The fans
Euro 2016 was the summer Irish fans won over France. They sang a lullaby to a baby on a tram, fixed dents in cars they had jumped on and tidied up after themselves, and the clips went viral around the world. The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, later awarded the Irish and Northern Irish fans the Grand Vermeil medal of the City of Paris. Watch some of the best moments in our post on the Irish fans at the Euros.
What happened next
Ireland met the hosts, France, in the last 16 in Lyon. Brady scored a penalty in the second minute and, for nearly an hour, Ireland led. Two goals from Antoine Griezmann ended the dream, but nobody who was there has forgotten that summer.
Robbie Brady goal FAQ
When did Robbie Brady score against Italy?
On 22 June 2016, in the 85th minute, at Euro 2016 in Lille.
Who crossed the ball for Robbie Brady’s goal?
Wes Hoolahan.
What was the score?
Italy 0, Ireland 1.
How far did Ireland go at Euro 2016?
The last 16, where they lost 2-1 to France.
More Irish sporting moments
- Johnny Sexton’s drop goal in Paris
- The Irish fans who won over Europe
- Shane Lowry wins the Open at Portrush
- Rachael Blackmore’s Grand National
- The best viral Irish videos of all time
Featured image: still from FAI TV, the Football Association of Ireland’s official YouTube channel.
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