Ah lads, think about it.
Wes Hoolahan’s last game for Ireland was losing 5-1 at home.
Whether you think Eamon Dunphy rips the arse out of praising the Dubliner or you’re one of those ones who believes that the managers who were afraid to play him couldn’t be wrong because they’re the pros, it’s still sad to think that’s his final memory in an Irish jersey.
However, whilst he might well be retired from international football and departed Norwich in May, he will live on forever in the RTÉ studio and in the emotional voice of Eamon Dunphy.
As England prepared to lock horns with Sweden in the World Cup quarter-final, Keith Andrews and Liam Brady joined their colleague in dissecting why Gareth Southgate’s men should have too much for an admittedly improved Scandinavian outfit.
Soon, three beautiful letters were put together.
W. E. S.
Anyone who ever thinks of Sweden – anywhere in the world – will always drift back to Monday 13 June, 2016.
Paris. European Championships. A Dubliner showing the continent what they were missing all that time.
Two years ago today, Wes Hoolahan showed Europe what they were missing all that time 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dA9j5ZOfgI
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 13, 2018
And, surely enough, before England and Sweden took for the field – two years later – in Russia in the World Cup, in the last eight, Dunphy was reminiscing.
Liam Brady was laughing.
"I was wondering when you'd get Wesley Hoolahan into this World Cup" pic.twitter.com/YNgaGFEkGw
— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) July 7, 2018
