‘No, we need a picture of Thomas Muller tussling with Kamil Glik. Cut the word-count.’
So [probably] went the discussion in Zurich as Uefa finalised plans for their Official Euro 2016 book.
In their recap of Group D, the focus is on table-toppers Germany and runners-up Poland.
There is little room for Ireland’s nigh-on-heroic deeds last October. In fact there is very little mention of Martin O’Neill’s third-place finish in what the summary of Group D, widely seen as the most difficult (and exciting) of all the groups in Euro 2016 qualification.
Aiden McGeady’s goalscoring antics don’t feature, nor does David Forde’s staunch denials in Germany or the sheer, bloody-minded excellence of Richard Keogh during the final group matches.
In fairness, we get that you can’t fit everything into one page that includes a final table, action snap, colourful tactics etching and some tasteful white space.
What we cannot fathom is the omission of Ireland’s fantastic 1-0 victory over the Germans at the Aviva Stadium.
For those of you with foggy recollections, Ireland mixed it with the world champions for 97 fraught minutes.
In the middle of all that, Shane Long thunderbolted past world’s best goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after the greatest ‘long pass’ from a goalkeeper since Packie Bonner gritted his teeth in Palermo.
No room, though, for that sensational victory.
Irish fans that purchase the book will have to settle for snippets about Long’s equaliser against Poland and a similar, point-saving strike from John O’Shea against the Germans.
Still, Robbie Keane is on the cover.
Thanks to Liam Brophy for sending that in. If you have something you would like to share with us, send it to editorial@sportsjoe.ie or hit us up on Facebook and Twitter
