What a difference four years makes.
Euro 2016: Ireland reach the last-16 of a 24-team Euros before being knocked out by the hosts France.
Euro 2012: Ireland knocked out at the group stage of a 16-team Euros having lost all three matches.
Two tournaments, both times Ireland fail to go beyond the last 16, but the experience and the atmosphere around the team this time as opposed to 2012 couldn’t be any more different.
Four years ago there were recriminations, accusations and calls for wholesale change in Irish football.
On Sunday, after the 2-1 defeat to France there was nothing but pride and disappointment.
Pride that a new generation of fans have heroes to rival those of Italia ’90 and the 2002 World Cup
The likes of Robbie Brady, Darren Randolph and Jeff Hendrick are now household names across the country, with Brady’s winner against Italy a moment that will live in the memories for years and years to come.
There is disappointment too. Disappointment that we couldn’t see off the favourites for the tournament and reach the last-eight.
There will be calls in the coming days for ways to improve Irish football and that is only right, except this time it will be focused on how we can add more to the quality that is already there.
Stephen Hunt, who was in the Ireland squad during Euro 2012, perhaps perfectly summed up how most Irish fans are feeling after the defeat to the French.
We knew our fans would be class but our players have made them proud to be a irish football(soccer) team supporter again💪🍀🍀
— stephen hunt (@stephenhunt1010) June 26, 2016
Hear, hear.
