He didn’t get into his cot until after 5am, so we will forgive Martin O’Neill for being given the run around by an arachnid.
The Republic of Ireland manager gave an incredibly relaxed press conference at the squad’s training base in Versailles, Stade de Montbauron.
While the players, also late to bed, were given the day off, the man who orchestrated one of the most memorable nights in Irish football history made his way into the stifling converted gym to chat with the media.
Whether it was the heat, the humidity, the post-elation exhaustion or a lack of sleep, but the Derryman was temporarily diverted by a spider on the table in front of him and cut off an answer in an attempt to squish the eight-legged interloper.
Alas, the creepy-crawly succeeded where Antonio Conte failed – getting the best of O’Neill and disappearing into the Versailles afternoon. Leaving the Ireland boss to return to reflecting on a night that scrambled the brains of lesser men than himself.
