Stade Pierre-Mauroy was a special place at full-time on Wednesday night.
With just four days to prepare for their last-16 clash with hosts France in Lyon, the Republic of Ireland players should be able to feed off the emotions of those moments after the final whistle in Lille.
For the first time in 14 years Ireland recorded a win at a major championships and progress beyond the group stages, which looked so unlikely after the draw with Sweden and defeat to Belgium, was achieved.
Before flying south to Lyon on Friday evening, strikers Shane Long and Daryl Murphy conducted a press conference at their training base at Stade de Montbauron in Versailles.
"Took me a minute to spot my family in the crowd but when I did there were tears." Shane Long on victory over #ITA pic.twitter.com/Q9WKRmlJtg
— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) June 24, 2016
While Long enjoyed his friend Robbie Brady’s winning goal and the Norwich man’s delirious celebrations afterwards, the highlight for himself was the celebrations after the final whistle, when the Irish fans and players celebrated as the Italians made their exit after the 1-0 defeat. He said:
“The moment for me was afterwards. I didn’t want to leave that pitch. All the Italian fans had left but the stadium was still full, everyone was singing and dancing.
“It took me a few seconds to find my family but when I did they were all in tears as well. That is when I knew it was a massive performance.”
For Murphy, who agreed with the suggestion his shift up front against an aggressive Italian defence was his finest in an Irish shirt, it was the celebrations by all involved in the Irish camp that will stick with him.
“Seeing the fans and players and staff just going mental, really. That was it,” said the Ipswich frontman.
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