Only once has the Republic of Ireland faced the host nation in a major tournament. The opportunity to do so again was a powerful motivating tool for Martin O’Neill’s players as they prepared to face Italy in Lille.

Over umpteen cups of coffee in Larry Tompkins’ pub last month, the proprietor and fellow 1990 All-Ireland winning captain Tomás Mulcahy sat down with John Fogarty to recall that special year. The questions were few but their answers were plentiful

POOR Amendment 35. Before we move on in the new post-marriage referendum Ireland, spare a thought for the ‘Presidential Age’ one.

“We’ll leave it there, so,” as he’d say himself, but let’s face it — we don’t want to.

He gave the impression of having the same knowledge as an armchair fan but that is what made him such a great broadcaster, writes Special Correspondent Michael Clifford

Goalkeeping legend Packie Bonner recalls Ireland’s victory over Scotland in Glasgow in 1987, with soccer writer, Liam Mackey, and reveals that although Jack Charlton’s team would kick on to a first ever Euros qualification, the road was by no means smooth on the way to the promised land.

Slamming, body-rocking heat greeted the traveller in Manaus yesterday. When even the local taxi driver wipes his forehead and declares it’s "mucho calde" you know this isn’t a climate for the faint-hearted.

SEVERAL days after 15-year-old Ann Lovett died in hospital, just hours after giving birth to a 6½lb baby boy found dead beside a Co Longford grotto, an anonymous caller phoned the Sunday Tribune newspaper to explain what had happened on that cold and dark winter afternoon on Jan 31, 1984 outside Granard.

For 25 years, there has been a question that Ronnie Whelan has always meant to ask Tony Galvin.

It is often said that a week is a long time in politics. The same goes for tournament football.

Fabio Capello was expected to name an unchanged side for the first time as England manager this afternoon.

IF you’re Irish come into the parlour. Or, more precisely, if your name is Ireland or Keane there’s a welcome on the mat for you at Aston Villa.

STUART PEARCE has told his England Under-21s that heroic failure counts for nothing – and they must create a new chapter of history when they face Germany in the European Championship final in Malmo tonight (7.45pm).

IF GIOVANNI Trapattoni could just bottle Damien Delaney’s enthusiasm he’d be at least halfway to qualifying the Republic of Ireland for the next World Cup.

Robbie Keane admitted he is desperate to showcase his talents on the World Cup stage again before his career draws to a close.

AFTER the cold war involving the manager, the players and the media which darkened the final days of the Brian Kerr era, the thaw of the past week was as welcome as it was out of sync with the prevailing weather conditions.

Costa Rica 0 Turkey 0

Costa Rica 0 Turkey 0

Paolo Maldini’s father Cesare, the Paraguay boss, is the oldest coach at this World Cup aged 70, while Paolo is one of the few players at the tournament who also played in Italia 90.