‘We have to take the positives from it’

MEMORIES of Euro ‘88 were thick on the ground, but a horrendous slice of luck reminiscent of Gelsenkirchen soured Ireland’s return to Stuttgart.

The name of Wim Kieft and his bizarre winning goal for the Dutch that day leapt immediately to mind after 57 minutes when Lukas Podolski’s mishit free-kick clipped the leg of Robbie Keane and went in past a wrong-footed Shay Given.

Once again, an outrageous turn in fortune had sunk Ireland’s hopes on German soil, but there can be few complaints. Ireland couldn’t have been more blessed until then had Given worn a four-leaf clover and got his gloves blessed by the Pope.