Spain made Ireland pay for venue folly

JOSÉ Armando Ufarte Ventoso was the man who broke Irish hearts in Paris 44 years ago but many still feel an own-goal by the FAI had sealed the side’s fate some weeks before.

Some say the match was originally scheduled for London or Goodison Park, others claim it was a toss-up between the English and French capitals.

Needless to say, London would have amounted to a virtual home game for the boys in green.