Players left in awe of Spain’s terrible beauty

Rarely has a final whistle been met with such relief.

For most of the game, it was impossible not to swoon in appreciation at the football being played by Vicente De Bosque’s side but every single attack in that last 10 minutes evinced nothing more than winces and grimaces from those Irish watching.

The sight of a pass bouncing over Aiden McGeady’s toe and into touch in the dying moments said it all about the sheer exhaustion and demoralisation pervading the green ranks. It was beautiful and terrible all in one.