'This means the world for me' - Robbie Brady ignites Ireland after spell frozen out

Robbie Brady is the only survivor in the squad from Ireland's last tournament experience and he sparked memories of those days in Helsinki Thursday night.

Ireland's Robbie Brady. Pic ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Robbie Brady has experienced the kaleidoscope of being an Ireland international.

From his highpoint of heading the late winner against Italy at Euro 2016, soon followed by scoring the opener against hosts France, he was cut from the matchday 23 just 18 months ago.

Stephen Kenny was out of contract and excuses when Brady scored a late penalty against Armenia in late 2022 to avoid embarrassment but he didn’t see a minute of action for his country in 10 games over 2023.

Inexplicably, Brady was drafted into the squad for the opening Euro 2024 qualifier against France, delegated the task of executing set-pieces in training, only to find himself alongside Troy Parrot confined to the stands.

Then, revived by a change of manager, the 32-year-old led by example on Thursday in Helsinki by assisting for the equaliser and volleying home the decider in the 2-1 victory over Finland.

He’s the only survivor in the squad from that last tournament experience of eight years ago and had Irish fans feeling those days could be replicated with his pair of interventions at the Olympic Stadium.

“You realise when you’re not in the fold how much you miss it,” the Preston North End wideman said of his being offered a route back this year.

“I put in a lot of hard work and feel I deserve to be in around it at the minute. I’m glad I got to show that against Finland.

“This means the world for me. Like I’ve always said, the highlight of my career has always been playing for my country.” 

Brady was first reinstated to the team during the caretaker spell of his former Manchester United teammate John O’Shea and trusted to retain the left-back berth once Heimir Hallgrimsson assumed permanent residency in July. He’s started all seven Ireland games this year.

This first victory of the Nations League game staves off the threat of relegation to League C, for now anyway, but Brady has tournament involvement on his mind.

Those emotional scenes from Lille still resonate and while next year’s World Cup qualifiers seem daunting given Ireland’s third pot seeding, Brady wants his younger colleagues to visualise the clout they hold in stopping the nation in its tracks.

“I try to explain to lads at different times, talking about that you don’t know what an opportunity you have with this group of players,” he reasoned about reclaiming those glory days.

“I don’t see why we can’t go and compete in tournaments.

“And it’s not just for us, you can see the lift it gives everybody, the whole country, it means the world to everybody.

“You don’t want to miss out on tournaments. The more tournaments that you can go and play in is incredible and we’ll be putting everything we can into qualifying for tournaments going forward.” 

Off to Athens fly the Ireland squad on Friday ahead of meeting the conquerors of England in Piraeus on Friday night. One flanker, substitute Festy Ebosele, teeing up the other to bury the winner symbolises the array of options available to the Icelander.

“We’re looking to build on this, as a team,” added Brady.

“We weren’t perfect and we’ve got a game in three days, we rest and go again.” “It feels amazing. It’s frustrating, we know the results haven’t been great for the last few years. And it can weigh on you a bit, especially for the lads, it’s a young group. But like I said, we have millions and millions of pounds of talent in that dressing room.

“It’s not like we’re all a crop of bad players.”