O’Neill: Ireland does not need France revenge for motivation

Robbie Brady sent Ireland into the last 16 of Euro 2016 after netting a dramatic late victor to beat Italy 1-0.

“If [Alvaro Morata] can help by giving us some information then you always have to think about players like him and see if they can help us a little more”.

Martin O’Neill joked in his post-match press conference that he would have taken Hoolahan’s head off if Ireland had not won the game.

The win set Ireland up for a rematch with the French, seven years on from the infamous Thierry Henry handball that knocked the Irish out in a World Cup qualifying play-off.

Currently, the France’s national team remains unbeaten in this Championship.

“Three days is important in a tournament and qualifying earlier does give you more rest”, France’s assistant coach Guy Stephan said Friday.

Brady’s 85th-minute victor against Italy was by no means the first late contribution to the campaign, and manager Martin O’Neill insisted it could be no coincidence after Aiden McGeady in Georgia, John O’Shea in Germany and Shane Long against Poland all scored priceless last-gasp goals during qualification. “It will be a talking point obviously, but I don’t think it will concern us when we play the game”.

“We dominated for incredible periods and played some phenomenal stuff”, he said.

Italy boss Antonio Conte, who rested eight players having seen his team already secure top spot in Group E with wins over Belgium and Sweden, congratulated Ireland on their progression even if he did have a slightly different view of what he had just witnessed. “I think Kiev was the first game in which we weren’t on their level, we weren’t ready. They will try to control possession but Croatia showed that there are weaknesses in their side and we have the weapons to cause Spain problems”.

“I knew the pressure was on but I did have all the faith in him, and him and Wes together, they’re good and when Wes came on I got a good feeling and then it happened”.

Conte will begin preparations for the Spain game on Thursday, but would not be drawn into analysing the reigning champions.

“We know that Italy are not as good a side as Spain or Germany but we know we can win by playing to our strengths”, said Motta, who appeared as a substitute in the 2012 final. Tell me, do you want me to tell you they are rubbish? “The Irish naturally have fighting spirit, I’m not sure they need this for motivation”.