In November 2011, the Republic of Ireland team travelled to Tallinn for the first leg of a European Championship play-off against Estonia. Ireland were on the verge of qualifying for a major tournament for the first time in ten years. Two years earlier, in Paris, Ireland had been denied a place in the World Cup when, in extra time, Thierry Henry handled the ball twice to set up William Gallas for a goal that sent France to the finals. It seemed an even greater injustice given the daring with which Ireland had approached the game. For those within the FAI…

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