“JUST PAIN, We only feel pain,” Heimir Hallgrimsson said after the World Cup play-off penalty shoot out defeat in Prague. The wise – as well as those who post inspirational quotes on Instagram – will tell you that pain is inevitable, but misery? The wise clearly have avoided the inevitability of supporting the Irish football team for many years. Misery follows Irish football around to such an extent that nobody would suggest it is something that can ever be avoided. Nobody should ever be complacent because we know neither the day nor the hour when misery will present itself again to the Irish football fan.

Source: Irish Examiner March 28, 2026 11:00 UTC