Thursday 23 June 2016 09:45, UK
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill said the 1-0 win over Italy that took his team through to the last 16 of Euro 2016 was one of the best nights of his long career.
"I've had some great nights but this was very special tonight," O'Neill said after Robbie Brady's late goal in Lille took Ireland through to a dream tie against host nation France as one of the best third-placed sides.
"We had an enormous support and they kept us going throughout the game. I think the players and fans fed off each other."
Republic of Ireland finished third in Group E behind Italy and Belgium, with Sweden bottom, and O'Neill added: "To have come out of the group we had is quite something. The team came out really big.
"There has always been a great spirit among the players. But spirit alone does not win the game as you need the ability. We now have that ability.
"We need a performance like tonight again to stand a chance [against France]. If we can recover in time, we want to play as strongly as we did tonight."
Ireland's winner came just after Wes Hoolahan had squandered a great chance to score and with Italy threatening at the other end.
"It was great win and we deserved to win the game. I thought the chance had gone when the goalkeeper saved from Wes. I didn't want it to be one of those nights where it was 'if only'."
O'Neill added that he felt Ireland should have had a penalty in the first half after Daryl Murphy and James McClean both had claims waved away by the Romanian referee.
"It looked as if we should have had a penalty. It was pretty clear cut, but it doesn't matter now. It was phenomenal stuff."
Match-winner Brady added: "We have shown some fantastic results throughout the group stage to get here. This has been a two-year process to get ourselves here and we weren't going to give it up tonight.
"Obviously it's difficult playing such a relentless Italian side who were going to be hard to break down - we managed to do that. We have managed to beat some of the best teams in the world, so I don't think we have anything to fear going into the weekend.
"We know they're a top-class team and they have got some unbelievable players, but if we can stick together and click like we clicked tonight, we can hurt anybody, so I don't think we have anything to fear.
"I think we can go as far as we allow ourselves in this tournament."
