LILLE, FRANCE: A little over six years after almost losing his life in a training-ground accident with the Ireland team, defender Shane Duffy will probably start one of the biggest games of his career against France in the second round of Euro 2016.
In his first competitive international, the 24-year-old was the cornerstone of a superb Irish defensive display against Italy that sent them go through to the knockout stage of the Euros for the first time.
It was a far cry from his first call-up in May 2010, when an accidental clash with the goalkeeper of Ireland’s amateur national side in a training game ruptured the blood supply to his liver, necessitating life-saving surgery.
Right back Seamus Coleman, who captained Ireland against Italy in the absence of John O’Shea, paid tribute to Duffy after the Italy game.
“For him to be back on the pitch is massive, but to put in a performance like that was incredible,” he said.