Euro 2016 - 7 Truths: Martin O’Neill’s big decision secures Ireland's historic victory

Martin O'Neill made four changes for the clash against Italy, with the biggest decision being to switch his centre-back pairing of John O'Shea and Ciaran Clark for Shane Duffy and Richard Keogh. It worked. And while it may be Robbie Brady who gets the headlines (and rightly so), it was a sound defensive footing that set Ireland on course to securing a first-ever appearance in the knockout phase of the European Championship.

Clark, who had a miserable season with Aston Villa cannot have been full of confidence, especially after his own goal against Sweden. Duffy and Keogh however, kept the Italians chances to a minimum and were a reassuring presence in front of Darren Randolph.

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Salvatore Sirigu was hardly a reassuring presence in Italy’s goal. The PSG stopper, playing ahead of national team captain Gianluigi Buffon, who had a fever on Monday, looked uncomfortable on the ball, pinging one attempted pass well over the head of all of his players on the touchline.

He also had one huge, unnecessary flap at a cross early in the second half and was caught in No-Man’s land for Robbie Brady’s goal.

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Just before Robbie Brady’s goal, Wes Hoolahan was gifted a clear run on goal after Giorgio Chiellini tried to claim a foul and handed the ball over as he fell to the ground. The Norwich City forward took the ball on but could only manage a limp effort, straight at Sirigu.

It seemed as though that might be the closest Ireland would come to scoring. But, just a minute or so later, Hoolahan made amends with the delicious cross to set up Brady. Cue huge sigh of relief.

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There was utter jubilation when Arnor Ingvi Traustason slotted home the winner against Austria to secure second spot in Group F. That meant that Portugal were demoted to third in the group and Ronaldo and co were sent into the top half of the draw – otherwise known as the weaker side of the draw.

Iceland face England in the last 16 but from there it gets a lot, lot trickier – France, Spain, Germany and Italy are on that side of the draw.

Portugal, who remain unbeaten at the tournament, must overcome Croatia, but, if they manage that, then the draw really opens up.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced before the match that this would be his final international tournament; that he would retire after Sweden were knocked out. It was expected that Italy and Belgium would be the most likely qualifiers, and so it came to pass. Zlatan almost gave his side a chance with a ridiculous finish, plucking a ball out of the air at head height, but with his foot. The goal was ruled out for a high foot, but it shows that he is still in remarkable shape for a 34-year-old.

However, there is no denying that is now not really capable of dragging a mediocre Sweden side along with him. With just one or two more years in top-flight football, probably with Manchester United, it makes sense that he cuts short his international efforts, and lets Sweden try to find a new way forward.

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Some players get injured and give up. If they’re losing at the same time, they sometimes even regard it as a blessing. It is an obvious excuse of the world being against them, and why they cannot go on in such hard circumstances. When Ronaldo fell awkwardly against Hungary, lesser players would have taken it as a sign to exit. Angel Di Maria, for example. Not Ronaldo, he drove his side on from the first to the last minute, even when it was not going his way. However, he set up the equaliser and scored twice, one a superb header, the kind of finish that has not left him despite his age. He might be declining now, but he is channelling his energy to still contribute as much as he can in front of goal. For Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Portugal today, it is still enough to make a difference.

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Hungary surprisingly topped their group. They took the game to Portugal and exploited their defensive weakness. Their regular attempts to score, and the goals themselves, meant that Portugal were never sure of their footing, and had to doggedly fight to even get a point. Iceland have gone through, too, along with Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In the year that Leicester won the Premier League in a similar manner, these sides are being rewarded for, to a greater or lesser extent, abandoning safety first football.