Seamus Coleman watched Ireland at Euro 2012 in a Donegal pub.
Seamus Coleman watched Euro 2012 in Fawlty's Bar in Killybegs.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) June 22, 2016
Four years on, he captained Ireland against Italy at Euro 2016, and he made the most of his opportunity by setting the example of the sound and fury Ireland would need to succeed against Italy. Last Saturday, Coleman typified Ireland's strangely passive approach to the Belgian game. In the fiftieth minute, for example, with Ireland trailing 1-0, Eden Hazard tussled with Seamus Coleman on the Belgian left-wing. Hazard wriggled into a quantum of space before slipping over. He then got to his feet unhindered: Coleman had retreated ten yards to assume defensive shape. Ireland will need to be far more proactive against the Italians.
With the armband, however, Coleman was a man transformed:
Ireland needed to be brave and bold against Italy, and their bravery was ultimately rewarded, as captain Coleman set the tone in the twentieth second, crashing into Mateo De Sciglio with extreme disregard for the man:
The tackle set the tone for a wonderfully proactive performance. One wonders from where he drew the inspiration...
Ireland survive, and now we advance.
