Captain Seamus Coleman Thanks The Green Army Everywhere
Stephen Doyle in Lyon
Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman, as you would expect, cut a very dejected figure as he walked through the media mixed zone after the disappointing defeat to France.
Coleman and the rest of the squad stood in front of the Green Army at the Stade de Lyon after the final whistle for about ten minutes as the fans sang their hearts out.
It was a beautiful and emotional scene and Coleman thanked the fans there and everyone else for their support, when he was asked what it was like to stand in front of them.
"Different to Wednesday but same kind of emotion really. Obviously we had the high of winning on Wednesday and proud of the fans but today it was a little bit harder to face them.
"They're amazing and they've been brilliant in all three games, whoever's travelled, spent money, we do realise that and not just the fans who were there tonight, the fans who were there for the whole tournament, the fans who maybe came without a ticket, fans who took days off work to watch it in their sitting room; we're grateful to every single one of them. It's just a shame we couldn't get over the line tonight again."
While disappointed with this afternoon's result the skipper feels that the team got better as the tournament progressed.
"I'd like to think we've improved, definitely. Especially after the Belgium game as well, we had a look at that and addressed it and I thought against Italy you could see a better Ireland team.
"We kept the ball better we got on the ball better and even tonight in the first half we did the same and maybe second half, we probably didn't keep it as well as we should have and unfortunately a world class team like that can punish you."
Coleman feels there is reason to be optimistic about the squad's chances looking ahead to the future with the emergence of some new stars.
"I think some of the young lads came of age. Robbie (Brady), Jeff (Hendrick), Big (Shane) Duffy, James (McCarthy), the last couple of games, has been brilliant. I think the future is bright."