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Lansdowne Road, Dublin, March 30, 1977
Republic of Ireland 1 (Brady)
France 0
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A then 22-year-old Brady had been floating on the crest of a wave after a excellent term with the Gunners in 1977.
The Dubliner emerged as the London club's midfield general after boss Terry Neill had sold Alan Ball to Southampton in December 1976.
In seven seasons with the Gunners, he scored 43 times in 235 league appearances, but reserved some of his best displays for Ireland - and especially on that cold March day in Dublin, over 27 years ago.
Irish manager Johnny Giles had taken over the reigns from Liam Tuohy in 1973, and had immediately set about changing the logistics of playing for the Republic.
Previously Irish matches had been on Sundays - where English-based players had been forced to line out for their clubs on the Saturday and hop on a ferry to make Dublin for Sunday's internationa. But Giles convinced the FAI to play games during the week, and on the same days as England.
Being able to field their strongest team, Ireland were afforded the chance to compete at the highest level - and took on a French side containing the heralded names of Michel Platini, Bernard Lacombe - who was to score one of the quickest World Cup goals in history as he netted after 37 seconds in the finals in Argentina - and Metz goalkeeper Andre Rey.
Giles brought in two newcomers for the campaign - 6' 3" goalkeeper Michael Kearns and renowned penalty taker Gerry Daly. Both acquitted themselves well against Michel Hidalgo's French side in front of 45,000 supporters in Dublin.
A rough ride in Paris in November 1976, when Giles' charges lost 2-0 saw the Irish fired up, especially after some home-town officiating.
A 57th minute cross from Brady was headed home by Frank Stapleton but strangely ruled out for offside by the Yugoslav linesman. The following June a superb goal by player-manager Giles was ruled out for offside again in Bulgaria, where the free kick ratio was 5:1 in favour of the eastern Europeans.
In the 80th minute in Sofia, a free-for-all broke loose and predictably, Greek referee Nicko Zlantanos failed to send off the player who started it. Both Noel Campbell - who had only been on the field 90 seconds - and Mick Martin were sent off. The 2-1 put the Irish out of contention for Argentina, and Hidalgo, although delighted with the result, commented that 'Ireland were robbed'.
There was no robbing in Dublin a year previously as Brady waltzed past three French defenders before planting Ireland into an eleventh minute lead.
With Giles manning the midfield and current Aston Villa boss Dave O'Leary in imperious form at the back, the Republic held out for only their second win in seven meetings.
Incredibly Ireland drew France again in the 1982 World Cup qualifiers - and though Giles resigned after an opening 3-2 win over Cyprus in March 1980, Eoin Hand manfully led the Irish to another win over the French (3-2, October 1981) before losing out on a finals place to the eventual semi-finalists on goal difference.
Ireland: Kearns, Mulligan, O'Leary, Martin, Holmes, Daly, Giles, Brady, Heighway, Treacy, Givens.
France: Rey, Janvion, Rio, Lopez, Tusseau, Bathenay, Platini, Synaeghal, Rocheteau, Lacombe, Rouyer.