It wasn't all that long ago that an Irish rugby team played a major tournament knockout game at the Stade de France.
Unfortunately, we don't need any reminders about the outcome from the Rugby World Cup clash against the All Blacks last October.
But could the Irish Men's Sevens team find better fortunes and hurdle the last-eight barrier at this year's Paris 2024 Olympics against world class opponents?
That was what was at play at the Stade de France on Thursday once defeat to New Zealand in the afternoon's final pool match confirmed a night-time quarter-final against reigning Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 gold medalists Fiji.
James Topping's Irish side had gone into the day's action off the back of an impressive Wednesday featuring uber-efficient back to back wins over South Africa and Japan.
Had Ireland avoided an agonising defeat to the All Blacks Sevens, the easier side of the draw would have opened up.
Instead a late converted try by Ngarohi McGarvey-Black pushed Ireland into the clutches of a Fiji side which had earned plaudits from the stands during their own pool journey.
Still there was a relaxed atmosphere in the air on the walk from the metro stop to the Stade de France. Indeed, one supporter clad in a late 90's/early 2000s era Irish jersey with a number 10 on the back and the tricolour billowing behind him was leading a merry march of his pals along the avenue while testing out his Leaving Cert French.
'Allez Les Verts, Allez Les Verts!' Pitch perfect Monsieur, douze points and drawing a few smiles from some mildly confused local onlookers clad in blue. Chapeau!
It was a little less loud - just a bit - than the chants inside the stadium in the match which immediately preceded Ireland's quarter-final.
The hosts had their own encounter against Argentina, who as one realised yesterday have become a bête noire for the French sporting public.
Let's just say, France had the better of the first half and every try was greeted with the vibration of eardrums before the pièce de résistance when Antoine Dupont ran for home to score the game's final try.
With the French elated and ears still ringing, the atmosphere remained vibrant when Ireland emerged into the arena a couple of minutes later to face the Fijians.
However, almost straight from the off, Ireland were behind as Iosefo Baleiwairiki bustled his way through for a converted try.
Ireland's response was spirited and structured. and Chay Mullins got over the line to touch the ball down under pressure from a Fijian tackler. A short video review later and Ireland were back in the game, although not with a maximum score following the type of missed conversion that has been the main Achilles heel in Paris.
However, Mullins bundled himself over the try-line again in the next phase of play to ensure that Ireland would go into half-time in front, although only with a 10-7 advantage as another conversion attempt was passed up.
The organisation and structure of the Irish attack was apparent again at the start of the second half as they picked their way through the phases for a try in the left corner by Zac Ward for his third try of Paris 2024.
A 15-7 lead which admittedly could have been larger if any one of the three conversions had been nailed.
At this stage, there were no more 'Allez Les Verts', instead 'Ireland, Ireland, Ireland' filled the air from a pocket of supporters in the southern end of the ground with three minutes between the team and a historic semi-final spot.
However, Fiji roused from their slumber as Joji Nasova raced through and touched down to leave Ireland with an uncomfortable three point advantage that would be immediately wiped out when the game restarted as fortune favoured the Pacific islanders, a missed catch and the bounce of a ball falling for Waisea Nacuqu to run in for a try that left Topping's team suddenly 19-15 down entering the final minute.
With the clock run down to zero, Ireland were in possession and one final hail mary of a push to try and win the game in the red.
Patience is a virtue and that's what Ireland went for as the match ticked into a nervy third minute of added time, with the knowledge that one errant pass would end the hopes of a dream semi-final passage.
But that is exactly what happened with the Irish players left standing forlorn and unfortunately just like last October for the XVs, a Stade de France quarter-final proved to be an impassible barrier.
Ranking matches still await for Ireland but sadly that was the end of the medal hopes.
Watch the 2024 Olympic Games with 14 hours of televised action on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player each day. Listen to extensive radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1 and 2fm's Game On and follow each moment from Paris on RTÉ.ie, the RTÉ News app and all RTÉ digital platforms. Listen to the daily RTÉ Sport Olympics Podcast.
