Stuttgart, Giants Stadium, Ibaraki. Destinations and place names that instantly strike a chord with Irish football fans.
From Ray Houghton’s header to beat England at Euro ‘88, followed up by his winner against Italy in 1994, and on to Robbie Keane’s late equaliser against Germany at the 2002 World Cup.
In more recent times, the French north-eastern city of Lille has joined that particular list, when Robbie Brady raced on to Wes Hoolahan’s sublime ball to head home past Salvatore Sirigu to secure the win against Italy.
However, before that match-winning header – two years before – another famous strike played a major role in setting Ireland on their way to qualifying for that particular tournament in the summer of ’16.
Seventy-odd minutes into Martin O’Neill’s third competitive game as Ireland manager, the Derry native watched on as his team were being out-played by the reigning World Cup champions.
The hosts were leading 1-0 and while they were not creating too many real goalscoring opportunities, they were certainly looking very comfortable against an average, albeit depleted Ireland side as the game entered the final phases.
The ever-creative, if often under-utilised Hoolahan was thrown on as Ireland looked to grab an unlikely point, and while the team in green might have settled for another moral victory in defeat under the previous regime, the emerging, O’Neill-influenced Irish were starting to show a return to character on the international scene.
The game changed and suddenly Ireland were not only matching the world champions but putting increased pressure on the German goal.
And when it finally arrived, as a stretching John O'Shea guided the ball into the corner of the net with the game already four minutes into injury time, neither the home side could complain, nor the visiting fans believe.
Following a disastrous showing at Euro 2012 and failure to qualify for the World Cup in 2014, the road to Euro 2016 suddenly became both realistic and achievable.
That was Gelsenkirchen. O’Shea’s finest moment for the Republic of Ireland.
The Waterford native is stepping away from international football following seventeen years of dedicated service and more than a century of well-earned caps.
The former Manchester United defender is calling it a day and will be honourably discharged from active duty following the upcoming international friendly with the USA on 2 June at the Aviva Stadium.
And Martin O’Neill took some time to pay tribute to the departing defender, speaking about O’Shea’s influence with younger players in the squad, while also helping the manager personally throughout the early stages of his international tenure.
"I’ve worked with him now for a couple of years and he is a true gentleman, sometimes a little bit bashful and other times he has plenty to say," O’Neill told RTÉ Sport, speaking at the SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Leinster Finals in the MDL Grounds in Navan.
"He’s just been a top-class player. Not only for Ireland, getting 100 caps but also he will be mainly associated with Manchester United and being part of that very successful side that they had for a number of years."
Of course, O’Neill’s eyes lit up while reminiscing about that O’Shea strike to secure the point in Germany.
"What a goal, and just in the last minute of the match to grab a draw. Every point was vital and that was as big a goal as any we scored in the qualifying campaign."
If there were regrets from the Ireland manager, it was only that he didn’t manage O’Shea in his prime while he was part of the all-conquering Manchester United team.
"I think in one sense, it’s a bit like Robbie Keane, I wish I had him when he was absolutely and utterly in his prime.
"I’m not saying John was on the decline, far from it, but it would have been nice to have had him in his mid-twenties.
"But he was influential, as was Robbie Keane, always wanting to help the young players and I think that was a big factor.
"He had a good influence on the side, and that was very, very important, particularly at the early stages of my time here."
O’Neill also believes that the 37-year-old has the right mentality and undoubted pedigree to maintain a career in coaching or managing when he finally hangs up his boots.
"I think he is taking his coaching badges. I think there is a bit of steel about him as well.
"One never knows who will become a top-class manager or top-class coach but I think he wants to do it and I think that he will be good at it."
While that Dublin encounter with the USA will be O’Shea’s swansong in green, the Ireland manager admitted that he would like some of the other recently retired players to come along to be part of the occasion next month.
"I was hoping that Wes would come to Dublin to at least be there because he played a big part in proceeding with us getting to the Euros and matches in the Euros too. The game against Sweden was probably the best game he ever played.
"Big Daryl Murphy scored a couple of very important goals for us too, and he has retired."
Speculation in relation to other players retiring ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifiers has offered little return, as Glenn Whelan has been named in the squad and the Aston Villa midfielder is expected to join up with the senior side once his club have completed their upcoming play-off schedule.
"Sometimes players retire themselves as John has done, while sometimes others get retired by not being picked. But I don’t think it is my job to tell players when to retire. Whether they end up getting picked or not is something that we may look at again.
"Glenn hasn’t said anything to me and whatever Glenn decides to do, I will abide with.
"Has anyone else intimated at this stage? The answer is no."
