Seamus Coleman returns to Stade de France tonight for the first time since a sun-soaked June afternoon in 2016.
Then, the Republic of Ireland began their Euros odyssey in front of a feverish crowd split between vibrant green and fluorescent yellow.
Coleman's will be reacquainted too with that right corner where he jinked and twisted away from two Swedes to set up Wes Hoolahan's memorable opening goal. Great memories, and an experience the Donegal man believes changed the side.
Now, they expect to be in those major tournaments. And that made the World Cup play-off collapse to Denmark all the more painful.
"It was the start of it all," Coleman told RTÉ Sport when recounting that 1-1 draw with Sweden.
"To get out there and see all the green and the yellow... this is the stage we want to be at all the time. They're the days you want to play.
"It's a good thing to see we really are disappointed not to be at this World Cup. Now we expect to be at these tournaments. The Euros gave us a massive feel for it."
Coleman is back now for club and country after a year out with a dreadful injury. His broken leg against Wales in March 2017 was devastating, for the player and his team-mates.
Coleman's steel and fortitude has seen him make a full recovery and though he missed a big chunk of the ultimately unsuccessful attempt to make it to Russia, the Everton defender will be central to Irish hopes of lining up in the Euro 2020 finals.
By then, this Ireland team could have a very different look. New players are being blooded, fresh talent is rising. The pick of the bunch looks like Declan Rice, West Ham's composed and versatile 19-year-old.
Coleman was full of praise for his team-mate.
"Every young Irish player wants to play for their country, to play against the big nations. It's a great test for our lads, the likes of Declan, who's had a great season at West Ham, to step up and show he can handle himself at this level. I've got no doubt that he can and I'm sure the other lads can as well.
"He has all the right tools. He works hard, he's got a great attitude, he wants to learn and the most important thing of all, he's a great player. We're looking forward to him kicking on in the national team.
"Playing Celtic (in last week's testimonial for Scott Brown) was a big stage for a lot of people. To see the reception we got going in, it was a big occasion. The young lads enjoyed that. It's great experience for them."
Hoolahan, Daryl Murphy and now John O'Shea have called time on their international careers. O'Shea will play his last game for Ireland against the USA on Saturday.
Coleman hailed him as "a gentleman" and while he's keen to give his comrade a good send-off, his greater motivation is to reward the Irish faithful - hundreds of whom are in Paris for tonight's friendly with France - for "a special connection".
"John is a gentleman first and foremost," he said.
"I've not come across many people like him. He's such a down to earth, modest human being and someone who'll be massively missed around the changing room.
"Preparation has already started now for the next qualification campaign. We need to make sure we're on it and performing well.
"We're extremely lucky. When people say the fans are the 12th man or whatever it can be cliched. But I definitely think there's a special connection between Irish fans and players.
"We want to make sure we can give them special summers."
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