**Football Daily | San Marino Makes History and Achieves Nations League Vindication** As any seasoned Irish football fan can recall, Liechtenstein has a reputation for being a challenging destination. Back in June 1995, Jack Charlton led a Republic of Ireland team, ranked ninth in the world, to this small nation for a Euro 96 qualifier. They faced a squad of part-timers, which included a banker, a draughtsman, a wine grower, a mechanic, a builder, and, of course, a postman. The only professional player on the Liechtenstein team was Mario Frick. The match took place at the modest Sportpark-Eschen Mauren, which has a capacity of just 4,500. The stadium was packed, mostly with Irish fans who anticipated an easy victory. However, they were left stunned as the match ended in a scoreless draw, with Ireland failing to convert any of their 40 shots on goal against a team that was essentially a ski resort. The mention of the 90s BBC lunchtime quiz show "Turnabout" led me down a YouTube rabbit hole, searching for old episodes that coincided with my sixth form and university days. To my surprise, I stumbled upon a comment from two years ago stating, “Guardian Football Weekly has brought me here.” It made me wonder if we were recycling old content, which seems to align with a broader green initiative. This month has seen some bizarre occurrences: Donald Trump has been reelected, Gary Lineker is out of a job, Mike Tyson appears surprisingly calm, and Scotland is winning matches both at home and away, despite not being featured on television anymore. Is this a sign of a rift in the very fabric of the space-time continuum? In response to the "Memory Lane" segment from yesterday’s Football Daily, one reader humorously noted that the individual with the bass guitar might be emulating Hendrix by playing a right-handed bass left-handed, or perhaps the drinks at the Hilton were significantly stronger than what professional footballers are served today. This is just a glimpse of our daily football email, Football Daily. For the complete version, be sure to check out our subscription page and follow the instructions.

**Football Daily | Damien Duff, Shelbourne, and an ‘Absolutely Hollywood’ Finish** With two Premier League titles, two League Cups, and over 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland under his belt, one might think that guiding Shelbourne to the Irish title would rank low on Damien Duff’s list of footballing accomplishments—perhaps somewhere between winning the Community Shield and experiencing relegation with Fulham. However, Duff's journey with Shelbourne is far more significant than it may initially appear. Once labeled as “the problem child” of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) by former chief John Delaney—who himself was often more problematic than the tournament he criticized—the League of Ireland Premier Division has long been viewed as a quaint but underfunded league. This perception is not entirely unfounded, as the league has suffered from chronic financial neglect by both its governing body and the government, which has shown little interest in fostering its growth. Despite these challenges, the league has seen a resurgence in popularity, particularly with the arrival of Duff, affectionately known as “Duffer.” His presence has helped draw attention to the league, competing for the interest of Irish sports fans against better-funded alternatives. As Duff continues to lead Shelbourne, the narrative surrounding the league is evolving, showcasing the potential for growth and excitement in Irish football.