Shay Given last week recalled the moment when Packie Bonner saved that penalty in Italy. How he rode rough-shod around Lifford, blaring car horns signalling the start of the biggest of parties. Given wouldn’t be human, if such thoughts floated in his mind before taking his line for the first penalty.

Penalty shoot-outs are unfair because they transform a team sport into an individual test of nerve. The misery of a miss, the personal ordeal is something players can’t really share with their team. The loneliest soul of all is the goalkeeper. Keepers are never favourites in a shoot-out, any save is a bonus, but they do have the opportunity to become the endearing image of a tournament.

Yesterday, it was Iker Casillas who emerged in lights. Two saves brought his team glory. Shay Given, who has been immense for Ireland the entire tournament, could only watch as the limelight shone on the Spanish keeper: "If I had a bit of luck, maybe I could have been the hero, but it was Casillas’ turn this evening. When it comes down to penalties, it is really all about luck. You can guess the right way, but that doesn’t matter if you don’t have the luck. Casillas saved two, it is a pity he didn’t share one with me."

Given gave another solid performance yesterday, rarely called upon but when he did, he showed why he ranks among the best keepers in the world. His reaction save from Raul deep in the second half summed up his World Cup. Adds to the pity he didn’t emerge as the hero last night.

Harder still to take, when they probably deserved the victory: "We had them rocking for a long period, and I guess probably deserved something more. The lads are a bit down, but some of the older lads like Big Quinny have gotten heads up. We know we did the country proud." His mind goes back to certain stages in the game, when Duffer was annihilating Juanfran and Keane was lurking around the box, and just thinks it could have been so different: "I felt the game was there for the taking, we created chances and probably deserved the victory, but that’s all ifs and buts now, and we can’t dwell on them."

Like if Harte’s penalty had gone in, if Robbie’s early Norman Whiteside-like drive has shaved the inside rather than the outside of the post, if Puyol hadn’t found the space to swing in the cross. With time, so many more will emerge, but it was a night when the 800 Gods of Izumo deserted us, when the luck of the Irish sounded like a hallow cliché.

Most of the plaudits will rest with Duffer come the next few weeks, but we shouldn’t forget Given. He hasn’t forgotten the fans. Again, yesterday, he walked onto the field and his jaw dropped when he realised how many Irish fans had travelled.

His final thoughts on the tournament are positive. "We are coming from this tournament with a lot of credit, we have shown how good some of our players are, like Damien Duff and Robbie Keane. The world has taken notice of Duff, he is a man going places.

"And we have done it while playing great football. We have out-played Spain who were hot favourites before this game and one of the favourites for the tournament."

Doesn’t ease the pain, mind. It won’t help those who missed in their quieter moments. But, it is something to take. Duff, Keane and Given, three names to grace almost any team in the world. Not a bad way to remember the World Cup.