No one admired their team, but their fans. It's not up to them where to set the bar. They are fans, and what they need to do as fans is to cheer for their team till the last second and this IS admirable. Compare them with Real fans. It's 50th minute and they are losing, the whole stadium is booing the team. This is what losers do. Irish fans barely make troubles, they are there to support their team. If they win the enjoy and celebrate, if not, they acknowledge the fact that they haven't been good enough. To be good enough is not their duty. Their duty is to support their team, weak or strong and that's why the majority praise them.