Memorable Irish World Cup moments

Ireland will face the Czech Republic in Prague in a single elimination game, with the winner taking on the winner of the game between Denmark and North Macedonia. That playoff decider would be played in Dublin, where the Boys in Green would no doubt receive incredible support to help them progress to the finals.

All the best online sportsbooks are already offering markets on the outcome of the World Cup, and it would be an incredible story if the Republic of Ireland team were part of that, after winning its final three group games to keep hope alive. While we – and every member of the Irish diaspora – nervously await the outcome of those playoff games, we thought we would get in the mood for the tournament by looking back on some memorable Irish World Cup moments.

Robbie Keane last-gasp equalizer

Shockingly (although, perhaps not shockingly if you’ve watched Ireland’s games recently) it has been over 20 years since we made it to a World Cup finals. At the time, Ireland was something of a regular fixture, but the penalty shoot-out loss to Spain in 2002 was the last finals action we have enjoyed – for now, at least.

There had been high drama in the opening stage in Japan, though. Drawn in a tough group, Ireland had managed to draw against Cameroon in the first game, but was losing to Germany in the next match with just seconds to go. Then, Robbie Keane pounced on a Niall Quinn flick and tied the game, keeping hopes alive. A 3-0 win against Saudi Arabia in the concluding group game set up the tough round of 16 matchup with Spain.

Aldridge meltdown

Not all memorable Irish World Cup moments are stunning goals or classic games. Some of them didn’t even happen on the field of play at all. In a foreshadowing of this year’s finals, the 1994 World Cup was hosted by the US, and many of the games were played in intense heat. The high temperature may well have had something to do with what happened in one particular game.

Ireland was losing 2-0 to Mexico in its second group game when legendary manager Jackie Charlton decided to sub John Aldridge on. But a fussy official refused to allow him to go on for several minutes, even though the team was down to ten men. This provoked an expletive-laden tirade from Aldridge – and his manager – all caught perfectly by the TV cameras. Aldridge was eventually allowed on and went on to score a goal that ultimately helped the team progress to the round of 16.

Revenge against Italy

Four years earlier, Ireland was playing in its first-ever World Cup and loving every minute of it. Drawing against England in the first game had set up the tournament nicely, and the Boys in Green made it all the way to the quarterfinals before Toto Schillaci broke Irish hearts by scoring the only goal to knock our team out of the competition.

In 1994, Ireland readied itself for a rematch in the very first group game (before Aldridge’s moment against Mexico). Italy was one of the favorites for the trophy, with a team full of global stars, but it was the defensive work of Paul McGrath and an incredible lobbed goal from Ray Houghton that gave Ireland the victory – in New York, of all places.

Keane and McCarthy bust up

This moment of Irish World Cup history is so iconic that a movie has just been made about it, starring Steve Coogan as Mick McCarthy and Éanna Hardwicke as Roy Keane. We may never know what actually happened in Saipan, but Keane had never seen eye to eye with McCarthy since they were international teammates, and everything came to a head at World Cup 2002.

Keane had decided not to play in Niall Quinn’s testimonial in the months before the tournament – and that had not gone down well with a few of the players and coaches. He then took offence at the admittedly appalling preparations for the 2002 World Cup and spoke his mind in a shocking media interview. Keane went home from Japan without playing a game, and McCarthy left his position a few months later in a startling and unprecedented series of events.

Irish fans everywhere will be dreaming of making more World Cup memories this summer.

Penalty drama

Let’s finish on a positive note, shall we? It is the most memorable Irish World Cup moment, and it happened at the nation’s first-ever finals. We have already detailed how Schillaci and the home nation ended our dreams at Italia 90, but what happened in the round before the quarterfinals will stay in the memory for a very long time.

The group stage had been magical, with a draw against all three of England, Egypt, and the Netherlands. First up in the knockout rounds was Romania, who had progressed from a group including Argentina, the Soviet Union, and Cameroon. Not much happened in the game, though, with 120 minutes not bringing either team a single goal.

The first eight penalties of the shootout were dispatched successfully. Then the legendary Paddy Bonner threw himself to his right and saved Daniel Timofte’s spot kick. The nation held its breath as David O’Leary stepped up to take the decisive penalty. The big central defender placed his attempt perfectly, and Ireland had won through. Ireland’s tournament came to an end just five days later, of course. But if the current team has the opportunity to do anything similar this year, Irish fans will once again enjoy an incredible summer.