Famous Away Days and some Italian Shocks
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Over the last ten years the fortunes of the Irish and Italian national teams could not have been any more different. While the Azzuri have been involved in every European Championship and World Cup over the last decade, Irish fans have only had the memory of seeing ‘The Boys in Green’ at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. On Wednesday night Giovanni Trapatonni returns home to familiar territory as he tries to guide Ireland to South Africa and get a win over Marcello Lippi, the man who replaced him in the Italian hot-seat.
Ireland currently trail Lippi’s men by two points in group eight after Saturday’s one-one draw with Bulgaria at Croke Park. The Italians meanwhile recorded a two-nil win in Montenegro to take charge of the group. A good result in Bari will be a tall ask for Ireland against the World Cup holders as the Azzurri haven’t lost a home qualifier since Denmark beat them 3-2 in September 1999.
That’s not to say that there is no hope for Ireland when they step onto the pitch at the Stadio San Nicola. A look over these results from some of our best away games over the last ten years may even give the most pessimistic fan reason to be quietly confident.
1) Holland 2-2 Ireland (World Cup 2002 Qualifier, September 2000)
The first step on the road to Japan and Korea was at the Amsterdam Arena. At one stage Ireland led by two goals thanks to Robbie Keane and Jason McAteer but the Dutch clawed their way back into the game to share the points
2) Portugal 1-1 Ireland (World Cup 2002 Qualifier, October 2000)
One month after the draw against Holland , Ireland took a giant step towards qualification in Lisbon. Matt Holland was the goal scorer with an equaliser in the 74th minute.
3) Germany 1-1 Ireland (World Cup 2002, June 2002)
Ok so maybe this isn’t technically a proper away game but who can forget Robbie Keane’s injury time equaliser at Kashima. We made Germany, who went on to the final that year, look ordinary in a game that maybe we should have won.
4) Holland 0-1 Ireland (Friendly, June 2004)
Friendlies are meaningless right? They're not when you get an away win over the Dutch in Amsterdam. Robbie Keane’s 45th-minute thunderbolt gave a makeshift Ireland team a surprise but thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory as Ireland picked up two wins in two years over the Dutch.
5) France 0-0 Ireland (World Cup 2006 Qualifier, October 2004)
Brian Kerr’s finest hour came when his side held Les Blues to a scoreless draw in the Stade de France. There have been some notable draws secured by Ireland away from home over the years but given the venue and quality of the opposition, this was as good a performance as we have produced .We really should have taken the three points and claimed a famous victory but didn’t convert our chances.
The Italians have a formidable record in qualifying for major tournaments but that’s not to say that they aren’t capable of slipping up along the way.
Italian Qualifying Shocks
1) Italy 1-1 Belarus (Euro 2000 Qualifier)
2) Hungary 2-2 Italy (World Cup 2002 Qualifier)
3) Lithuania 0-0 Italy (World Cup 2002 Qualifier)
4) Wales 2-1 Italy (Euro 2004 Qualifier)
5) Slovenia 1-0 Italy (World Cup 2006 Qualifier)
6) Italy 1-1 Lithuania (Euro 2008 Qualifier)
Ireland currently trail Lippi’s men by two points in group eight after Saturday’s one-one draw with Bulgaria at Croke Park. The Italians meanwhile recorded a two-nil win in Montenegro to take charge of the group. A good result in Bari will be a tall ask for Ireland against the World Cup holders as the Azzurri haven’t lost a home qualifier since Denmark beat them 3-2 in September 1999.
That’s not to say that there is no hope for Ireland when they step onto the pitch at the Stadio San Nicola. A look over these results from some of our best away games over the last ten years may even give the most pessimistic fan reason to be quietly confident.
1) Holland 2-2 Ireland (World Cup 2002 Qualifier, September 2000)
The first step on the road to Japan and Korea was at the Amsterdam Arena. At one stage Ireland led by two goals thanks to Robbie Keane and Jason McAteer but the Dutch clawed their way back into the game to share the points
2) Portugal 1-1 Ireland (World Cup 2002 Qualifier, October 2000)
One month after the draw against Holland , Ireland took a giant step towards qualification in Lisbon. Matt Holland was the goal scorer with an equaliser in the 74th minute.
3) Germany 1-1 Ireland (World Cup 2002, June 2002)
Ok so maybe this isn’t technically a proper away game but who can forget Robbie Keane’s injury time equaliser at Kashima. We made Germany, who went on to the final that year, look ordinary in a game that maybe we should have won.
4) Holland 0-1 Ireland (Friendly, June 2004)
Friendlies are meaningless right? They're not when you get an away win over the Dutch in Amsterdam. Robbie Keane’s 45th-minute thunderbolt gave a makeshift Ireland team a surprise but thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory as Ireland picked up two wins in two years over the Dutch.
5) France 0-0 Ireland (World Cup 2006 Qualifier, October 2004)
Brian Kerr’s finest hour came when his side held Les Blues to a scoreless draw in the Stade de France. There have been some notable draws secured by Ireland away from home over the years but given the venue and quality of the opposition, this was as good a performance as we have produced .We really should have taken the three points and claimed a famous victory but didn’t convert our chances.
The Italians have a formidable record in qualifying for major tournaments but that’s not to say that they aren’t capable of slipping up along the way.
Italian Qualifying Shocks
1) Italy 1-1 Belarus (Euro 2000 Qualifier)
2) Hungary 2-2 Italy (World Cup 2002 Qualifier)
3) Lithuania 0-0 Italy (World Cup 2002 Qualifier)
4) Wales 2-1 Italy (Euro 2004 Qualifier)
5) Slovenia 1-0 Italy (World Cup 2006 Qualifier)
6) Italy 1-1 Lithuania (Euro 2008 Qualifier)
