Ireland’s World Cup play-off history
Credit:
If Giovanni Trapattoni wants inspiration for the upcoming matches
against France he might choose to ignore Ireland’s record in previous
play-offs as we have only qualified once in five attempts. However, our
most recent attempt was a success when Mick McCarthy’s side triumphed
in the most hostile conditions against Iran to qualify for Korea and
Japan in 2002.
Although we have never played France before in a play-off, Ireland have played a knock out match in Paris, albeit against Spain. For the 1966 World Cup in England, Ireland were originally drawn in a group with the Spanish and Syria, who promptly dropped out. The group continued with just two teams, Ireland losing 4-1 away and triumphing 1-0 at Dalymount Park. Showing total disregard for goal aggregate a third match was arranged, with the English as hosts suggesting London as a venue. Of course this would have been a virtual home game for the Irish as the Spanish well knew. They proposed the game be played in Paris and offered to pay all the Irish expenses. The FAI in their wisdom agreed and a sizeable advantage was reversed. A young Eamon Dunphy made his debut in a narrow 1-0 defeat and Ireland would have to wait a further 24 years before making their debut at the World Cup finals.
Mick McCarthy was in charge for the France ’98 campaign and during a period of transition the side finished a full 10 points behind Romania in our group. This included a disastrous 3-2 away defeat to Macedonia, a side that would prove to be McCarthy’s nemesis. We faced a decent Belgium side for what proved to be a tight two legged play-off. A superb Dennis Irwin free kick saw us take the lead at Lansdowne Road only for Luc Nillis, once of Aston Villa, to claim a crucial away goal. The return leg in Brussels started poorly for the Irish with Emile Mpenza scoring for the home side. The hero of many famous Irish nights, Ray Houghton, looked to have done it again as he headed an equaliser only for Mpensa to score the winner as the tie finished 3-2 on aggregate.
McCarthy was again at the helm four years later as a Roy Keane inspired side finished level on points with an excellent Portuguese team in group 2. This of course included the famous victory against the Netherlands as Ireland went through the group unbeaten with seven wins and three draws. Avoiding such heavy weights as Germany and the Czech Republic, Ireland were drawn against a somewhat unknown quantity in Iran. We got off to an excellent start winning the home leg 2-0 with Ian Harte and Robbie Keane scoring. One hundred thousand fans in Tehran produced a deafening atmosphere in what the players described as the most hostile of their careers. Ireland held out till injury time but lost 1-0. This turned out to be the only defeat of the entire campaign as we were only knocked out in the last 16 on penalties to Spain in the finals.
If you add in Ireland’s play-off losses to the Dutch for Euro ’95 and to Turkey on away goals for Euro 2000 it all adds up to a poor return. France are undoubtedly the favourites in the upcoming contest but this should show that the play offs can never be taken for granted. Despite their many talented individuals the French team are here after finishing second to Serbia in their group that included a shocking 3-1 loss to Austria. Ireland might look to their unbeaten group campaign as a good omen following on from 2002 and Il Trap might just fancy his chances of causing an upset.
Although we have never played France before in a play-off, Ireland have played a knock out match in Paris, albeit against Spain. For the 1966 World Cup in England, Ireland were originally drawn in a group with the Spanish and Syria, who promptly dropped out. The group continued with just two teams, Ireland losing 4-1 away and triumphing 1-0 at Dalymount Park. Showing total disregard for goal aggregate a third match was arranged, with the English as hosts suggesting London as a venue. Of course this would have been a virtual home game for the Irish as the Spanish well knew. They proposed the game be played in Paris and offered to pay all the Irish expenses. The FAI in their wisdom agreed and a sizeable advantage was reversed. A young Eamon Dunphy made his debut in a narrow 1-0 defeat and Ireland would have to wait a further 24 years before making their debut at the World Cup finals.
Mick McCarthy was in charge for the France ’98 campaign and during a period of transition the side finished a full 10 points behind Romania in our group. This included a disastrous 3-2 away defeat to Macedonia, a side that would prove to be McCarthy’s nemesis. We faced a decent Belgium side for what proved to be a tight two legged play-off. A superb Dennis Irwin free kick saw us take the lead at Lansdowne Road only for Luc Nillis, once of Aston Villa, to claim a crucial away goal. The return leg in Brussels started poorly for the Irish with Emile Mpenza scoring for the home side. The hero of many famous Irish nights, Ray Houghton, looked to have done it again as he headed an equaliser only for Mpensa to score the winner as the tie finished 3-2 on aggregate.
McCarthy was again at the helm four years later as a Roy Keane inspired side finished level on points with an excellent Portuguese team in group 2. This of course included the famous victory against the Netherlands as Ireland went through the group unbeaten with seven wins and three draws. Avoiding such heavy weights as Germany and the Czech Republic, Ireland were drawn against a somewhat unknown quantity in Iran. We got off to an excellent start winning the home leg 2-0 with Ian Harte and Robbie Keane scoring. One hundred thousand fans in Tehran produced a deafening atmosphere in what the players described as the most hostile of their careers. Ireland held out till injury time but lost 1-0. This turned out to be the only defeat of the entire campaign as we were only knocked out in the last 16 on penalties to Spain in the finals.
If you add in Ireland’s play-off losses to the Dutch for Euro ’95 and to Turkey on away goals for Euro 2000 it all adds up to a poor return. France are undoubtedly the favourites in the upcoming contest but this should show that the play offs can never be taken for granted. Despite their many talented individuals the French team are here after finishing second to Serbia in their group that included a shocking 3-1 loss to Austria. Ireland might look to their unbeaten group campaign as a good omen following on from 2002 and Il Trap might just fancy his chances of causing an upset.
