Foot.ie decides - Ireland's best goal!

[nigel-harps1954]

Houghton/McAteer.

The other two were both good goals in their own right, but just two far superior finishes, and the build up for McAteer in particular is sublime.

[DeLorean]

Looks like I'm on my own with Robbie Keane's goal. :o
I think the build up to McAteer's is being overstated slightly. I mean, it's a loose tackle from de Boer that puts it into McAteer's path, it just so happens to look like a lovely flick from Robbie on some of the angles. But whatever. :p

[Fixer82]

Looks like I'm on my own with Robbie Keane's goal. :o
I think the build up to McAteer's is being overstated slightly. I mean, it's a loose tackle from de Boer that puts it into McAteer's path, it just so happens to look like a lovely flick from Robbie on some of the angles. But whatever. :p

I love that there was a back heel in the build-up to both goals in Amsterdam.

Also, look at the difference in how the two Keanes react to being fouled in the build-up to both McAteer goals V Holland.

In Lansdowne Road RMK got taken out by Jaap Stam and just got on with it. Robbie barely got touched and disengaged from the play holding his face. I think that's one of the reasons Robbie isn't lauded as much as he deserves.

[geysir]

Also that it happened in Amsterdam to the Dutch, from a team who once hoofed and huffed now handing the Dutch the humiliating equivalent of the double nutmeg.

[pineapple stu]

So the last 16 comes to an end - Shane Long H v Germany, 2015 triumphs over Ray Houghton N v Italy, 1994 on a 7-4 scoreline, while it was more convincing in the other tie, where Jason McAteer A v Holland, 2000 hammered Robbie Keane H v Israel, 2005 by a score of 10-1.

So of the last 16, the goals in bold have progressed

Ronnie Whelan N v USSR, 1988 (the only finals goals remaining)
Alan McLoughlin A v Northern Ireland, 1993
Ray Houghton N v Italy, 1994
Jason McAteer A v Holland, 2000
Matt Holland A v Portugal, 2000
Jason McAteer H v Holland, 2001
Matt Holland N v Cameroon, 2002
Andy Reid H v Cyprus, 2004
Ian Harte H v Israel, 2005
Robbie Keane H v Israel, 2005
Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia, 2007
Glenn Whelan H v Italy, 2009 (the only group runner-up left; Kevin Doyle v Slovakia topped that group)
Darron Gibson H v Wales, 2011
Aiden McGeady A v Georgia, 2014
Shane Long H v Germany, 2015
Wes Hoolahan N v Sweden, 2016

First quarter-final pairing up on Monday morning!

[Eirambler]

Interesting that there is no Robbie Keane goal in the last 8. A great goalscorer for Ireland more so than a scorer of great goals?

[pineapple stu]

He had more goals than anyone in the last 32, strangely.

I think the Holland 2000 goal deserves to be still in (over Long's goal). And the Israel one was a lively finish which was unlucky to come up against an iconic goal (which Keane was involved in)

I think it shows how few nicely-worked goals we score (or how little they're appreciated!) The Holland header is a perfect example - simple finish, but a lovely move.

[pineapple stu]

A lovely morning to get the last 8 underway so! Just the one tie per day this week. Not sure if adding the extra voting time added much - it felt it slowed the thread down more than anything - so I'll go back to 24 hours for these ties. Result of this one tomorrow morning, and the next tie up at the same time.

First up is Glenn Whelan H v Italy 2009. Progress so far -

Group - Runner-up Group A behind Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia 2007, but ahead of Liam Miller H v Sweden, 2006, John O'Shea A v Germany, 2014, Robbie Brady A v Bosnia, 2015 and Niall Quinn A v Wales, 1991
Last 32 - won 13-0 v Paul McGrath H v Luxembourg, 1987
Last 16 - won 7-6 v Wes Hoolahan N v Sweden, 2016


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OWV5omYkyQ

[pineapple stu]

And he's up against Alan McLoughlin A v Northern Ireland, 1993. Which one will go through to the semis?

Progress so far -

Group - Winner Group H ahead of Kevin Doyle H v Andorra 2010, Robbie Keane H v Denmark, 2002, James McClean H v Uruguay, 2017, Roy Keane H v Hungary, 1993 and Gary Waddock H v Holland, 1983
Last 32 - won 9-4 v Liam Brady H v France, 1977
Last 16 - won 7-6 v Jason McAteer H v Holland, 2001


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp9Bt18Rvv4&t=1m30s
Time is 1:30; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp9Bt18Rvv4&t=1m30s).

[pineapple stu]

As always, reasons encouraged as the voting gets harder!

[NeverFeltBetter]

Still have to go with McLoughlin. The pressure, the atmosphere, and he's able to take the ball down and a hit a sweet volley through a crowd of players. Whelan's goal is impressive, but he has more time and space to take the shot, and I'd say it was a practiced routine.

[jbyrne]

mcloughlin

[passinginterest]

McLoughlin as well. Couldn't be more in the corner, good skill to take it down and a really sweet strike, through a crowd of players and under immense pressure. Whelan's is nice, but it's not the same level of skill (and more to the point should have been knocked out in the last round!).

[DeLorean]

McLoughlin too - getting knocked out in that setting doesn't bear thinking about. And it just so happens to be a really good goal too.

[Stuttgart88]

Alan Mc, excellent in both quality and context

[Fixer82]

Whelan.

Unstoppable shot to beat one of the world's best keepers. Totally unexpected.

[EAFC_rdfl]

McLaughlin, because you can't beat a left footed half volley!

[Eminence Grise]

McLoughlin.

Whelan's was a peach, beautifully struck first time against one of the great keepers. But in the pressure of that Windsor Park environment, McLoughlin's presence of mind to chest it down, watch and wait for it to sit up... that's a rare combination of nerve, self-assurance and skill. (In an Irish jersey anyway!)

[SkStu]

McLoughlin

[geysir]

I'll go Whelan

Importance of game doesn't matter, the pressure in both games was almost equal. McLaughlin did very well to control & strike but the defending was poor in allowing him plenty of time to do it and there was a 1m wide passage through the phalanx players to direct his shot.
Whelan's goal - the move was deliberate and every part of it was inch perfect.

[DeLorean]

I'll go Whelan

Importance of game doesn't matter, the pressure in both games was almost equal. McLaughlin did very well to control & strike but the defending was poor in allowing him plenty of time to do it and there was a 1m wide passage through the phalanx players to direct his shot.
Whelan's goal - the move was deliberate and every part of it was inch perfect.

The importance of the game matters if the voter decides it matters. :)

In reality, it didn't make a whole pile of difference whether we won or lost that Italian game. Our playoff spot was secure and it was highly unlikely we'd overtake Italy for top spot. We were twelve minutes from certain elimination when McLoughlin equalised, in arguably the most hostile atmosphere and one of the most high stakes match a Republic of Ireland team had been involved in. Not sure how the pressure could have been almost equal.

[seanfhear]

McLoughlin. For the times that was in It !

[osarusan]

Whelan. Farther out against a better keeper and a more organised defence.

[nigel-harps1954]

Whelan for me. One of the more outstanding goals in this generation of Ireland players. McLaughlin goal was special, and the occasion lifts it significantly, but cannot overlook Whelan scoring a worldie against one of the top goalkeepers ever in his prime.

[geysir]

The importance of the game matters if the voter decides it matters. :)

In reality, it didn't make a whole pile of difference whether we won or lost that Italian game. Our playoff spot was secure and it was highly unlikely we'd overtake Italy for top spot. We were twelve minutes from certain elimination when McLoughlin equalised, in arguably the most hostile atmosphere and one of the most high stakes match a Republic of Ireland team had been involved in. Not sure how the pressure could have been almost equal.

Imo, in this example the importance of game doesn't matter in relation to the quality of the goals as the pressure in both games was almost equal, just how much was Croke Park rocking in the opening minutes of that game, do you not remember? The difference in importance of the result of course was huge, no question about that.
But I don't let that petty emotion about that fact cloud my judgement :) about the rarely executed, all in one motion perfect pass and strike as apposed to NI's questionable defending and a passage way almost bigger than the parting of the red sea. Ask Ealing Green I'm sure he would agree with me for once.

[pineapple stu]

A late rally for Whelan is all in vain; Alan McLoughlin A v Northern Ireland, 1993 takes it on a 9-4 scoreline and is our first semi-finalist.

Whelan gets a chance at revenge next, although a different Whelan. Ronnie Whelan N v USSR, 1988 is first up today.

Group - Winner Group C ahead of James McClean A v Wales 2017, Kevin Sheedy N v England 1990, Keith Andrews A v Italy 2011, Robbie Keane N v Saudi Arabia 2002, and Kevin O'Callaghan H v Malta 1983.
Last 32 - won 12-0 v Kevin Doyle H v Andorra 2010
Last 16 - won 9-2 v Matt Holland N v Cameroon 2002


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3l5zUw8vGM

[pineapple stu]

And also potential revenge on the other side of this draw - after Ronnie Whelan knocked out Matt Holland in the last round, he's up against Matt Holland again in this round. This time it's Matt Holland A v Portugal, 2000.

Group - Winner Group M ahead of Robbie Keane H v Yugoslavia 1999, Niall Quinn A v England 1991, John Aldridge N v Mexico 1994 and Mark Lawrenson A v Scotland 1987
Last 32 - won 8-3 v Robbie Keane A v France 2009
Last 16 - won 10-1 v Darron Gibson H v Wales 2011


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_9f5-6Bvc0

[DeLorean]

Imo, in this example the importance of game doesn't matter in relation to the quality of the goals as the pressure in both games was almost equal, just how much was Croke Park rocking in the opening minutes of that game, do you not remember? The difference in importance of the result of course was huge, no question about that.
But I don't let that petty emotion about that fact cloud my judgement :) about the rarely executed, all in one motion perfect pass and strike as apposed to NI's questionable defending and a passage way almost bigger than the parting of the red sea. Ask Ealing Green I'm sure he would agree with me for once.

I remember the atmosphere alright, it belied the dead rubber it essentially was. :) Being spurred on my your own support is generally seen as beneficial though, incomparable to what we faced at Windsor. McLoughlin's equaliser was only four minutes after we were rocked by Jimmy Quinn's outrageous goal too of course, in a game of few chances it felt like curtains.

As for the quality of the goals themselves, I wouldn't argue that point too much, personal preference of course. I'm not sure NI's organisation levels could be questioned too much on the night though, and their commitment to spoil was off the charts given the motivation they had. We basically had to maximise the one half chance we got, and McLoughlin did that clinically. Italy were caught napping in a way I suspect they might not have been had the stakes been higher.

[DeLorean]

I'll go Matt Holland this time. A better goal than his Cameroon effort imo, and I just find it difficult to put the shinner aspect of Ronnie's to one side.

[osarusan]

Whelan over Holland. "Not even the best goalkeeper in the world could keep that one out".

Shinned or not, acrobatic volleys from the edge of the box into the top corner don't come along very often at all. Bonus marks for being willing to even try it. I expect this goal to win the whole thing.

[EAFC_rdfl]

Whelan, all the best goals are scored with the left boot/shin

[Eirambler]

Whelan for me. Holland's was good but Whelan's was another level above it.

[Stuttgart88]

Holland for me.

[passinginterest]

Ronnie Whelan, no doubts, I don't care if it was his shin or not, an awful lot of overheads end up coming off the shin, it doesn't take away from the acrobatics and improvisation needed to pull it off. Holland's is a good goal, but those type of strikes are ten a penny really.

[jbyrne]

r whelan

[NeverFeltBetter]

Has to be Whelan. Shin or no, the acrobatic nature of it is spectacular, and points to a confidence in the player and the side that has become increasingly rare. Holland's is a great goal, though the defending is rather lax from Portugal, you can even sort of see him start when he realises the space he has been given in front of him. From that distance I would always fault a keeper for not saving a shot too.

[paul_oshea]

Whelan all day for me.

[DeLorean]

Ronnie Whelan, no doubts, I don't care if it was his shin or not, an awful lot of overheads end up coming off the shin, it doesn't take away from the acrobatics and improvisation needed to pull it off. Holland's is a good goal, but those type of strikes are ten a penny really.

It's a strong case. I was happy to fly solo on Keane v McAteer but I feel a bit silly here - I'll change my vote to Whelan please PStu. ;)
(if only UEFA could discard the behind the goal angle of Whelan's though I'd be a lot happier).

[pineapple stu]

Done!

Ronnie racing into a huge lead here. It is hard to see who'll stop him alright.

I watched back the USSR game there at the weekend actually - never realised that the reason we had a throw in the first place was because of an appalling clearance from a Soviet defender. It was so bad it fooled the cameraman, who thought it was a hoof up to half-way, and then you see the ball drop with backspin just on the edge of shot, becaus he'd sliced it under no pressure at all.

You can see it at 37:55 here (https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3fp9sy), with original, slightly dismayed, Russian commentary.

[Fixer82]

Whelan.
Ridiculous goal.
Throw-in, sideways jump, goal, forward jump to celebrate

[SkStu]

Holland: Filthy strike. Couldn't be any sweeter if you dipped it in a pint of nutella.

Whelan: Shinner.

Holland it is.

[pineapple stu]

Another 9-2 win in the second quarter-final so - this time to Ronnie Whelan N v USSR 1988.

The third quarter should be a lot tighter going on previous comments though - so vote carefully!

In the red corner, we have Aiden McGeady A v Georgia 2014

Group - winner Group B ahead of Robbie Keane A v Holland 2004, Steve Staunton H v USSR 1990, Ray Houghton N v England 1988, Andy Townsend H v Northern Ireland 1993, and Robbie Keane N v Nigeria 2009
Last 32 - won 11-0 v Matt Holland A v Estonia 2001
Last 16 - won 11-0 v Andy Reid H v Cyprus 2005


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHjf0nWN0_0

[pineapple stu]

And in the blue corner, it's Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia 2007. Only one can go through...

Group - Winner Group A ahead of Glenn Whelan H v Italy 2009, Liam Miller H v Sweden 2006, Robbie Brady A v Bosnia 2015, John O'Shea A v Germany 2014, and Niall Quinn A v Wales 1991
Last 32 - won 9-2 v Robbie Keane A v Holland, 2004
Last 16 - won 11-0 v Ian Harte H v Israel, 2005


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vVu9Q2EgHc

[Fixer82]

McGeady.


Never seen an Irish player score a goal like it. Incredible skill

[passinginterest]

Now that's a very tough one to call. A little more finesse from McGeady and raw power from Doyle. I'm torn, my yellow belly loyalties might be clouding things too. I think I have to go McGeady, the turn just nicks it with the addition of the precision finish.

[tetsujin1979]

McGeady, don't think any other player in the squad could have scored that goal.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'll go with Doyle, I just find it a bit more impressive. Wrong foot, not a huge pullback, but that ball just powers into the net. I can't even fault the keeper it goes so fast past him. McGeady's is great all the same, but think Doyle's is a little bit better.

[Stuttgart88]

This one could be the final.

McGeady beats Doyle 9-8 on penalties.

[DeLorean]

McGeady for much the same reason as Tets. The commentators often say "it'll take a moment of genius or a mistake to win this game", but we rarely get the moment of genius, and Ireland very, very rarely get it. :)

But yes, Doyle's deserved at least top four finish.

[Eirambler]

Really tough one.

I'm going to go for McGeady. My reasoning is that if I tried to do what Doyle did 100 times I reckon I might score the same goal he did once or twice in the 100 goes. But I could be there for a year and I wouldn't be able to do what McGeady did, a really brilliant piece of individual skill.