Foot.ie decides - Ireland's best goal!

[geysir]

McGeady - sublime fortune.

[osarusan]

Changed: McGeady over Doyle.

Hard to find anything between them, but I'll go for Doyle as it was his weaker foot.

EDIT: Changed my mind. McGeady it is, just can't ignore the perfect touches that preceded the strike itself.

[jbyrne]

mcgeady

[SkStu]

McGeady - that touch is softer than a peck on your granny's cheek.

[nigel-harps1954]

Doyle for me.

The McGeady goal was special, something we all wanted to see more from a player who probably never really scaled the heights he should have, but Doyles was just incredible off his weaker left foot, from that distance, with that power, out of absolutely nothing, it's world class in every sense of the word.

[seanfhear]

Doyle for Me; Cracker.

[pineapple stu]

No good guys - ends 9-3 to McGeady. That was way more decisive than I thought it would be, albeit that it seems to be a consensus that McGeady's was just better rather than an easy/clear decision.

So one last quarter-final remains. A clash of styles - a well-worked goal against the ultimate route one effort. The first effort is Shane Long v Germany, 2015

Group - Winner Group L, ahead of Ashley Grimes H v Spain 1982, Shane Long v England 2013, Andy Keogh H v Serbia 2008, and Ronnie Whelan A v Luxembourg 1987
Last 32 - won 10-1 v Robbie Keane A v Holland, 2000
Last 16 - won 7-4 v Ray Houghton N v Italy, 1994


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJup10szLr0

[pineapple stu]

And the final goal left - Jason McAteer A v Holland, 2000. The one that won the World Cup for us (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=auoToogktZQ&feature=emb_logo).

Group - Winner Group J ahead of Liam Lawrence H v South Africa 2009, Michael Robinson H v Holland 1982, Gary Breen N v Saudi Arabia 2002, and Niall Quinn A v Macedonia 1999
Last 32 - won 7-3 v Mark Kennedy H v Yugoslavia 1999
Last 16 - won 10-1 v Robbie Keane H v Israel 2005


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVV-f9LoSLw&t=2m28s
Time is 2:28; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVV-f9LoSLw&t=2m28s).

[NeverFeltBetter]

Breaking my heart with this choice. I just love Long's goal so much: as I said before it's the confidence of it, to the take the ball down, power forward and then get such a sweet strike past the keeper, all against arguably the best team in the world at the time. It was the ultimate "**** you" to the conservative, play-for-a-draw, "what do you expect, we're ****" mediocrity that defined much of the previous years.

But that being said, have to go with McAteer. A double back-heel that tears apart the Dutch, and then a brilliant finish, just can't be denied. Like with Long's, it showcases a confidence in the side that could have seen them go far if they'd been able to avoid certain, later, catastrophes.

[DeLorean]

McAteer. Easy enough choice even though I voted against it in the last round.

[osarusan]

McAteer. Team goal beats a punt from the keeper.

[seanfhear]

McAteer even though Shane Long’s goal was a cracker.

Some Lovely touches in the build up to McAteers Goal. Football is Lovely when the Poetry comes Together !

[Eirambler]

McAteer - easy one. Don't think Long's goal should be anywhere near the last 8 to be honest, just a long punt and a decent shot.

[tetsujin1979]

McAteer. He loves scoring against the Dutch.

[EAFC_rdfl]

McAteer, and that should leave a perfect semi final lineup of lefties! Such a deft flick from big Niall

[Stuttgart88]

McAteer > Long, just because it was the better goal.

[DeLorean]

McAteer, and that should leave a perfect semi final lineup of lefties! Such a deft flick from big Niall

And none of the players are actually left footed?

[pineapple stu]

McAteer - easy one. Don't think Long's goal should be anywhere near the last 8 to be honest, just a long punt and a decent shot.
Funny - I think it should have gone out in the last 32 alright (much and all as I've said here I love the goal for its simplicity). Had it done so, this quarter-final would probably have been the two goals from that 2-2 Holland game paired against each other. That would have been a tough choice!

[passinginterest]

McAteer, one of my absolute favourites. Great build up and a great strike. Central mid carrying the ball forward, playing it off to an advancing full back, a delicate scoopy pass into a forward, who flicks it to his strike partner and it's layed on perfectly for the winger cutting in. It's a lovely example of effective possession and attacking play to open up space for a chance. The two front players staying close and pulling to the one side is what opens the big space in the middle of the defence to create the shooting opportunity. If Keane hadn't been body checked, there was probably going to be an alternative option to slide a through ball into his path behind the defence.

[geysir]

Shane Long for me, hot on the heels after whupping Robbie's goal from the same game in an earlier round.
Shane held his nerve, exercised a Uri Geller like mind control over the flight of the ball, one touch then hit the perfect shot past Neuer.
Favoured more for that he avoided about 10 pitfalls to land into ignomy

[SkStu]

McAteer - we carved them apart better than a turkey at Christmas.

[jbyrne]

mcateer, although think the keane goal in the same game is a better team goal

[pineapple stu]

No contest there - 11-1 for McAteer, and we have our last four.

Ronnie Whelan N v USSR 1988
Alan McLoughlin A v Northern Ireland 1993
Jason McAteer A v Holland 2000
Aiden McGeady A v Georgia 2014

Not only four lefties, but not a single home goal left either.

The semis will start on Monday, with the final next Thursday. In the meantime, the question is - are the last four correct? I think McLoughlin v the North is the only real outlier; I think I'd have voted against it in each of the knock-outs tbh.

[Fixer82]

McLoughlin lucky to be there. I think if you asked most Irish fans to name their top 5 Irish goals, he wouldn’t be near there.
Sheedy and Houghton would feature heavily.

[Eirambler]

Four goals from four different decades as well, so I guess we now know what our best goal in each decade was...although I would personally still probably go for Kennedy v Yugoslavia as our best goal of the 1990s.

[Fixer82]

Four goals from four different decades as well, so I guess we now know what our best goal in each decade was...although I would personally still probably go for Kennedy v Yugoslavia as our best goal of the 1990s.

Agree!

[pineapple stu]

OK - an hour or so later than planned, but time to start the business end of things. Semis today and tomorrow, 3rd/4th place play-off on Weds, and the final on Thurs. Same rules as before.

First up, the outsider v the favourite. Any chance of an of-the-era Ireland-like upset? The first goal is Alan McLoughlin A v Northern Ireland, 1993

Record to date -
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
Last 8 - won 9-4 v Glenn Whelan H v Italy, 2009


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).[/QUOTE]

[pineapple stu]

And also up today, it's Ronnie Whelan N v USSR, 1988

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
Last 8 - won 9-2 v Matt Holland A v Portugal 2000


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

[Stuttgart88]

Just so it's not a whitewash, I'm going for McLoughlin again. I love that goal in a way I just can't love Whelan's as much.

[Eirambler]

Has to be Whelan. As I think I posted in one of the earlier rounds McLoughlin's wasn't even the best goal in that game.

[tetsujin1979]

Whelan, it's a goal few Irish players could attempt, never mind score

[passinginterest]

As much as I love McLoughlin's goal, it has to be Whelan. It's proper footballing genius.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Still slightly prefer McLoughlin's myself.

[Fixer82]

Whelan!

[Eminence Grise]

Ronnie for me. I could watch that on a endless loop and be very, very happy.

[geysir]

Ronnie Whelan for me, it was that kind of goal that had all of Europe standing up and cheering.

It was a lovely shot from McLoughlin after he was given so much time by a distracted/tiring defence he could have written his name on the ball.

[DeLorean]

I love the McLoughlin goal and what it meant, but I'll go for Whelan here.

[EAFC_rdfl]

McLaughlin, going for the underdog here

[jbyrne]

whelan for me

[pineapple stu]

So the favourite marches on - Ronnie Whelan into the final on a scoreline of 8-3. Alan McLoughlin has the consolation of the third-fourth place play-off to come.

The second semi is maybe a harder tie to predict. First up is 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
Last 8 - won 9-3 v Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia 2007


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

[pineapple stu]

And it's up against Jason McAteer A v Holland 2000

Group - Winner Group J ahead of Liam Lawrence H v South Africa 2009, Michael Robinson H v Holland 1982, Gary Breen N v Saudi Arabia 2002, and Niall Quinn A v Macedonia 1999
Last 32 - won 7-3 v Mark Kennedy H v Yugoslavia 1999
Last 16 - won 10-1 v Robbie Keane H v Israel 2005
Last 8 - won 11-1 v Shane Long H v Germany 2015


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVV-f9LoSLw&t=2m28s
Time is 2:28; time-stamped link is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVV-f9LoSLw&t=2m28s).

[DeLorean]

McGeady. The way he dealt with the pass, the spin, the ridiculous touch to take it out of his feet and the timing. De Boer's contribution takes a good bit way from McAteer's for me.

[Stuttgart88]

Tough one. The fact that McAteer's was against a Dutch team that had demolished Yugoslavia only a few months earlier at Euro 2000, and was in Amstrerdam Arena should count for a lot, but for sheer technique and raw brilliance I think McGeady's is better. It's a shame it was "only" Georgia away, albeit a last minute winner. Both were televisually beautiful (though I saw McAteer's live). But I'll go with McGeady. Just technically brilliant.

[passinginterest]

McAteer for me. McGeady's is a lovely individual piece of skill but McAteer's combines a couple of nice pieces of skill, a decent build up and a great finish.

[tetsujin1979]

McGeady's finish is better, possible one of the best ever, but the build up to McAteer's goal is far better, and against much more difficult opposition.
I'm going with McGeady, just. Like Whelan's goal, it's a finish few Irish players could attempt, let alone score from.

[NeverFeltBetter]

McAteer edges it for me, based on the strength of the opposition and the larger distance on the finish.

[ltfc_2004]

I would say McAteer based on build up, quality of team and the finish .

[geysir]

The choice is McGeady - just perfect.

For McAteer at this level - minor reductive points for the lackadaisical Dutch defence. Only one back pass not two in the build up, therefore an over hype element, a sporting myth that Ireland managed to put two back passes together in the same move.

[Eirambler]

Dammit geysir I've spent the last 20 years happily believing that there was a double back heel in the build up to McAteer's goal but, yes, you can clearly see in the last replay that the touch to McAteer came from a Dutch defender.

No such issue with McGeady's goal, it was technically brilliant and entirely intentional. So McGeady it is.

[seanfhear]

The choice is McGeady - just perfect.

For McAteer at this level - minor reductive points for the lackadaisical Dutch defence. Only one back pass not two in the build up, therefore an over hype element, a sporting myth that Ireland managed to put two back passes together in the same move.Back Heels Surely ! !