Oleg Protasov

"Danger here! Danger here!" I don't remember much about Ireland v Soviet Union in the Euro 88 Championship in Germany, except that brilliant goal by Ronnie Whelan scroed off his shin, against the great Rinat Dassaiev, and of course Oleg Protasov. He picked up a pass totally unmarked at the edge of the penalty area and slotted home the goal that sank Ireland's hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
Comrade Protasov is in Ireland this week, managing Steua Bucharest.
By the way, the RTE commentator who said "Danger Here" (George Hamilton?) had just said how well the Irish team were playing, when he saw Protasov gaining possession and uttered those famous words.

At the time it was the best ever performance by an Irish team. No question in my mind. A brilliant, though a little fortuitous, goal by Whelan was followed by a totally dominant Irish performance. In today's game Dassaev would have been sent off for a two-footed foul on Stapleton(?) which amazingly didn't even earn a penalty (big team decision). Aldridge then whacked a brilliant cross by Galvin over the bar for what would have been a sensational goal.

George's famous "Danger Here!" line, if I remember right, was along the lines of "and Bonner hasn't conceded an international goal for nearly 13 games now. Oh there's danger here..."

And the stupid nob never learnt from it either. Even in Tel Aviv he said "Roy Keane, he just never gives the ball away" about 2 seconds before RMK gave propably the worst pass of his whole career :)

Agreed that commentating live must be tough but it still doesn't excuse Hamilton always thinking a game is sown up when Ireland (or any other team for that matter) is ahead. To my dying game I'll never forgive him for the last agonising 7 minutes of the Bulgaria vs Scotland game in 1987:

Hamilton: "It's time to crack open the champagne...oh, it's off the post!!" (or as he would now say - "the post saves Ireland".

Hamilton: "Let's open our Deutsche Reise Books..., oh it's cleared off the line".

Hamilton: "Who would have believed it. We're on our way to...oh, just wide".

He wouldn't shut up. I roared at him to shut it but on and on he went with Bulgaria camped in the Scottish half. I still get worked up even thinking about it.

Yes, great performance by Ireland against the Soviet Union. Euro 88: won a game we should have lost; drew a game we should have won; lost a game we should have drawn.

Actually I've seen the Whelan goal a couple of times recently - TV3 and RTE if I remember.

Superb performance. we murdered them but should have won - another moral victory.

Half the Irish fans missed Ronnie's goal due to the Mexican wave - I saw it and I suspect those that missed it are not admitting it anymore.

Highlight for me though was seeing Jimmy Hill sitting high above the massed Irish support in the glass commentary box. i don't recall his exact quote but it was along the lines of 7 strong teams in the finals and England were lucky to draw Eire. Having beaten England 1-0 and 1-0 up and outplaying the Soviets the crowd turned en masse and sang "Are you watching Jimmy Hill?"
Of course he was proved correct only he got the name of the whipping boys wrong.

Blatant penalty denied at 1-0 which would have sealed it.

Although a win would not have meant qualification it would have dealt a huge pyschological blow to the Soviets.

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Originally Posted by gspain

Although a win would not have meant qualification it would have dealt a huge pyschological blow to the Soviets.

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Though a 2-0 win would have seald a semi-final spot I think.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Though a 2-0 win would have seald a semi-final spot I think.

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given that we only needed one point from the Holland game (which would have made 2 points from the 2 games), yes I think a win would have gotten us to the semi's.

There was a good programme on RTE not long ago about Ronnie Whelan.
Went through how he turned C.eltic down at the last minute to sign for
Liverpool cos his Dad told him you might aswell start at the very top cos
its harder to work your way up.

Showed the goal of course, 2 or 3 times :)

Soviets beat Holland and England = 6 pts
Holland beat us and England = 6 pts
We beat England and Soviets = 6 pts

So it would have been tied and the Soviets goals would have been 4-3 (if we beat them 2-0) while ours would have been 3-1 so we would have gone through but not with a 1-0 win.

[
Yes, great performance by Ireland against the Soviet Union. Euro 88: won a game we should have lost; drew a game we should have won; lost a game we should have drawn.[/QUOTE]

Agree with the last 2 points, but we held our own against the english(although they did have a lot of chances that day) remember Ronnie whelan shot hitting the crossbar in the second half.

Big Jack said after the game that we couldn't play our at our best(pressure game) due to the Hot weather!!

Look at my quote!!! Great Day :ball:

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Agreed that commentating live must be tough but it still doesn't excuse Hamilton always thinking a game is sown up when Ireland (or any other team for that matter) is ahead. To my dying game I'll never forgive him for the last agonising 7 minutes of the Bulgaria vs Scotland game in 1987:

Hamilton: "It's time to crack open the champagne...oh, it's off the post!!" (or as he would now say - "the post saves Ireland".

Hamilton: "Let's open our Deutsche Reise Books..., oh it's cleared off the line".

Hamilton: "Who would have believed it. We're on our way to...oh, just wide".

He wouldn't shut up. I roared at him to shut it but on and on he went with Bulgaria camped in the Scottish half. I still get worked up even thinking about it.

Yes, great performance by Ireland against the Soviet Union. Euro 88: won a game we should have lost; drew a game we should have won; lost a game we should have drawn.

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he could take a clue from American Baseball broadcasters,,,,when it looks like a pitcher from either side might pitch a no hitter(maybe 5th, 6th inning) the general rule(superstition actually) is for the broadcasters not to mention anything about it until the pitcher either gives up a hit or pitches the no- hitter.

Results etc of the tournament can be found at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_Eu...onship#Group_2

Lowest crowd by far was at the Ireland vs Soviet Game. I remember it well. A lot of German skinheads giving us dirthy looks in the centre of Hannover and about 30 Soviet supporters at the game (German communists holding Soviet flags).

The neutrals were all looking at the wave going round the ground but I was watching Big Mc throw the ball over to Ronnie - I wonder did they rehearse it in practice ? Doubt it. Thankfully there were no more waves after that.

Must have a look at the video again (although I fear it's Betamax) to hear George's exact words.

According to the banner on dangerhere.com its:

'... and Bonner has gone 165 minutes of these championships without conceding a goal. Oh danger here... '

It was 2 points for a win in those days.

Had we won even 2-0 we were not definitely through as the Soviets would have had a target to beat England by. However had we won the game it would have changed everybody's thinking.

The real "=what if2 was of course what if Helmut Kohl (Austrian linesman) hadn't taken down his offside flag for Wim Kieft's goal.

As for the England game - we were worth the elad for an hour and Ronnie hit the bar on the hour mark. Sure we rode our luck for the last 30 minutes but it was not a one way progression to Packie's goal for 90 minutes as is often quoted.

Magic memories. We got to get back there next summer.

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Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

I can honestly say that day we beat England was one of the happiest days of my life.

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Only "one of"? :)

They were quite heady days indeed. And I don't think we will ever reach that excitment again except maybe if we ever won the World Cup or the Euros as it was our first big championships.

Time for old Joxer:

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Joxer Goes To Stuttgart
It was in the year of '88 in the lovely month of June
When the gadflies were swarming and dogs howling at the moon
With rosary beads and sandwiches for Stuttgart we began
Joxer packed his German phrasebook and jumpleads for the van

Some of the lads had never been away from home before
'Twas the first time Whacker put his foot outside of Inchicore
Before we left for Europe we knew we'd need a plan
So we all agreed that Joxer was the man to drive the van

In Germany the autobahn, 'twas like the Long Mile Road
There was every make of car and van all carrying the full load
Ford Transits and Hiaces and an old Bedford from Tralee
With the engine overheating from longhauling duty free

There was fans from Ballygermot, Ballybough and Ballymun
On the journey of a lifetime, and the crack was ninety-one
Joxer met a German's daughter on the banks of the river Rhine
And he told her she'd be welcome in Ballyfermot any time

As soon as we found Stuttgart we got the wagons in a ring
Sean Og got out the banjo and Peter played the mandolin
There was fans there from everywhere attracted by the sound
At the first Fleadh Ceoil in Europe, and Joxer passed the flagon round

But the session it ended when we'd finished all the stout
The air mattresses inflated and the sleeping bags rolled out
As one by one we fell asleep Joxer had a dream
He dreamt himself and Jack Charlton sat down to pick the team

Joxer dreamt they both agreed on Packie Bonner straightaway
And that Moran, Whelan and McGrath were certainly to play
But tempers they began to rise and patience wearing thin
Jack wanted Cascarino but Joxer wanted Quinn

The dream turned into a nightmare, Joxer stuck the head on Jack
Who wanted to bring Johnny Giles and Eamon Dunphy back
The **** crew in the morning, it crew both loud and shrill
Joxer woke up in his sleeping bag many miles from Arbour Hill

The next morning none of the experts gave us the slightest chance
They said the English team would lead us on a merry dance
With their Union Jacks all them English fans for victory they were set
Until Ray Houghton got the ball and he stuck it in the net

What happened next is history, brought tears to many eyes
That day will be the highlight of many people's lives
Joxer climbed right over the top and the last time he was seen
Was arm in arm with Jack Charlton singing, Revenge for Skibereen

Now Whacker's back in Inchicore, he's living with his mam
And Jack Charlton has been proclaimed an honorary Irishman
Do you remember that German's daughter on the banks of the river Rhine
Well, didn't she show up in Ballyfermot last week and ...

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