Originally Posted by
OwlsFan
Yes, it is the usual stuff about us being the best in the world and would have won Euro 88 and the World Cup twice except for Jack.
As a matter of interest let's compare the English team (which did badly by the way) that we beat in Euro 88 with our "world beaters". I have highlighted the players whom I think were better:
ENGLAND: Shilton (Derby); Stevens (Everton). Wright (Derby), Adams (Arsenal) Sansom (Arsenal), Webb (Notts Forest), Robson (Manchester Utd), Waddle (Tottenham), Beardsley (Liverpool), Lineker (Barcelona), Barnes (Liverpool).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Bonner (Celtic), Morris (Celtic), McCarthy (Celtic), Moran (Manchester Utd), Hughton (Tottenham), Houghton (Liverpool), McGrath (Manchester Utd), Whelan (Liverpool), Galvin (Sheffield Wed), Aldridge (Liverpool), Stapleton (Derby)
Our bias aside, England had the better side on paper (Frank S was nearing the end of his illustrious career). Some debatable (e.g. Moran vs Adams) but I think subjectively I am correct.
No matter how often Dunphy and Laughing Bill say it, we had a good team but it was not a world beating team. The Dutch were a class ahead of every other team in that tournament but if you repeat things often enough, some muppets will believe it.