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McAteer in Amsterdam was one of the best goals we have ever scored imho. Keane's opener that night was quality too, and deserved.
Long beats Houghton. It wasn't a thing of beauty. I do actually think the touch with his knee to bring the ball under control was deliberate and the finish was emphatic, leaving the best keeper in the world at the time grasping at air. Houghton's goal in NJ, for all its significance was a bit of a lame lob that really should never have troubled any decent keeper.
Long - I think it's the nature of the opposition, the sheer unexpectedness of it, Long's confidence to go for the jugular and his finish. I've always thought Houghton's was a little hit-and-hope (and, whisper it, the keeper should back up a foot and tip it over the bar); as soon as Long gets the ball you can tell exactly what he plans to do.
McAteer - No question for me. The opposition is strong, the build-up play is wonderful and the finish is excellent. Keane's is fine, but McAteer was another class.
Was there? Didn't think so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Ah Jaysus. :oQuote:
Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter
Ray Houghton - another iconic goal. Maybe the keeper is in a terrible position but it’s quick thinking to take on the shot the way he does.
McAteer - it’s one of my favourites of all the goals. It’s just so un-Irish in a way. A little flick pass, two quick back heel flicks and a brilliant strike.
long / mcateer
Houghton
McAteer
Houghton really sprints out of nowhere to intercept that header from one of the world's finest CBs.
Controls it well on his chest and has the audacity to chip Pagliuca to beat one of the tournament favourites.
The US commentary on YouTube is hilarious. They spend the whole game talking about Baggio and how amazing he is, even though we played them off the park that day. I think there's a few slips where they refer to us as English too.
McAteer just shades it past Keane because of how far out he was and how the Israeli keeper was a bit suspect, in no man's land, for Robbie's goal.
Long, A wonderfully accurate drop kick from Randolph, Long let the ball do the work, just one touch off the shin but always in control, eyeballed a well positioned Neuer and hit the perfect shot.
and
McAteer - nothing to add to what has been said.
Not my fault - ye voted Houghton ahead of Mark Kennedy in the groups and messed up my seeding!Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
You could say both goalies (Pagliuca and Dudu) were a bit far out, Keane's was deliberate but had Ray spotted how far Pagliuca was off his line or did he just try his luck?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Without a doubt he spotted him. Houghton was a very quick-thinking player.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I remember reading that he was constantly attempting it in training and never managed it.
If he didn't spot him, he deserves a kick for what was otherwise a backpass! :)
It's just I never heard Ray say "I spotted the goalie off his line", as most would say even if just to enhance the deliberate genius of the goal or eliminate any "he tried his luck with that shot" theory.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
I'm not convinced he spotted him. I just think he swung his wrong foot at the ball hoping to get a good enough connection.
I've always thought it slightly clipped the defenders head, creating the bit of extra loft that took it over the keeper and reduced the pace of the ball enough to bring it down under the crossbar. Was a very unusual ball flight if it didn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
To be fair none of the replays are conclusive though - the final replay in the clip below suggests a deflection to me.
https://youtu.be/vGQplbF_akc
What Ray did say more supports your contention, he said a lot goes through your head in that moment, 'pass it to Steve Staunton on the left?' 'Where's Tommy Coyne - not in view' 'just hit the target and see what happens'.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Long / McAteer
So there'll be a result on the Reid v McGeady and Doyle v Harte games tomorrow morning. Still time to vote, even though it doesn't really matter at this stage :)
There won't be a new pairing tomorrow, but Houghton v Long and Keane v McAteer will remain open until Saturday morning.
Then into the last 8 on Monday - reckon like the snooker, this is the proper stage for it to reduce to one match at a time as well...
McGeady over Reid. Under more pressure against better opposition.
Doyle over Harte. Just a beautiful strike, surprised Harte's freekick got this far tbh.
Long over Houghton. Houghton's was a massively important goal, but was quite lucky as the keeper should have sved it.
McAteer over Keane. Beautifully worked, which is rare enough for Irish goals. We played some good stuff back then.
So that's 11-0 wins for Aiden McGeady A v Georgia, 2014 over Andy Reid H v Cyprus, 2005 (bit harsh on Andy tbh!) and for Kevin Doyle A v Slovakia, 2007 over Ian Harte H v Israel, 2005 (helped no doubt by geysir's shocking revelations regarding the Israeli keeper!)
The other two ties are still open until the morning, when we'll have our final 8.
Not sure leaving the voting open for 48 hours has added many votes - wonder is it better for the quarters next week to revert to 24 hours each? One a day, and then the following week is the two semis, a 3rd/4th place play-off and the big final, again with one each day. As easy for me either way of course.