POLL: What is the best goal we've scored in a major finals?

Mods - can we add a poll to this?

Long time, no post – hope youre all doing well. Thought I would throw this up for a bit of fun…don’t recall seeing a similar poll?

What is the best goal that Ireland has scored at a major finals?

Criteria I used liberally...
- Build up
- Nice strike
- Pressure

I have filtered out the ones that I thought were not as good or penalties. I have come up with a list of 8! Feel free to campaign for another one.

Euro 88 – R. Whelan v. USSR


WC 90 – K. Sheedy v England


WC 94 – R. Houghton v Italy


WC 02 – M. Holland v Cameroon


WC 02 – R. Keane v Saudi


WC 02 – G. Breen v Saudi


Euro 16 – W. Hoolohan v Sweden


Euro 16 – R. Brady v Italy


Other
- please say which one

Ronnie Whelans V USSR

Ronnie Whelan. We could play for another 100 years and never see a goal as good as that in a finals.

It's a no brainer, Ronnie by a country mile.
If Ronnie had done that in the final and Van Basten done his in the group stages, Ronnie would have shaded the immortality kudos.

Its Ronnie, every time, always, until you look at the criteria applied by Stu here, build up was a hacking grunter of a throw, there was no pressure we'd just beaten England and were playing USSR we could have lost 5-0 and they'd still have come home heroes and as for nice strike, well he shinned it didn't he ? :) It was a fluke, albeit a gorgeous one.

The shinning was disguise to fool the goalkeeper.

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Originally Posted by SkStu

Mods - can we add a poll to this?

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done, poll added

Probably has to be Whelan but the shin aspect does take away from it quite a bit. Hoolahan's is technically brilliant. Both goals on their weaker sides too. The build up better for Hoolohan's but I'll give Whelan the nod, partly due to peer pressure. Best goal for build up alone would have to be Brady's.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

Probably has to be Whelan but the shin aspect does take away from it quite a bit. Hoolahan's is technically brilliant. Both goals on their weaker sides too. The build up better for Hoolohan's but I'll give Whelan the nod, partly due to peer pressure. Best goal for build up alone would have to be Brady's.

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As Ray said in the RTE memory show, it's irrelevant that Ronnie struck it with his shin, the unworldly skill was in the techique he used to make perfect contact with the ball in order to hit the top corner of the goal.

I watched Ireland V Sweden in Euro 2016 highlights the other day and thought, if Hendrick's effort in first half had hit underside of the bar and gone in instead of bouncing straight back off the bar, that would by far be our best ever goal in a major tournament.
Then I remembered Ronnie's effort. Ridiculous goal. Ridiculous throw-in, ridiculous goal. incredible!

100% Whelan. Despite the long throw and the shin.

To be honest I'm struggling to think of a better Ireland goal in any game, friendly or qualifier. That he did it at a tournament finals made it even more incredible.

whelan for me also. honourable mention to matt hollands goal against cameroon as my favourite. the first half we were so poor and i thought it was going to be a very long 3 weeks in Japan / Korea for me. that goal effectively set up the rest of our trip. was right behind the goal he scored into and it was one of the sweetest cleanest strikes i had seen

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

100% Whelan. Despite the long throw and the shin.

To be honest I'm struggling to think of a better Ireland goal in any game, friendly or qualifier. That he did it at a tournament finals made it even more incredible.

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I suppose it depends what your criteria are.

Jason McAteer's goal in Holland in 2000 was superb - two backheels in the build-up was taking the mick, and then the finish from outside the area into the bottom corner too.

Jack Charlton was on some show - maybe it was The Charlton Years - and was asked about his favourite goal, and he said his favourite goals were the ones that came out of nowhere, like Whelan's. So while yeah, it was just a long throw and the Dutch goal had some of the best build-up play we've probably ever put together - but which one makes for the better goal?

I'd still vote Whelan, of course. I can't think of too many comparable goals to be honest, by anyone?

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

100% Whelan. Despite the long throw and the shin.

To be honest I'm struggling to think of a better Ireland goal in any game, friendly or qualifier. That he did it at a tournament finals made it even more incredible.

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McGeady's winner in Georgia is well up there...

I voted for Robbie Brady's goal against the Italians. Carried the ball out from the back through midfield on the counter attack, 4 passes then goal. The 4th of which was a beautiful cross. Dying minutes. Plenty at stake.

I would also rank Holland's strike as being technically just good as Whelans. In fact, he arguably executed better - a first time strike across his body that turned in at the far post... far better than Whelans shinner :) I remember how stunned i was by Whelans goal though as a 10/11 year old.

Anyway, those would be my top 3. All different, all excellent.

Anything to be said for Robbie Keane against the Germans in 02?

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Anything to be said for Robbie Keane against the Germans in 02?

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Surprised that and Houghton V England didn't even make the cut

For me, this is probably the best goal we've scored in a qualifier.
Honourable mentions for Glenn Whelan V Italy. And Houghton's header V Belgium.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g2-ycPW0vU

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Anything to be said for Robbie Keane against the Germans in 02?

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From them: Scheiße.

From us: I'll say it to take the sting out of it. Sure everybody knows Robbie only scored against the minnows.:rolleyes:

Anyway, had to take my time with these goals…. I'd a bias but wanted to be fair to all eight.

Whelan v USSR: Beauty and the beast – a glorious arcing volley but the delivery… route one. For a change, sideways. Still, the first Ireland goal that struck me as a thing of wonder.

Sheedy v England: Scrappy build-up, but that left foot. Oof!

Houghton v Italy: Virtually a one-man show. The wait – bounce, bounce, bounce – then the turn, and on a foot we thought was made for standing on only that strike. For me technically as good as Whelan, but where that was instinctive this was pure focus.

Holland v Cameroon: Good finish from a player I always liked. Harte’s crossing was a terror for defences. But Holland had so much space and time to score…

Keane v Saudi: Great technique, but if there was a keeper there instead of a roll of lino with gloves on Robbie would be -1 on his tally.

Breen v Saudi: The angle’s not great, so maybe it was nifty footwork rather than twist and shout, but a defence gone AWOL has to count against its greatness.

Hoolahan v Sweden: Finally! Some build-up play and a sweet finish. Off his weaker foot too.

Brady v Italy: Lovely build-up play, all on the deck till the final cross. That rarest of things – an Italian defence carved open and a bullet header. What is it with players on this list scoring with unexpected parts?

Soooo, with nostalgia heavy in mind, and bias confirmed:
1 - Whelan
2 - Houghton
4 – Houlihan, Brady

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Anything to be said for Robbie Keane against the Germans in 02?

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Make your case Nigel!

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Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

Soooo, with nostalgia heavy in mind, and bias confirmed:
1 - Whelan
2 - Houghton
4 – Houlihan, Brady

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I'm intrigued - who's third?!

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I'm intrigued - who's third?!

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Ciarán Clark V Sweden

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I'm intrigued - who's third?!

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Just a traditional way of counting when there's a tie for a position - if neither can be shown to be better than the other but one has to take the fourth spot, vacate the higher spot and list both in the lower one. Still gives a top four, but without a third. The alternative is joint third, moving everybody up a notch but that would be an undeserved promotion.

And if you think that's harsh you should see me grading exams!;)

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Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

Just a traditional way of counting when there's a tie for a position - if neither can be shown to be better than the other but one has to take the fourth spot, vacate the higher spot and list both in the lower one. Still gives a top four, but without a third. The alternative is joint third, moving everybody up a notch but that would be an undeserved promotion.

And if you think that's harsh you should see me grading exams!;)

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I thought the normal way to do it was to have two joint-third and then the next one is fifth.

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Originally Posted by Fixer82

For me, this is probably the best goal we've scored in a qualifier.
Honourable mentions for Glenn Whelan V Italy. And Houghton's header V Belgium.

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Had to go look at Houghton's again and it's better than I remember to be fair, serious use of his neck muscles! McGeady's trumps all those for me though. Matt Holland against Portugal a candidate too, better than his Cameroon one I think. Keane v Israel from the Reid pass too.

On that note, do we have a list of best assists? Hendrick v Georgia comes to mind (also v Germany actually). Wessi for Brady v Italy. Randolph v Germany trumps all of Packie's!

I wonder - while there's no actual football on - if there'd be legs in a tournament to see what foot.ie's favourite Irish goal ever was?

A head-to-head thing - Houghton v NI 1989 or Duff v Canada kind of thing, with the winners advancing to the next round.

I might have a look at a few nominees over the weekend. Don't know if there'd be interest from potential voters though?

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I thought the normal way to do it was to have two joint-third and then the next one is fifth.

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And that's why you're obviously a much more generous person than me, Charlie. I can be very unforgiving where standards are involved - Mrs Grise can almost predict the grade of an exam paper by the level of snorting and groaning!

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I wonder - while there's no actual football on - if there'd be legs in a tournament to see what foot.ie's favourite Irish goal ever was?

A head-to-head thing - Houghton v NI 1989 or Duff v Canada kind of thing, with the winners advancing to the next round.

I might have a look at a few nominees over the weekend. Don't know if there'd be interest from potential voters though?

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I'd be interested. I think we have about 25 regulars on this forum and some stragglers. The killer is linking all the [yt] sources!

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Originally Posted by SkStu

Make your case Nigel!

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91st minute. Route one at it's absolute best, hoof it to the big striker, perfect flick from Quinn, and from there Keanes textbook control and finish. The significance of the goal, that small bit of comfort going into the final game against the Saudis.

Not to mention getting one over one of the top Germany sides in history, in my opinion. Don't forget, apart from the final against Brazil, it was the only other goal they conceded in the entire tournament. That was as good as a win to us.

It might not have been the most technically amazing goal we've ever scored, but certainly one of the best goals I've seen from an Ireland side.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

91st minute. Route one at it's absolute best, hoof it to the big striker, perfect flick from Quinn, and from there Keanes textbook control and finish. The significance of the goal, that small bit of comfort going into the final game against the Saudis.

Not to mention getting one over one of the top Germany sides in history, in my opinion. Don't forget, apart from the final against Brazil, it was the only other goal they conceded in the entire tournament. That was as good as a win to us.

It might not have been the most technically amazing goal we've ever scored, but certainly one of the best goals I've seen from an Ireland side.

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As a kid, I felt we were deserved finalists. Lost to Spain on penalties while missing a penalty during normal time. Spain get knocked out by the Koreans on penalties, after a tonne of dodgy decisions in the quarters. We were definitely a better side than Korea. Then onto the semis vs Germany. We drew with them, so let's call it a 50/50. Then onto the final against Brazil. And all of that is without Roy!

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Originally Posted by SkStu

I'd be interested. I think we have about 25 regulars on this forum and some stragglers. The killer is linking all the [yt] sources!

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There's a thread for that though :)

I don't know how to put in the time tags so that a clip starts at a goal rather than at the start though? That'd be important.

I went back over 2017-2020 there yesterday and picked out a couple of candidates. That was easy though as we've been absolutely wojus in that time, and most goals were balls lumped into the box and headed home...

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I wonder - while there's no actual football on - if there'd be legs in a tournament to see what foot.ie's favourite Irish goal ever was?

A head-to-head thing - Houghton v NI 1989 or Duff v Canada kind of thing, with the winners advancing to the next round.

I might have a look at a few nominees over the weekend. Don't know if there'd be interest from potential voters though?

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This would work well over twitter. Is there a foot.ie twitter account?

Vote early, vote often for Ronnie on this BBC poll.


Which is the greatest European Championship goal?

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Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

Vote early, vote often for Ronnie on this BBC poll.


Which is the greatest European Championship goal?

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I checked to make sure the vote can't be rigged. It turns out you can vote multiple times if you use an incognito window. I just wanted to make you all aware of this in case somebody got confused and voted twice by accident.

Unfortunately i had to cast a dozen or so votes so i could be absolutely sure the information above is 100% accurate.

I don't believe you, BTTW. I'll have to try several times on my laptop, phone and ipad just to verify this claim. I encourage everybody to do likewise.:cool:

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Not to mention getting one over one of the top Germany sides in history, in my opinion. Don't forget, apart from the final against Brazil, it was the only other goal they conceded in the entire tournament. That was as good as a win to us.

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An odd thing to say about the World Cup runners-up perhaps, but I always felt that was one of the weaker German sides I've seen, possibly the weakest. They got a dream run to the final and were completely outplayed by USA I remember in the q/finals. Think the were lucky enough to scrape through the semi as well, iirc. They were dreadful by their own standards in the Euro competitions either side of it too. Still, I'd agree that goal should have made the shortlist, certainly ahead of his effort against the Saudies anyway.

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Originally Posted by backstothewall

This would work well over twitter. Is there a foot.ie twitter account?

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Nope.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

An odd thing to say about the World Cup runners-up perhaps, but I always felt that was one of the weaker German sides I've seen, possibly the weakest. They got a dream run to the final and were completely outplayed by USA I remember in the q/finals. Think the were lucky enough to scrape through the semi as well, iirc. They were dreadful by their own standards in the Euro competitions either side of it too. Still, I'd agree that goal should have made the shortlist, certainly ahead of his effort against the Saudies anyway.

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Bar Brazil and Turkey it was a poor World Cup for the Number of Good Teams.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I don't know how to put in the time tags so that a clip starts at a goal rather than at the start though? That'd be important.

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I don't think you can embed them, but you can take the URL of any youtube video and add, e.g. &t=1m5s to start 1 minute 5 seconds into the video.

That might be it. I can embed links, and I know about that time stamp - but I thought you could embed it with the timestamp, which is awkward if you can't.

Though it's still doable I guess.

Have gone back through the 2010s and picked out a few potential nominations. I'll go back through the video on the post I mentioned before - I think it might be doable, though it'll take another few days to know for sure. I can put out a call for poster nominations too (make sure I don't miss anything obvious) and then decide on a format.

Might take a month to run, but all I'd have to do then is put up a couple of videos every day.