Historical Context

[cavan_fan]

So that was our 17th major tournament match. It feels like our worst game of them all. Can only compare to Egypt and Mexico.

It felt like the result that could have happened in so many other game but which we managed to avoid through a combination of luck and commitement.

Are we about to have our first bad tournament?

[backstothewall]

We're a tiny country that plays 4 sports. We don't have bad tournaments. We were 3-1 down, being comprehensibly outplayed, and 20,000 paddies were singing "You'll Never Beat The Irish"

Tonight was a great night because it happened. The North, Scotland & Wales would all kill for the night we just had.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Are we about to have our first bad tournament?

I fear so. I think a lot of people (myself included) were caught up in unrealistic expectations following Estonia. You remember Moscow, Paris and Talinn, forget Russia in Dublin. The last few days have seen this big movement around the country that has hardly contemplated failure. Croatia was a reality check for those people.

[the bear]

its very hard to see how we can come back from here but im going to remain blindly optimistic for the time being

[Murfinator]

Tonight was a great night because it happened. The North, Scotland & Wales would all kill for the night we just had.

Great broad minded mentality there of bragging about outperforming some neighbours that aren't even proper countries. Childish, and nobody would kill for the night we just had. It was painful, frustrating and embarrassing for the actual supporters, I am glad the party wagon there for the beer and the "craic" enjoyed themselves though.

[cavan_fan]

Great broad minded mentality there of bragging about outperforming some neighbours that aren't even proper countries. Childish, and nobody would kill for the night we just had. It was painful, frustrating and embarrassing for the actual supporters, I am glad the party wagon there for the beer and the "craic" enjoyed themselves though.

I'd rather be there and lose than not be there. I wouldn't swap with Belgium, Romania, Bosnia, etc etc

[backstothewall]

Great broad minded mentality there of bragging about outperforming some neighbours that aren't even proper countries. Childish, and nobody would kill for the night we just had. It was painful, frustrating and embarrassing for the actual supporters, I am glad the party wagon there for the beer and the "craic" enjoyed themselves though.

Who was bragging? And why shouldn't they enjoy themselves? Should an "actual fan", whatever that is, just go back to their hotel room full of **** and vinegar and not enjoy the night they have travelled 1400 miles for? Despite the fact that most of them don't spend much time watching LOI, they have as much right to be there as anyone else. The excellent reputation we have earned is in large part because the great unwashed of Man Utd, Liverpool and Celtic supporting Irish fans enjoy themselves regardless of the result and can manage it without getting on like idiots. And long may it continue.

We were always second favourites, and for good reason as it turns out. That's no reason not to party the night away. I only wish I was there.

[BonnieShels]

Yeah. There was a great night had in Poznan. What's the point in being miserable after the result. I'll sulk in Dublin.
In the mean time there's great craic to be had on the party wagon.
The Croats and Poles are loving it too.

This is tournament football.

Murf you're a gobsheen.

[legendz]

So that was our 17th major tournament match. It feels like our worst game of them all. Can only compare to Egypt and Mexico.

It felt like the result that could have happened in so many other game but which we managed to avoid through a combination of luck and commitement.

Are we about to have our first bad tournament?

Compares a bit to Holland in USA '94 but at least we made it out of the group so were not too disheartened. If felt more like that though. Mexico we got a goal back which we nkew would be crucial. The Egypt draw equally was not the end of the world and it wasn't.

[Dodge]

We're a tiny country that plays 4 sports

What this bull**** about other countries not playing other sports? Every country plays loads of sports. Croatia have won Olympic medals in handball and produced world class basketballers.

Football is still, by miles, the biggest participation sport in ireland. Hiding behind other sports is pathetic

[legendz]

Historical context: Mick McCarthy, the only manager to have Ireland playing football in a major tournament?

[backstothewall]

What this bull**** about other countries not playing other sports? Every country plays loads of sports. Croatia have won Olympic medals in handball and produced world class basketballers.

Football is still, by miles, the biggest participation sport in ireland. Hiding behind other sports is pathetic

And look how many of those countries aren't at the Euro's! Even putting aside the draw of other sports, there are 11 countries in Europe with bigger populations than us not in this championship (Romania, Belgium, Hungary, Serbia, Belarus, Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Finland & Norway). There is only 1 country with a smaller population than us there (Croatia).

And our current squad is a long way from being our most talented ever. Getting this far has been a tremendous achievement, one superior Irish squads have failed to manage down the years. This looks like the end of the road but we were shafted from the moment the groups were drawn. So it's a case of go out with a wimper, or get behind the lads and try to give somebody a bloody nose on the way out.

Coincidently, World and European Champions Spain look like great candidates for the bloody nose treatment.

[Dodge]

And look how many of those countries aren't at the Euro's! Even putting aside the draw of other sports, there are 11 countries in Europe with bigger populations than us not in this championship (Romania, Belgium, Hungary, Serbia, Belarus, Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Finland & Norway). There is only 1 country with a smaller population than us there (Croatia)

So Croatia is smaller than us, play more sports than us and is better than football than us.

My point wasn't that we're not small. Its that the excuse that we lay x amount of sports is nonsense

[backstothewall]

So Croatia is smaller than us, play more sports than us and is better than football than us.

My point wasn't that we're not small. Its that the excuse that we lay x amount of sports is nonsense

The number of different sports played in Ireland certainly doesn't help matters, and I very much doubt that they play more sports than us in Croatia. Sure they produce the odd Olympic medallist but so do we. Do you have any statistics to back this up?

But even that isn't the only problem we have, and we have much easier problems to do something about (our domestic leagues for example).

Croatia are going through a once in 50 years golden generation of players. We had one of them once and got to the 1/4 final of the world cup. But it doesn't happen every 4 years for them or for us.

[Yard of Pace]

Croatia are going through a once in 50 years golden generation of players. We had one of them once and got to the 1/4 final of the world cup. But it doesn't happen every 4 years for them or for us.

Eh, they came 3rd in WC1998 and reached the 1/4s of Euro 1996 and 2008....?

[osarusan]

Croatia are going through a once in 50 years golden generation of players. We had one of them once and got to the 1/4 final of the world cup. But it doesn't happen every 4 years for them or for us.

This Croatian team isn't a patch on their team at France 98, only 14 years ago.

[legendz]

This Croatian team isn't a patch on their team at France 98, only 14 years ago.

There not but when there's an expectation to do well based on a previous team, it can drive some on. Ireland would have similar determination in terms of trying to make the finals as we have.

[Dodge]

The number of different sports played in Ireland certainly doesn't help matters, and I very much doubt that they play more sports than us in Croatia. Sure they produce the odd Olympic medallist but so do we. Do you have any statistics to back this up?

Medals won by Croatia in the last 2 Summer Olympics; 10. Medals won by ireland; 3. In 2008 they had a team of 108, we had 54. In the 5 summer games they've competed they've won medals in 11 different sports (including 3 team sports of basketball, handball and water polo). At the 19 games Ireland as competed, we've won medals in 4 sports. Croatia has also won 10 medals at the last 3 winter olympics. Do you want more?

Croatia are going through a once in 50 years golden generation of players. We had one of them once and got to the 1/4 final of the world cup. But it doesn't happen every 4 years for them or for us.

Croatia have attempted to qualify for 9 major tournaments and have done so 7 times.

Oh and on the domestic league thingy, LOI clubs have faced croatians sides 3 times, winning twice.

[backstothewall]

Eh, they came 3rd in WC1998 and reached the 1/4s of Euro 1996 and 2008....?

A fair point you make, but none of that changes that we are out-performing the vast majority of comparable nations. Is the fact that 1 smaller nation is doing better than us, and 11 bigger are doing worse a sign that we are getting things right or wrong?

[third policeman]

Historical context: Mick McCarthy, the only manager to have Ireland playing football in a major tournament?

Good shout and also got our best results against decent teams (Germany, Cameroons and moral draw against Spain). He is also the only manager who has not gone into a tournament with a negative and essentially patronising assessment of our footballing capabilities. Already commented on another thread, that he would be a better bet than Trapp for the next campaign. At least we could be certain of never seeing Green, O'Dea or MacShane in another squad.