Yeah I went and did a bit of research myself and saw they'd come 3rd in consecutive qualifying groups. My initial confusion was grounded in fairly hazy memories of us handling them fairly easily in WC94 qualifying. Their stock has fallen a long way in the last 15 years.
Interesting to note that eloratings.net has a rating of 1723 for Ireland and 1498 for Lithuania at that time. So 200+ of an advantage for us - should translate to Lithuania scoring 25% against us (like 1-0-3 or 0-1-1). That's a more accurate rating than the FIFA World Rankings (certainly the old one) in my view, and it's a long way from saying Lithuania were better than us at the time.
20 years today since we qualified for the 2002 World Cup
Our last WC! I cant believe its 20 years
After we got knocked out I ended up in a bar in korea with the team and a rack of us i think the bar was called "the loft" anyway else there by any chance ? Shay Given was holding court in a sing song
I think I saw a video of that. was he wearing a Donegal GAA jersey?
20 years since Ireland beat Russia for the first, and so far only, time
Steven Reid scored his first international goal, and Colin Healy and Richard Sadlier made their debuts
Ten years today since James McClean made his debut, in the only game Ireland have played on February 29th
Never heard any substitute get the welcome from the crowd that he did
Because it was February 29th, there was a proposal on the pitch at half time. FM104 (I think) had given away tickets in the president's box, so they brought the winner down to pitchside to help with a draw at half time. The presenter said they were a bit delayed, so asked him a few questions, was he enjoying the game, who did he bring, etc. He brought a friend, because his partner had no interest, so the presenter asked where was she, and he said, she's at home. The whole thing was a complete setup, she was standing behind him the whole time, and the entire stadium could see it.
20 years ago today
It's such a good goal to come from such lucky circumstances: Kilbane's cross is dreadful and really should have been dealt with properly by the Cameroonian defender, and whoever is meant to be tracking Holland is AWOL. But damn if he didn't hit it perfectly.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Germany beat Armenia 10-1 on aggregate last year. We lost 0-1. It's just one number in the difference!![]()
Ten years ago today
A truly depressing day, and worse to come. It was, for me anyway, a real "the man behind the curtain" moment regards the people in charge of the team.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
On this day today
https://m.independent.ie/sport/socce...-41740096.html
Probably be best remembered here for that night in Windsor in 1993, but he had a mad management career all the same -
19651968 Southport
19671971 Northern Ireland
19681970 Plymouth Argyle
19701971 Linfield
19711973 Greece
19731977 Everton
1977 PAOK
19781979 Mansfield Town
19801993 Northern Ireland
19871988 Al-Nassr
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