13 Years Ago Today

**Lionel Ritchie** · 18/06/2007, 3:22 PM

Giants Stadium, NY. Ireland 1 Italy 0

If anyone has it on video -watch the goal from the "net-cam" view and check out the look on Paglucias face when he glanced over his shoulder and saw how far off his line he was.

Sweet!

**Wolfie** · 19/06/2007, 7:50 AM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

Giants Stadium, NY. Ireland 1 Italy 0

If anyone has it on video -watch the goal from the "net-cam" view and check out the look on Paglucias face when he glanced over his shoulder and saw how far off his line he was.

Sweet!

Memory a bit hazy but I think I got to pub at 6. Game kicked off at 9 (Irish Time). Few pints to settle the nerves and get a seat.

For the goal, the ball had an unusual flight. Seemed to take an age to go in. The whole sequence of Houghton taking the ball and hitting it had an unreal element to it (Drink induced? Disbelief? Both?).

Sheridan was unlucky with a good hit in 2nd half. Off the bar.

Great performance by McGrath.

**beautifulrock** · 19/06/2007, 8:02 AM

Was lucky enough to be there, amazing performance by big Paul, even more so when I read in his auto that he was unable to lift his left arm and it basically was "dead" and hanging by his side for the whole game.

**jbyrne** · 19/06/2007, 8:46 AM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Great performance by McGrath.

and by babb beside him. my memory is that some italian papers were asking why there werent more Irish players playing in Italy after we beat them.... babb was specifically mentioned

**Theskinloyal** · 19/06/2007, 8:47 AM

Does anyone remeber the publicans being on strike that night? Or am I imagining things?

Tommy Coyne played his heart out that night, an unsung hero if ever there was one.

**macdermesser** · 19/06/2007, 9:08 AM

Think they were .. I remember (hazily) watching it in a friends house .. probably the greatest moment in Irish soccer .. beating the Italians in New York in the first game of the World Cup .. but quickly ruined by the shootings that went on in Northern Ireland that night. I think it was the moment we peaked .. we were on some run of form .. and might have won the 1992 Euro championships if we had qualified .. jammy English.

If we a decent striker at that time, we could have gone places although, the heat was too big a factor to overcome..

**Theskinloyal** · 19/06/2007, 9:26 AM

I think we were unlucky to come up against the Dutch in the 2nd round, that was a class side. Bergkamp, Jonk, Overmars, Winter all in their prime.

Remember we were supposed to get Belgium can't imagine they would have beaten us plus we wouldn't have been playing in Orlando where the temperature was in the high 30s.

Plus not having Quinn fit as he was in his prime was a massive blow and the bizarre fact that Eddie McGoldrick wasn't unleashed on the world?????

**gspain** · 19/06/2007, 10:22 AM

It wasn't that hot on the day of the Dutch game and in fairness they are not that accustomed to heat either. The Mexico game was incredible. I thought I was going to collapse and need 15 minutes in the shade at half time. I don't know how anyone played in it. 12 noon kickoff too for European tv.

Italy game was superb. Arguably our best ever performance. Spoiled a bit by the fans who missed out. A mate was at 10 of the 12 qualifiers and didn't get a ticket. He only went out for the later games. In the end there were plenty of tickets but they were scarce until the night before the game. I ended up sitting beside a couple at their first football match who didn't like people shouting so loud when Houghton scored. I had been at all 12 qualifiers and only got tickets late on when my Dad put pressur eon some friends.

Strange world cup though as the locals hardly knew it was on.

**Wolfie** · 19/06/2007, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Theskinloyal

Does anyone remeber the publicans being on strike that night? Or am I imagining things?

Tommy Coyne played his heart out that night, an unsung hero if ever there was one.

I was most definitely at Quinns in Drumcondra that night. I didn't drink that much!!!

**geysir** · 19/06/2007, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Theskinloyal

Plus not having Quinn fit as he was in his prime was a massive blow

Neither Quinn nor Cas were fit.
Compared to then, now we have an abundance up front.
Tommy Coyne was never going to hack it in game after game.

I can't remember why Aldo wasn't used more, maybe Jack would have had to revolutionize the tactics just to let Aldo hang out around the box. He was like a savage dog unleashed when he came on against Mexico.

**Theskinloyal** · 19/06/2007, 12:14 PM

Still baffles me to this day why Aldo wasn't used more? He was the top scorer in the squad, okay his legs were probably going a bit but he proved against Mexico that he was as good a finisher as ever.

I think all round the squad we are better now in terms of depth. Who of that squad would get into the current line up?

Irwin, McGrath, Sheridan, Staunton (I bet he's thought about picking himself again), Houghton, Keane, Aldo, Phelan?, Townsend? - I'm talking about the full 22 here.

Of course Eddie McGoldrick would be there I just thought that wasn't even worth mentioning.

**Wolfie** · 19/06/2007, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Neither Quinn nor Cas were fit.
Compared to then, now we have an abundance up front.
Tommy Coyne was never going to hack it in game after game.

I can't remember why Aldo wasn't used more, maybe Jack would have had to revolutionize the tactics just to let Aldo hang out around the box. He was like a savage dog unleashed when he came on against Mexico.

Coyne was considered more capable of covering the ground as a lone striker.

Townsend had a great shot saved near to end which would have levelled things up.

**paul_oshea** · 19/06/2007, 12:19 PM

I can't remember why Aldo wasn't used more, maybe Jack would have had to revolutionize the tactics just to let Aldo hang out around the box. He was like a savage dog unleashed when he came on against Mexico.

ya that was cos it took so long to get on....

**Wolfie** · 19/06/2007, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Theskinloyal

Still baffles me to this day why Aldo wasn't used more? He was the top scorer in the squad, okay his legs were probably going a bit but he proved against Mexico that he was as good a finisher as ever.

I think all round the squad we are better now in terms of depth. Who of that squad would get into the current line up?

Irwin, McGrath, Sheridan, Staunton (I bet he's thought about picking himself again), Houghton, Keane, Aldo, Phelan?, Townsend? - I'm talking about the full 22 here.

Of course Eddie McGoldrick would be there I just thought that wasn't even worth mentioning.

I think its more a question of who of the current line up would get into that team.

**Theskinloyal** · 19/06/2007, 12:47 PM

I'd say of the current squad I'd say Given should be there I never thought Bonner was that great, obvisiously he will be remembered for that save but was prone to errors, just ask Wim Jonk!

If it was a mixture of 2007 and 1994 playing the 4-5-1

1. Given
2. Carr
3. Irwin
4. McGrath
5. Dunne
6. Keane
7. Houghton
8. Sheridan
9. Steven Reid
10. Robbie Keane
11. Duff

I don't know what the point of doing that was but hell its killing time in work

**OwlsFan** · 19/06/2007, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

I think its more a question of who of the current line up would get into that team.

Given, Duff, Robbie K, Doyle.

That USA 94 team was past its sell by date. Razor just about got in the squad and many of the players were nearing the end of their careers. '92 was the tournament we could have done something but that's life.

I appeared twice on TV in crowd shots at the game

but if you ask me to compare Giant Stadium vs Stuttgart, I'd go for the latter any time (also appear in crowd shot there clapping). First tournament. First game and it's England. We win and it was before every tom, dick and harry took an interest in the team. The fans who had followed through thick and thin were in Stuttgart in 1988 and it was magical.

Ni feicimid a leitheid aris.

**lionelhutz** · 19/06/2007, 1:07 PM

Originally Posted by Theskinloyal

I'd say of the current squad I'd say Given should be there I never thought Bonner was that great, obvisiously he will be remembered for that save but was prone to errors, just ask Wim Jonk!

If it was a mixture of 2007 and 1994 playing the 4-5-1

1. Given
2. Carr
3. Irwin
4. McGrath
5. Dunne
6. Keane
7. Houghton
8. Sheridan
9. Steven Reid
10. Robbie Keane
11. Duff

I don't know what the point of doing that was but hell its killing time in work

You've got to be kidding me with the two of them - Finnan, Staunton, Townsend, Doyle, Mcateer, (at that time he was excellent) plus Babb was much better back then than Dunne is now

**NeilMcD** · 19/06/2007, 1:08 PM

How can Stephen Reid get in ahead of Andy Townsend.

**Wolfie** · 19/06/2007, 1:11 PM

Given
Irwin
McGrath
Dunne
Finnan
Keane
Townsend
Duff
Houghton
R. Keane
Aldridge

**Theskinloyal** · 19/06/2007, 2:56 PM

IMHO Babb was always ****e and a complete chancer he was just fast. Apologies I completely forgot about Finnan for some reason of course he would be there instead of Carr. I suppose Townsend would be there instead of Reid, just Reid is more of an attacking option. Especially if u were to play the 4 - 5 - 1.