The worst moment following Ireland

[OwlsFan]

1) That floating Macedonian cross in the last minute

2) Holland, 1994. The bloody Dutch again! Bonner's fist... Why was McGrath's goal not allowed ?!?!?.

We weren't at the races that day. McGrath's goal was disallowed for foot up.

3) Belgian play off, they were cráp, we should have won, we should have been at France 98 .

Belgium had dominated the first game and we were blessed to get a 1-1 but were very unlucky in the 2nd leg. A throw given to them which should have been ours and they score. Mick cried in the tunnel after that match.

4) Turkish play off, we should have put them away in the first leg, they got that lucky penalty. The second leg was poor, and UEFA should have done something about Cascarino getting lynched at the end.

Yes, stupid peno. Carsley ?? Only heard the 2nd leg on radio but we never created anything apparently.

5) Swiss at home. A very poor result for us, coming after a fairly decent show at the world cup, after that it was bye bye Portugal '04.

Saddest part of that game was the way Mick was run out of town with the chants of "Keano" ringing in his ears. The fact that some of the crowd chanted "Ireland" in response has always been ignored but to be fair, no one chanted "Mick"

[Junior]

1)
4) Turkish play off, we should have put them away in the first leg, they got that lucky penalty. The second leg was poor, and UEFA should have done something about Cascarino getting lynched at the end.

Cas was up for it when he came on in that game - stuck the nut on their central defender at the corner when he came on.

Who was suspended for that game Robbie? silling booking in the first leg if I recall. Connolly up front, we didn't have a hope.

About 30 paddies staring in to our beers in the hotel that night the only Irish in Turkey I think!! The Turks were beeping their horns and banging their drums to the very early hours - they know how to celebrate I'll give them that!

[Paulie]

About 30 paddies staring in to our beers in the hotel that night the only Irish in Turkey I think!! The Turks were beeping their horns and banging their drums to the very early hours - they know how to celebrate I'll give them that!

Belgium, Macedonia, Switzerland, Spain - take your pick. Regarding the above, It's happened on me twice (Belgium and Switzerland) that I've gone abroad to see Ireland play in deciding games only for us to be knocked out. When the opposition fans begin to celebrate, as they are perfectly entitled to, you really want to be be anywhere but there.....not a nice feeling.

[Shae_B2D]

Against Spain in that last world cup. I'm working for the Sports desk of the Israeli television, so I basically had to watch all the games every day, edit the recaps of the games to our broadcasts of the matches, as well for the daily special wrapup and news broadcasts. I was basically half dead after the game had finished, was screaming and upset, and I had to go into editting room with that tape and see it over and over again...

Since I'm an abroad fan, didn't get to do a lot of ACTUAL following, but I'm a girl, I take things very emotionally anyway, even from far away.

[beautifulrock]

Holland 88 and didnt feel great after the Dutch game in 94.

[FarBeag]

For me.. losing to Croatia away in '99..real sickner and also the Belgium playoff..still gives me the shivers.

[djdaz]

Don't know if ayone mentioned it but Lichtenstein away has to be up there, just for the pure embarrassment.
In the big matches it's Spain in 2002 for me aswell.

[Superhoops]

Poznan 1991, went 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 up against Poland and were leading comfortably with 15 minutes to go. We were then pegged back to 3-3, the equaliser coming 4 minutes from the end. It cost us a place in 1992 Euro finals.

[lopez]

Poznan 1991, went 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 up against Poland and were leading comfortably with 15 minutes to go. We were then pegged back to 3-3, the equaliser coming 4 minutes from the end. It cost us a place in 1992 Euro finals.

The Turkey game of 1991 was worse seeing that the Tans equalised against Poland with 15 minutes or so to go. I was in work the following evening - f*cking knackered after a long flight - and was waiting to wind people up with any ABBA song I could think of. Still, only had to wait two more years for the winding up bit.

[Superhoops]

The Turkey game of 1991 was worse seeing that the Tans equalised against Poland with 15 minutes or so to go.

Even though we won easily that night I dont think anyone really expected that Engerland would not get at least a point against Poland. We blew it in Poznan and we know that night that we had to depend on Poland doing us a favour.

[Ashbourne]

Jesus, the home qualifier at lansdowne road (for usa94) v. spain in october 1993 was depressing. What a build up to the game the previous week, with Ireland having the chance to qualify for a world cup directly at home for the first time ever........and as we all know what a damp squib it turned out to be. Talk about being steamrolled!
That John Sheridan goal to bring it back to 1-3, so insignificant at the moment he stuck it away, was SO crucial in the end.
As for that world cup 2nd round game in 2002...........robbed.


Ashbourne.
Definitely a case of ball to hand, rather than hand to ball.

[nlgbbbblth]

1) Losing 1-0 to Belguim in 1981 - that ******* referee
2) Wim Kieft for Holland at Euro 88 - sickener
3) SKOPJE

[davey]

1) Spain 02. Losing on pennos is awful. The worst feeling after.
2) Kieft 88 - The longest 2nd half of my life and to lose to that spazzy goal
3) Macedonia 99 - Too much to take after Croatia

[pineapple stu]

England-Poland in '91 is another that I don't think has been mentioned. We were beating Turkey away and I think the English scored late on (either Lineker or Shearer)? Bit hazy now, but I think Chris Woods in the England goal rugby tackled some lad but no peno was given, which would have put us through? My first experience of not qualifying (first game of football I ever watched - which I don't really remember watching any more - was Ireland 1-0 England! ), so gets a mention for that too...

[pineapple stu]

2) Holland, 1994. The bloody Dutch again! Bonner's fist... Why was McGrath's goal not allowed ?!?!?

Foot up as Owls fan mentioned, but I always thought it was very harsh - Rijkaard's head was low as well...as much him heading McGrath's boot as the other way around!

[Stuttgart88]

Bit hazy now, but I think Chris Woods in the England goal rugby tackled some lad but no peno was given, which would have put us through?

That's exactly right. Poland were 1-0 up at the time. Absolute slam dunk penalty. Unbelievable decision.

Losing 4-1 at home to Denmark was a real low point. Around 1985 I think. Last game pre-Jack?

I left thinking we'd never have any respectability in the game.

[Junior]

Belgium, Macedonia, Switzerland, Spain - take your pick. Regarding the above, It's happened on me twice (Belgium and Switzerland) that I've gone abroad to see Ireland play in deciding games only for us to be knocked out. When the opposition fans begin to celebrate, as they are perfectly entitled to, you really want to be be anywhere but there.....not a nice feeling.

Agree. But Belgium fans celebrate? surely not - Pretty boring fans IMO even though they'd just qualified for France.

[Stuttgart88]

0-0 at home to Norway around '85 was grim too. I think we'd got off to a good start by beating Russia 1-0 at home but we went off the rails after that.

This was a really dire game played in awful weather even though it was in June. If we'd won we really would have had a chance of qualification but we blew it big time. Match was only notable for the strip we wore for the only time - green shirt with an orange hoop across the chest, Kerry GAA-style.

[Eire06]

Holland '94 was bad..

The worst I ever got over a match was against Spain '02 world cup.. I actually cryed was in bits.... Don't cry often but that broke my heart was depressed for weeks

[Cowboy]

Losing 4-1 at home to Denmark was a real low point. Around 1985 I think. Last game pre-Jack?

I left thinking we'd never have any respectability in the game.

Yeah forgot about that one, we had a decent team out that day too