Ireland 1-0 Spain, 26 April 1989 |
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Paul McGrath Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Location: Romania Status: Offline Points: 17177 |
Topic: Ireland 1-0 Spain, 26 April 1989 Posted: 18 Mar 2009 at 6:57am |
http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/news/newsid=1038663.html#michels+misery+dublins+delight Michel's misery, Dublin's delight(FIFA.com) Wednesday 18 March 2009 They say that good things come to those who wait, and Republic of Ireland's FIFA World Cup quest was nothing if not an exercise in patience. No fewer than 13 editions came and went without an invite to football's biggest party, and by 1989 the Irish were wondering if they were cursed never to qualify at all. A stuttering start to their Italy 1990 preliminary campaign did little to dispel such worries. With three games played, the Republic had accrued just two points and, worse still, were welcoming to Lansdowne Road a Spain side with five wins from as many matches. Yet in Jack Charlton, a former FIFA World Cup winner with England, the Irish possessed a manager who inspired belief; someone who had proved in leading the team to its first-ever major tournament at the 1988 UEFA European Championship that he could make good on his promises. The stage was set for a classic.
The summary
The stakes There were, however, mitigating factors, most notably the absence of key quartet Paul McGrath, Ronnie Whelan, Kevin Sheedy and Ray Houghton. All four came back into contention for the return meeting, but with the game taking place against the tragic backdrop of the Hillsborough disaster, Liverpool striker John Aldridge was given compassionate leave. Nevertheless, although the personnel issues were complicated, the team's task was simple: only a win would do.
The story Ray Houghton was the goal's architect, driving over a cross that Frank Stapleton was primed to convert when Michel, in his attempts to clear, stuck out a leg and diverted the ball into his own net. Spain attempted to salvage a point, but with the Lansdowne Road pitch hindering their traditional passing approach and Republic keeper Pat Bonner in defiant form, Luis Suarez's side were to leave empty-handed.
The star
They said "This was not a football match, it was not even close. The Irish players were too harsh. It was very difficult to play in such circumstances," Spain striker Emilio Butragueno.
"We had to show Spain that, when we had a full-strength side, they were only second best," Republic of Ireland coach Jack Charlton.
What happened next... Bonner's decisive penalty save from Daniel Timofte remains arguably the most iconic moment in Irish sporting history, and although a solitary Toto Schillaci strike brought the fairy tale to an end in the quarter-finals, Charlton and his team had become national heroes. A crowd of 500,000 lined the streets of Dublin to welcome them home. Spain disappointed in Italy, falling to Yugoslavia in the last 16, but they returned to Lansdowne Road on FIFA World Cup qualifying business in October 1993, and exacted brutal revenge. On that occasion, a Julio Salinas double helped fire La Roja to a resounding 3-1 win, although history was to repeat itself as the Republic bounced back to clinch a runners-up finish that enabled them to join Spain at USA 1994. |
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Tash Kent
Ray Houghton Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Montserrat Status: Offline Points: 3334 |
Posted: 18 Mar 2009 at 7:03am |
Great atmosphere at that game, everybody was really up for it players and supporters. |
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Philip Greene RTE Radio Legend
10 Seconds Gone Here In Limerick And No Score. |
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