Irish Soccer Team - 1994 World Cup

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The World Cup USA 94 was a hot affair on and off the field. The sweltering heat had the entire Irish team running for refreshments during the game at halftime and never had many, especially Stan Staunton is beetroot spirit in color.

The Irish had only qualified for the finals after a late Alan McLaughlin goal against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park. The game was probably best forgotten because of his religious atmosphere aptly illustrated by MarieJones' in "A Night in November". However, Ireland marched to a 1-1 draw due to the fact that Spain defeated Denmark in even the same night.

USA 94 was a mixed tournament on and off the field for Ireland and one could say that this was the case for football in general. It saw the demise of one of the legends of world football Diego Maradona. He was sent home to the world, failing a drugs test after, where the Argentinean maestro would be the last time we would see theStage. Of much greater significance was the fate of a Colombian defender Escobar. Colombia, which go for a dark horse all the way into the tournament had been considered tame defeat in the first round. Escobar an own goal against the U.S., lost a match they had scored 2-1. Tragically, he paid with his life after ten days, when he shot and killed outside a pub in a suburb of Medellin, Colombia.

Ireland had been developed in a group with Italy, Mexico and Norway. Their first game wastheir winner against Italy four years earlier. In the Giants Stadium went up the Irish team as they recorded their first victory in the World Cup Finals. Yet another memorable day as Ray Houghton chests down a poor header from Franco Baresi, adjusts his feet, swings a left foot, the ball looping over Gianluca Pagliuca and dips under the bar and into the net. The goal celebration says it all and allowed to close the resolve of the Irish, which believe that the Italians and on to aOne nil victory.

Later that day Irish fans and the players would learn from the events that have plagued the home would be a great opportunity. Loyalist paramilitaries were in a pub full of people watching the Italy game in Ireland have Loughinisland, spraying the bar with bullets and killing 6 people turn a football game. Players and fans were equally devastated, as it marked another low point in Irish history and added another atrocity to carry out the long list,from both sides.

However, continued the football and Ireland next game against Mexico, a good team that lacked not their style as flamboyant goalkeeper Campos is marked. His jersey, should not his own design to us by the fact that they distract one of the best goalkeepers in the vicinity at this time. It was always a hard fought match with two contrasting styles, unfortunately this time Ireland got down to a 2-1 defeat. The game isbe remembered more for outbursts on the sideline, but confusion and that a delay in John Aldridge come on as a substitute, led to good news and tempered exchange with the officials. The consequences was that Aldridge finally came on and scored and Jack Charlton was suspended from the dugout for their next game against Norway.

The Norway game proved to be a dull affair. Both teams are missing their targets page and as both played a similar style, it was inevitable that they cancel each otherout. The game ended zero zero, but results went their way in the other game as Mexico held Italy to pull an all. Each team managed to Ireland four points in the second round as a result of John Aldridge winning goal in the defeat against Mexico progress.

The second round saw them beat against the Dutch. The 4th July was the date and Orlando the setting. It was set for a more remarkable story if Ireland beat the Dutch team a lackluster view to reflecting the mighty Brazilians in the coming quarters, the water in the mouth. But since most well-laid plans end so the hopes of the Irish team. A couple of defensive errors proved costly as Denis Bergkamp, the Dutch on their way with 11 minutes on the clock and it was even worse in the 41st Minute, taken as a harmless attempt and hope Jonk was groped by Packie Bonner in the back of the net. Unfortunately, it would be the end of an era, since we would not see many of the great Irish players back on the> World stage, including incredible Roy Keane. It was also the last tournament Jack Charlton would distract us.