With Ireland’s World Cup campaign over at the play-off stage, we took a look back at Ireland’s previous play-off success and failures.
And more importantly what happened next, for the teams usually who died with their boots on. Was the defeat to the Czech’s the begining or the begining of the end.
Ireland v Spain – Paris – World Cup 66 Play-off November 1965
The 1966 World cup was set for England with Ireland drawn in a three team group with Spain and surprisingly Syria!
However, Syria withdrew before a game was even played. Ireland beat Spain in Dalymount Park 1-0 and lost the second game 4-1 in Sevilla.
However, the rules didn’t include goal difference! So a play-off game was called for!
The match was due to be played in London. However, Spain offered the FAI the gate receipts if the match was moved to Paris.
The FAI said no. However, received a tip-off, FIFA would move the game to Paris and quickly called the Spanish FA to accept their proposal!
An Irish side featuring Johnny Giles, Eammon Dunphy, Charlie Hurley, Noel Cantwell and Tony Dunne battled for a first World Cup appearance.
Up stepped Athletico Madrid’s José Ufarte to fire the Spanish to swinging England.
What happened next: Not much it turned out. Ireland finished third in their Euro 68 qualifying group and didn’t win a game in Mexico 70 qualifying.
In fact, it would not be until 1981 where Ireland would come anywhere close to qualifying for a major tournament. It would take another five years for the Charlton era and the barrier to be broken.
Ireland v Netherlands – Anfield – Euro 96 play-off – December 1995
Fast forward 30-years and rather than this being the start of something, it was in fact the end of the Charlton era.
Ireland came back from USA 94 as heroes. The introduction of Gary Kelly, Phill Babb and Jason McAteer were sure to see Charlton’s side to the Euro’s in England.
Ireland starting expertly 2-0 away to Latvia, 5-0 at home to Liechtenstein and 4-0 away to Northern Ireland. Match tickets for the summer of 96 were already booked. Alas, the team was getting old as observers had pointed out.
A disastrous 0-0 with Liechtenstein was followed by back-to-back defeats to Austria. A heavy 3-0 defeat away to Portugal, with most of the team injured resulted in Ireland meeting Netherlands in a one-off play-off.
Roy Keane was injured and Niall Quinn suspended, while the Dutch boasted the young energetic Ajax team which won the 1995 champions league. Patrick Kluivert struck twice and the dying hopes of an English goodbye to big Jack disappeared.
What happen next: The Charlton era officially ended seven days later.
Ireland v Belguim – Two legs – World Cup 98 – November 1997
Mick McCarthy succeeded Jack Charlton as Ireland manager in February ’96 and immediately went about rebuilding an aging team.
As John Aldridge and Paul McGrath were faded out of the team, in came Ian Harte, Gary Breen, Kenny Cunningham and David Connolly, what would prove to be the base of McCarthy’s panel.
A second place finish behind Romania in what was a rocky group. However, with hindsight this was a transitional team. A notable shock defeat to Macedonia either side of home draws with Iceland and Lithuania questioned if McCarthy was the man.
With star player Roy Keane missing three of the 10 group games and the two play-off games due to injury.
Ireland started brilliantly in the first leg in Lansdowne Road with an early Denis Irwin free-kick finding the net. Luc Nilis struck a telling away goal as the Belgian’s grew into the game and claimed a 1-1 draw.
The Belgian’s shot into the lead in the second leg through, Luís Oliveira, but Ireland battled back with a Ray Houghton goal setting up a grand stand finish. Alas Nilis struck again and Ireland went out.
What happened next: Captain Andy Townsend called it a day straight after the game. This was really just the start for Ireland under McCarthy as Ray Houghton exited and two players named Robbie Keane and Damien Duff arrived.
Ireland v Turkey – Two legs – Euro 2000 – November 1999
The one that got away! Ireland were just 90 seconds away from qualifying for Euro 2000 in the final qualifying game in Macedonia.
An un-marked Goran Stavrevski charged into space to head home a last gasp equaliser which saw Yugoslavia qualify directly for Euro 2000. Ireland went into the playoff and Croatia who finished third at the World Cup crashed out.
While, Ireland were still growing, Turkey were coming into a golden period. Galatasaray were making all sorts of noises in Europe and a special Turkish striker in Hakan Sukur.
Ireland seemed to have done enough to get a win when Robbie Keane found the net 11 minutes from time in the first leg at Lansdowne Road. Then a Lee Carsley handball gifted Turkey an equaliser from the penalty spot.
A scoreless draw in Izmir saw Ireland bow out on away goals.
What happened next: Tony Cascarino was sent-off in the resultant brawl after the game in Izmir. His retirement meant it was his last action in green. Ireland headed to another US Cup that summer and France won Euro 2000.
Ireland v Iran – Two legs – World Cup 2002 – November 2001
The impossible group was conquered. Ireland split Portugal and the Netherlands in qualifying thanks to draws away to the big two and Jason McAteer’s famous goal against the Dutch.
For the first time, Ireland went a qualifying campaign without a defeat and were the best of all the second placed teams. Alas, this was the first year, the second best team did not qualify automatically.
So another play-off awaited. An Ian Harte penalty and a Robbie Keane volley saw off Iran in the first home leg, against what turned out to be a dangerous Iran side.
Yahya Golmohammadi headed home a 90th minute winner for the hosts in the return leg in a tense Tehran. However, it wasn’t to matter. Mission accomplished at the fifth play-off of asking.
What happened next: Ireland qualified for the World Cup in Japan and Korea. Saipan, Robbie Keane’s cartwheels and penalties with Spain were all to come.
Ireland v France – Two Legs – World Cup 2010 – November 2009
It would take another eight years for Ireland to come close to qualifying for a tournament with Charlton and McCarthy’s record of top two finishes only, undone by Brian Kerr and Steve Staunton.
In came a highly paid Giovanni Trappatoni to a side with the spine of McCarthy’s but needing new blood. Trap certainly found that! Ireland finished second in group eight, behind World champions Italy.
The Italians were denied a win in Bari by a last gasp Robbie Keane goal. While a last gasp Alberto Gilardino goal in Croke Park saved Italy’s bacon.
Just a second ever unbeaten campaign with second placed secured before the final group game.
Alas, the draw didn’t favour Ireland with France the name out of the hat.
Ireland had chances in Croke Park. Liam Lawnerence’s effort was cleared off the line by Bacary Sagna. Nicholas Anleka’s deflected 68th minute shot giving France the win!
With hope low, Ireland were excellent in Paris. Robbie Keane finished off a brilliant Damien Duff run making it 1-1. The game went to extra-time where the famous Henry hand ball saw William Gallas put the ball into the Irish net!
Irish luck again!
What happened next: John Delaney moaned, Ireland asked to be team 33 to no avail. It turned out €5 million ended up in the FAI coffers after the protest. We stayed at home that summer and celebrated Mexico beating France.
Ireland v Estonia – Two Legs – Euro 2012 – November 2011
A tough group draw with Russia, Slovakia our old friends Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra. Russia battered Ireland in the Aviva stadium, yet Ireland huffed and puffed to second place with a hard work man like performance.
The era summed up by Richard Dunne in Moscow as Ireland somehow drew 0-0.
Estonia was the play-off place with hopes high this time around. Ireland delivered big time. Keith Andrews, Jon Walters and a Robbie Keane double saw Ireland win the first leg 4-0.
The return game was a damp squid were the job was done with a 1-1 draw. Ireland qualified for the Euro’s for the first time in 24-years and the first time they did the job in-front of a home crowd.
What happened next: The group of death, Spain, Italy and Croatia. We’ll forget about this one! Trap lasted one more campaign.
Ireland v Bosnia & Herzegovina – Two Legs – Euro 2016 – November 2015
Martin O’Neill came into manage what was now an aging team. The qualification was different this time around with the top two qualifying for the Euro’s in France with the third place team going into the play-off.
Things were never going to be easy with Ireland paired with Germany, Poland and Scotland, along with Georgia. Georgia hadn’t forgotten how the FAI refused to allow the 2008 qualifier be played in Georgia, even though their war with Russia was over.
There was drama in this campaign. Last gasp draws with Germany and Poland. Defeat away to Scotland and a draw in Dublin, seemed to have us done. Then Shane Long put Germany away.
Ireland finished third behind Germany and Poland.
A first competitive meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina was the reward with a place in the Euro’s at stake. A dense fog descended on Zenica for the first leg.
Robbie Brady gave Ireland the lead eight minutes from time, but not all of us saw it! Edin Džeko levelled the game.
In the Aviva Stadium, Ireland were better. A Jon Walters penalty and 70th minute goal sealed the win and we were off to France
What happened next: A trip to France in the summer! Wes Holohan and a Robbie Brady winner against Italy. What might have been with more rest ahead of the France game claimed Martin O’Neill
Ireland v Denmark – Two legs – World Cup 2018 – November 2017
The one to forget. Ireland huffed and puffed through this campaign. A draw away to Serbia and a win in Austria set Ireland up early on. However, the side was aging. A bad injury to Seamus Coleman didn’t help.
Ireland struggled to the line with draws at home to Wales and Austria and away to Georgia and defeat at home to Serbia. It came down to a showdown with Wales in the final game.
James McClean struck on the counter and Ireland were in the play-offs.
The cheers were heard when Denmark came out of the hat. They were heard when Ireland scored a 0-0 draw in Copenhagen and when Shane Duffy gave Ireland a sixth minute lead in the Aviva.
Then Martin O’Neill’s dream turned into a nightmare as Denmark found the net five times.
What happened next: O’Neill outstayed his welcome. Declan Rice and Jack Grealish declared for England. A limp Ireland draw two and lost two of their four nation’s league games and the O’Neill era ended.
Slovakia v Ireland – Bratislava – semi-final – Euro 2020 – October 2020
The FAI looked to an old friend in Mick McCarthy to guide the team to Euro 2020 and two group games in Dublin.
McCarthy picked up a side devoid of confidence and struggling with finding new players. In all that his side came close to making Euro 2020.
Matt Doherty equalised against Denmark in the final group game in the Aviva. The ball and players flew forward in the final moments put the Danes held on to make Euro 2020 and Ireland headed into their 10th play-off this time under a different two game, different team format.
McCarthy fancied getting past Slovakia in Bratislava and facing a game against either Bosnia or Northern Ireland in the play-off final.
Then came Covid-19! The March 2020 tie was reset to October and in came Stephen Kenny slightly ahead of schedule.
In front of an empty stadium, Ireland missed chances against a Slovak side down players! Penalties was the result and Ireland bowed out without a whimper.
What happened next: The Kenny era – the less said the better!