Soccer fans get the blues as Cup campaign hopes fade

THEY promised the French “hell at Croke Park” but instead find themselves on the Road to Perdition after Nicolas Anelka’s deflected second-half goal pin-balled its way to the net.

Now, just 90 minutes stand between Ireland and elimination when we travel to Paris on Wednesday for the return leg of the World Cup soccer qualifier playoffs.

It took 72 minutes on Saturday to kill the Croker carnival and silence 70,000 Irish Examiner clap banners used with great effect to urge the team on.