Will Stan answer Ireland’s call?

IRELAND appeared to create a little history on Wednesday night in San Marino. They became the first side to lose a game despite scoring more goals than the opposition.

Despite manager Steve Staunton’s assertions to the contrary, getting three points in San Marino was not the main thing. Decades of seeing their sportsmen as the underdogs meant many Irish people felt for the Sammarinese when they had the greatest result in their history stolen away by Stephen Ireland’s late intervention.

The fact that it was a scuffed goal after the ball pinballed around the area was apt enough, as was the nervous glance from Robbie Keane at the linesman, though the Spurs man was level with the last defender.