Twenty years ago today, where were you?
Bonner proved to be one of two Irish heroes in the penalty shoot-out after the second-round game between the Republic and Romania had finished scoreless at the end of extra-time in Genoa’s Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Then, after all eight players before him had found the net, Dinamo Bucharest player Timofte had the chance to put Romania into a 5-4 lead, which would have meant Ireland needed to score their deciding spot-kick to force sudden-death.
However, Donegal man Bonner thwarted the trend with what would go on to become one of the most iconic moments in Irish sporting history, diving to his right to keep out the Romanian’s tame effort.
Extra-time substitute David O’Leary now had the chance to seal Ireland’s place in the last eight of the World Cup and he, like Packie, stepped up to the plate with a coolly slotted effort, sending Romania stopper Silviu Lung the wrong way.
“It’s incredible that it’s 20 years, it’s passed so quickly and people still remember it,” the former Irish and Celtic number one said yesterday.
“The memory was the way people reacted and how it affected the whole country. We were oblivious to it, though, we didn’t realise how important it was until we came home and seen the reaction of the people.
“Of course, when you’re in a World Cup you see things building up. The penalty situation was quite interesting from a point of view that I had a shut-out in the game. We had done a bit of a plan around how and who was going to go for the penalties.
“It had worked and I was on a bit of a high when I made the save and then David (O’Leary) scored the winning penalty. You can see the reaction of the staff if you watch it on TV again, everybody running to celebrate together – those are unique moments. It just captured the nation, it wasn’t just us doing it, it was everybody.”
Bonner, who went on to accumulate 80 caps for Ireland, said the trials and tribulations of that World Cup would eventually lead to future Irish players being inspired to follow in the footsteps of their heroes.
“The effect it had on the country not just then, but ongoing, was something else. I was talking to some of the guys, young Graham Gartland who is over at St Johnstone. I was on the plane coming home with him one day and I was asking about the uniqueness of Tallaght for example and how many players from those particular three or four streets went on to represent Ireland or played League of Ireland.
“You have Robbie (Keane), Richard (Dunne), young Graham Barrett; there’s a whole gang of them. And the reason he said was what happened in 1990 had affected them. They had nothing else to do but go out and play football. That’s what happens when you get to a major tournament.”
The Burtonport man also touched upon how the Irish players prepared themselves for such a scenario and he, himself, didn’t have so much luck with a penalty shoot-out earlier that year – a Scottish Cup Final loss to Aberdeen where Celtic lost 9-8 on spot-kicks.
He said: “It was a bit of luck actually because I had gone into a cup final just before that and went the right way for one of the nine penalties so I was clutching at straws. And having Gerry Peyton, who was very experienced and knowledgeable, sitting in the room talking to you about the whole scenario that actually helped me.
“The other thing was Niall Quinn had a bit of a book going when the lads were taking three penalties at the end of every training session. Niall would go in goals and if you missed one you owed him a fiver and if you scored the three he owed you a fiver. That’s how the lads practised.”
And, while Bonner touched upon the stream of players that rolled out of south Dublin, back home in Donegal a certain 14-year old Shay Given was one of thousands glued to their television sets, eventually going on to accept the baton after Packie had retired from international football in 1996.
“It was obviously a very special moment,” the Man City keeper recalled, as he sat beside Bonner in Letterkenny this week.
He added: “I was back in Lifford and I remember when we won, we jumped into the car and drove into town as if we had won the World Cup. I suppose you dream about playing football at that age but as Packie knows, coming from Donegal, not a lot of players play for Ireland. I still remember it like it was yesterday and not 20 years ago.”
Given, who has since gone on to become the most capped (104) Irish player along with Kevin Kilbane, said it didn’t so much make him want to be a goalkeeper specifically, but was definitely a huge inspiration.
“I played in goals and a bit of outfield too back then. I wouldn’t say it was a moment that made me want to be a goalkeeper, as such, but it was definitely a special, special moment and one you’ll always remember.”
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Bonner; Morris, Staunton, McCarthy (c), Moran, McGrath; Houghton, Sheedy, Townsend; Aldridge, Quinn.
Subs: Cascarino (Aldridge, 22), O’Leary (Staunton, 95).
ROMANIA: Lung (c); Rednic, Klein, IAndone, Rotariu; Popescu, Sabau, Hagi, Lupescu; Raducioiu, Balint.
Subs: Lupu (Raduciociu, 76 mins), Timofte (Sabau, 96 mins).
Referee: Jose Ramiz Wright (Brazil).
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