The calm before Polish storm
Today marks Ireland’s last game on home soil before Euro 2012. Indeed, in many ways, the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina almost seems a bit of a sideshow. The real event is the send-off. So, in that context, how did Ireland do in previous going-away parties? And did they reveal anything about the competitions to come?
You wouldn’t have known Ireland were heading for their first international tournament. Or perhaps you would have. Because the country seemingly didn’t know what to do. The bandwagon certainly wasn’t moving yet. Just 20 days before the England game in Stuttgart, only 18,000 fans turned up at Lansdowne Road to watch Ireland easily beat Poland. It seems, however, that Jack Charlton let himself go in the relaxed atmosphere. With Ireland 3-0 up after 40 minutes through goals from Kevin Sheedy, Tony Cascarino and John Sheridan, the manager threw on all attacking players in the second half, some evenreplacing defenders. Robert Warzycha’s inevitable 66th-minute goal didn’t spoil the mood.
“That Poland game stands out all right,” Chris Morris says. “We won 3-1 in front of barely anybody. It was a low-key... but it did help to calm everyone.”
Team: Peyton; Morris, McGrath (Quinn 54), Moran, Hughton; Galvin (O’Brien 63), Whelan (Byrne 56), Sheridan (M Kelly 63), Sheedy; Cascarino, Aldridge.
Number of starting XI who also started first game of Euro 88: seven.
By now, the general public had jumped on board. As many as 31,556 turned up at Lansdowne Road but there was, admittedly, another reason for doing so apart from the glamour of Finland.
This game served as an effective testimonial for Liam Brady. Contrary to popular opinion, himself and Jack Charlton had mended their relationship to a certain degree and, in some ways, this was an apology for the manager hauling the Irish legend off before half-time in one of the last friendlies beforehand, a 1-1 draw with West Germany. This game ended with the same scoreline, but only after Kevin Sheedy had scored a late equaliser. That situation would repeat itself.
Team: Bonner; Hughton, O’Leary, McCarthy, Staunton (Morris 67); Houghton, McGrath, Brady (Townsend 26); Byrne (Sheedy 63), Slaven (Aldridge 56), Cascarino.
Number of starting XI who also started first game of Italia 90: six.
The party atmosphere had really begun as this game seemed like a genuine afterthought. But, in many ways, that was fitting. The run of pre-tournament friendlies would actually foreshadow Ireland’s entire USA 94 campaign. Having beaten some big teams early on, the performances would degenerate into flat displays against lesser opposition. Andy Townsend could only punctuate Pavel Kuka’s two goals either side of half-time before Jan Suchoparek sealed a fine win for the new nation. Ireland, meanwhile, were starting to look like the old team that they were.
Team: Bonner; Kelly, Kernaghan, McGrath (Babb 77), Phelan; McGoldrick (Keane 53), Townsend, Sheridan, Staunton; Cascarino (Coyne 64), Aldridge (McAteer 53).
Number of starting XI who also started first game of USA 94: seven.
Little did we know then of the trouble that was brewing in the Ireland camp.
Ironically though, the tempo of this friendly should have perfectly suited Roy Keane’s expectation as regards pre-tournament preparation.
An almost full-strength Irish team were hugely unlucky to come away with a 2-1 defeat having piled ferocious pressure onto the Nigerian back line after going 2-0 down.
Steven Reid eventually pulled one back with his first goal for Ireland, as the squad’s more recent call-ups battled gamely for places once they came on as subs. Certainly, this wasn’t your typical warm-up friendly. It was heated. That, too, was to be fitting.
“It was important we finished on a good note and I think we did that,” Steve Staunton said. In truth, it hadn’t even begun.
Team: Given; Finnan, Staunton, Cunningham, Harte; McAteer (Reid 46), Holland, Keane (Kinsella 63), Kilbane (Kelly 60); Duff (Connolly 60), Keane (Morrison 60).
Number of starting XI who also started first game of 2002 World Cup: eight.
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