Miguel Delaney: Jack Charlton’s long ball was also long-sighted

Jack Charlton scratches his head in bewilderment at the reception for the fans for the Irish team during the Italia 90 homecoming.Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

It was a remarkable thing to say about a summer that had just seen Diego Maradona reach his peak, but Jack Charlton wasn’t in Mexico to be entertained.

After he had attended the 1986 World Cup in his first in-depth scouting mission in his new role, the recently-appointed Irish boss declared he had seen “nothing new”.