Italia 90,USA 94 or Korea/Japan 2002... which do you remember more fondly?

SeaFields · 15-06-2015 07:49AM

I was 8 for Italia 90. Still remember it well. Myself and all the friends used go to the local pub for the games. We would get a pint of diluted orange for 10p so 20p would get you through the game. We all sat on the floor in front of the telly in the pub and the place used be hectic. Great times.

Pherekydes · 15-06-2015 07:52AM

Where's the options for 1970 and 1986?

1990 was literally rubbish...

Collie D · 15-06-2015 07:56AM

Definitely Italia 90. Was nine years old and was the best summer of my youth. Football on display was ****e, we scored two goals and got to the last eight but was brilliant. Everyone was buzzing. Great atmosphere in the country

Two quotes from the time sum it up for me:

I missed the World Cup because I was in Italy - Con Houlihan

**** Schillacci - Jimmy Rabbitte Sr.

murpho999 · 15-06-2015 08:42AM

Collie D wrote: »

Definitely Italia 90. Was nine years old and was the best summer of my youth. Football on display was ****e, we scored two goals and got to the last eight but was brilliant. Everyone was buzzing. Great atmosphere in the country

Two quotes from the time sum it up for me:

I missed the World Cup because I was in Italy - Con Houlihan

**** Schillacci - Jimmy Rabbitte Sr.

Sorry to be pedantic but that quote came from The Snapper a few years latter so how do you link that to the World Cup at the time?

kfallon · 15-06-2015 08:50AM

murpho999 wrote: »

Sorry to be pedantic but that quote came from The Snapper a few years latter so how do you link that to the World Cup at the time?

Was it not in The Van?

Pherekydes · 15-06-2015 08:54AM

murpho999 wrote: »

Sorry to be pedantic but that quote came from The Snapper a few years latter so how do you link that to the World Cup at the time?

The Commitments, 1991.

kfallon · 15-06-2015 09:00AM

sugarman wrote: »

HAS to be 2002.

We never won a game in Italia 90. It was such boring hoofball, the same that everyone gives out about now.

At least the quality of football played in 2002 was prob the best we've ever played.

Could have easily made the quarters again if it was for a peno miss by harte.

It never captured the public imagination like Italia '90!
The whole Saipan thing kinda divided the nation whereas Italia '90 pretty much united everyone!

valoren · 15-06-2015 09:08AM

Italia 90.

I was young enough to appreciate the hype and atmosphere of a major event.
I wasn't old enough yet to recognise crap football when I saw it.
The sweet spot!

Pass the ball back to Bonner, he hoofs the ball into their box for Cascarino or Quinn to leap up and try to win, then feed off the scraps for chances. Put em under pressure until you win posession again and repeat as above.

I remember being so nervous for the penalty shootout that I went outside due to the tension. There was literally nobody on the streets. Deserted. I've never seen the likes of it since. Then there was a huge roar from the houses. I figured something good must have happened so made it back in time to 'hold my breath' for the final spot kick.

15-06-2015 09:10AM

Italia 90 was just nuts. The country went crazy. Still the best sign at an Irish game was the site of young men, presumably from a farming background holding up their "Mam, sell the sheep, send on the money" plea.

_Kaiser_ · 15-06-2015 09:19AM

Damn this thread

I've been humming this for the last hour now...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5PT65I2ny8

Collie D · 15-06-2015 09:19AM

murpho999 wrote: »

Sorry to be pedantic but that quote came from The Snapper a few years latter so how do you link that to the World Cup at the time?

About the time then. It was The Van by the way. First rule of pedantry

Ruu · 15-06-2015 09:30AM

USA 94. Raaaaaaaayyy Hooouuughtonnnnnn!(shouted George Hamilton) Players getting overheated, and John Aldridge having a go at the officials.

thebaz · 15-06-2015 11:04AM

Streetwalker wrote: »

Keane ruined Japan/Korea for me. Never will be forgiven by most for that incredible selfish act. Italia 90 is the one that stands out tbh.

He should have swallowed his pride and gone .. BUT I'd blame the FAI and the penny pinching on the players so the blazers got more lavish junkets and jollys. With recent revelations they really were a backward organisation back then, more interested in there own self interest and greed than the welfare of the game.

5starpool · 15-06-2015 12:10PM

Italia 90 has the most stand out moments for me. I was 13, and while I remember watching a good bit of the 86 world cup it was the first world cup I was really interested in. Despite the fact that a lot of the games were very poor there were still some great stand out moments, and never before or since have I associated a piece of music so much with an event as with Nessun Dorma and that world cup.

Stojkovic · 15-06-2015 12:24PM

kfallon wrote: »

Nothing beats Italia '90.....nothing

Correct.

Nothings beats it as being the worst WC since 1962.

15-06-2015 12:27PM

Stojkovic wrote: »

Correct.

Nothings beats it as being the worst WC since 1962.

Possibly true, though I have to say I can't remember any prior to 1982 myself.

But of course the outpouring of emotion here was nothing to do with some technical analysis of football. It was just a huge event and had a much wider significance than tactics on the pitch.

kfallon · 15-06-2015 12:27PM

Stojkovic wrote: »

Correct.

Nothings beats it as being the worst WC since 1962.

You weren't complaining when you scored those 2 crackers V Spain

Henlars67 · 15-06-2015 12:28PM

As it stands quite a few of the international players started their careers in the League of Ireland.

That wasn't the case when we were qualifying for World Cups.
Players who don't get to England until later in their career will develop as players later.

Therefore, IMO the only way to get them to that standard earlier is to make massive improvements to the game here, but there is no willingness to do that, so I reckon that we'll probably never qualify for a World Cup again.

Knex* · 15-06-2015 12:36PM

98 was the first World Cup I remember. Was in awe of Ronaldo and that Brazilian team. Gutted when another legend in Zidane beat them in the final.

2002 was great, but I remember being gutted again when Keane left the fold. Had idolised him in that qualification campaign. He was immense against Portugal and Holland and deserved to play a WC when in his prime.

Wasn't born for Italia 90, and too young for 94, but I am fairly jealous when listening to folks memories from those times.

Knex* · 15-06-2015 12:37PM

Stojkovic wrote: »

Correct.

Nothings beats it as being the worst WC since 1962.

2010 in South Africa was horrible to watch as well.

At least it was sandwiched between two good Euros.

Jimoslimos · 15-06-2015 01:01PM

1990:
Pros: 1st WC. Reached the quarter finals. Late equalisers against the Dutch and England. Only lost a single match. Most talented group of players overall. Packie's save in the shootout
Cons: Only scoring two goals and winning 0 matches (penalty shootout win against Romania notwithstanding). Quality of football was rubbish.

1994:
Pros: Won a match. Best individual result, 1-0 vs Italy. Qualified for the second round.
Cons: Losses to Mexico and the Netherlands, Packie Bonner's errors in that latter match.

2002:
Pros: Robbie Keane's late late equaliser against the Germans (eventual finalists). Unbeaten in group stages. Reached second round. Probably the most attractive football despite an inferior group of players.
Cons: Penalty shootout against the Spanish, should have won that game in extra time. Only team we beat were the mighty Saudis.

For the age I was at the time, I think USA '94 shades it, purely for the Italy game.

the_monkey · 15-06-2015 01:39PM

1990 by far . The nostalgia watching these videos is just killing me.

Italia 90,USA 94 or Korea/Japan 2002... which do you remember more fondly?

Comments