Republic of Ireland national football team
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The Republic of Ireland national football team is the national football team of the Republic of Ireland and is governed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). The FAI were founded on June 1 1921, as the Football Association of the Irish Free State. The first international game involving the Irish team took place in Turin, Italy in in March 1926. Though they had been involved in international competition since the 1930's, the team did not qualify for any international tournaments until Euro 88 in Germany. That was followed by reaching the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup. The Irish also reached the second round in the 1994 and 2002 World Cups.
The FAI announced on October 17 2005 that the contract of manager Brian Kerr would not be renewed following elimination from the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers. On 9 January 2006 he was replaced by Steve Staunton, who will be mentored until Euro 2008 by Sir Bobby Robson.
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[edit] Stadium
Since the 1980s, most home matches have been played at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, which is owned by the IRFU, and is to be redeveloped in the period 2007-2009. The first football international played there was a friendly against Italy in 1971; a 5-0 victory over San Marino in a Euro 2008 qualifying match on 15 November 2006 was the last game there before the reconstruction. The all-seater capacity of Landsdowne Road prior to the renovation was 36,000, although higher attendances, using the standing only areas, were permitted for friendly matches. The all seater new stadium will increase capacity for competitive games to 50,000: up to 69,500 can be seated, and 82,000 potentially accommodated for friendlies, during the temporary re-location to the Gaelic Athletic Association's Croke Park ground, also in Dublin.
Prior to the 1980s, the Republic of Ireland played most home games at Dalymount Park but progressively more games were played at Lansdowne following a safety review which reduced Dalymount's capacity and the last international match to be played there was against Morocco in 1990. The Republic of Ireland has also played home matches in Tolka Park (twice) and the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin as well in Cork venues Mardyke and Flower Lodge.
[edit] History in major tournaments
- See comprehensive article: Republic of Ireland national football team - record in major tournaments
[edit] World Cup record
- 1930 - Did not enter
- 1934-1986 Did not qualify
- 1990 - Quarter-finals
- 1994 - Round of 16
- 1998 - Did not qualify
- 2002 - Round of 16
- 2006 - Did not qualify
[edit] European Championships record
- 1960-1984 - Did not qualify
- 1988 - Round 1
- 1992-2004 - Did not qualify
[edit] Notable past players
[edit] Current squad
Clubs are English except where noted.
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[edit] Key historical games
- September 21, 1949: Image:Flag of England (bordered).svg England 0 ‒ 2 Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland, Goodison Park; Friendly; England's first defeat at home to a non-Home Nation side
- November 10, 1965: Image:Flag of Spain.svg Spain 1 ‒ 0 Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland; Parc des Princes, Paris; World Cup qualifying playoff; Was supposed to be played in London (where Irish community would have given huge support), but FAI agreed to move the game to Paris in exchange for 100% of gate money. In front of an almost totally Spanish crowd, the Republic of Ireland lost their best chance of making the finals at that point.
- March 25, 1981: Image:Flag of Belgium.svg Belgium 1 ‒ 0 Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland; Heysel, Brussels; World Cup qualifer; Controversial loss which ultimately cost Ireland qualification for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
- May 27, 1982: Image:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil 7 ‒ 0 Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland; Uberlândia; Friendly; Republic of Ireland's record defeat
- November 16, 1983: Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 8 ‒ 0 Image:Flag of Malta (bordered).svg Malta, Lansdowne Road; European Championship qualifier; Record victory
- October 14, 1987: Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 2 ‒ 0 Image:Flag of Bulgaria (bordered).svg Bulgaria, Lansdowne Road; European Championship qualifier; Enabled qualification to first ever major tournament (Euro 88).
- June 12, 1988: Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 1 ‒ 0 Image:Flag of England (bordered).svg England Neckarstadion, Stuttgart; European Championship first round
- June 25, 1990: Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 0 ‒ 0
Romania; 5 ‒ 4 penalties Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa; World Cup second round; David O'Leary's famous penalty brought Ireland into last eight
- June 18, 1994: Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 1 ‒ 0 Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy; Giants Stadium, East Rutherford; World Cup first round; Unexpected victory over the side who later lost the final on penalties
- June 3, 1995: Image:Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Liechtenstein 0 ‒ 0 Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland; Vaduz; European Championship qualifier; Failure to defeat a nation of population 30,000 with no professional players
- September 1, 2001: Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 1 ‒ 0 Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands; Lansdowne Road; World Cup qualifier; Acclaimed performance, all but guaranteeing World Cup qualification
- June 11, 2002: Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 3 ‒ 0 Saudi Arabia Image:Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg; Yokohama, Japan; World Cup first round; The first time Ireland scored more than one goal in a World Cup finals match. Victory ensured qualification to the second round
- November 15, 2006: Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland 5 ‒ 0 San Marino Image:Flag of San Marino.svg; Lansdowne Road; European Championship qualifier; The final game at Lansdowne Road prior to refurbishment.
[edit] Managers
- Team of selectors (1921-1969)
- Mick Meagan (1969-1971)
- Liam Tuohy (1971-1973)
- Seán Thomas (interim, 1973)
- Johnny Giles (1973-1980)
- Alan Kelly Snr (interim, 1980)
- Eoin Hand (1980-1985)
- Jack Charlton (1986-1995)
- Mick McCarthy (1996-2002)
- Don Givens (interim, 2002)
- Brian Kerr (2003-2005)
- Steve Staunton (2006-)
[edit] References
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[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- RSSSF caps and goals list
- RSSSF archive of coaches
- Ireland matches from World Football Elo Ratings website. Note: this page incorrectly includes matches for the IFA Ireland team up to 1923 alongside the FAI team's matches since 1926.
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