The arguably best WC qualifying group in history

1982 World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2

             w d l goals pt      att

Belgium      5 1 2 12-9  11   41.703

France       5 0 3 20-8  10   45.195

Ireland      4 2 2 17-11 10   34.914

Netherlands  4 1 3 11-7   9   43.243

Cyprus       0 0 8  4-29  0    7.450

5 goals:

Erwin Vandenbergh (Bel), Michel Platini (Fra) 

4 goals:

Jan Ceulemans (Bel)

3 goals:

Gerry Daly, Michael Robinson, Frank Stapleton (Irl), Bernard Lacombe, Didier Six (Fra) 

2 goals:

Jean-François Larios, Gerard Soler, Jacques Zimako (Fra), Tony Grealish, Mark Lawrenson, Paul McGee (Irl), Arnold Mühren, Kees van Kooten (Ned) 

Player ratings Ireland 0-1 France

 0-1 50' Benjamin Pavard. Att: 50.219 (Aviva Stadium, Dublin).

Ireland: Gavin Bazunu 6,00 - Séamus Coleman 6,50, John Egan 6,20, Dara O'Shea 6,30 (78' Alan Browne), Nathan Collins 6,80, Jayson Molumby 6,20 (86' Michael Obafemi), Josh Cullen 5,60, Matt Doherty 5,40, Chiedozie Ogbene 6,50, Jason Knight 5,10 (77' Mikey Johnston), Evan Ferguson 5,20 (65' Adam Idah). - coach:  Stephen Kenny. = average: 5,98 [adequate]
    
France: Mike Maignan 7,00 - Benjamin Pavard 6,70 (81' Jules Koundé), Ibrahima Konaté 6,20, Dayot Upamecano 6,10, Theo Hernández 5,10, Antoine Griezmann 6,20, Eduardo Camavinga 6,50, Adrien Rabiot 5,80 (81' Aurélien Tchouaméni), Randal Kolo Muani 5,60, Olivier Giroud 5,00 (65' Moussa Diaby), Kylian Mbappé 5,70. - coach: Didier Deschamps. = average: 5,99 [adequate]

Ireland ratings in the Euro 1988

 

Ratings: Guerin Sportivo - El Mundo Deportivo.

7,00 Ray Houghton
6,67 Packie Bonner
6,65 Paul McGrath
6,56 Ronnie Whelan
6,44 Chris Hughton, Kevin Moran
6,33 Mick McCarthy
6,22 Chris Morris, John Aldridge
6,11 Tony Galvin
6,07 Kevin Sheedy
5,89 Frank Stapleton

Player ratings Ireland 1-5 Denmark

1-0 6' Shane Duffy h., 1-1 29' Andreas Christensen r. (Pione Sisto), 1-2 32' Christian Eriksen r. (Nicolai Jørgensen), 1-3 63' Christian Eriksen l. (Pione Sisto), 1-4 74' Christian Eriksen r., 1-5 90' Nicklas Bendtner PK (Nicklas Bendtner). Att: 50.000 (Aviva Stadium, Dublin).

Ireland: Darren Randolph 6,30 - Stephen Ward 4,70, Shane Duffy 6,00, Ciaran Clark 5,50 (71' Shane Long), Cyrus Christie 5,40, David Meyler 5,40 (46' Wes Hoolahan 5,70), Jeff Hendrick 5,00, Robbie Brady 5,20, Harry Arter 5,10 (46' Aiden McGeady 5,20), Daryl Murphy 5,40, James McClean 5,60. - coach: Martin O'Neill. = average: 5,42 [feeble]

Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel 5,80 - Andreas Christensen 6,40, Simon Kjær 6,40, Andreas Bjelland 6,20, Jens Stryger Larsen 5,80 (54' Peter Ankersen 5,80), William Kvist 6,60, Christian Eriksen 8,30, Thomas Delaney 6,40, Yussuf Poulsen 6,30 (70' Andreas Cornelius 5,80), Nicolai Jørgensen 6,80 (84' Nicklas Bendtner), Pione Sisto 7,10. - coach: Åge Hareide. = average: 6,44 [strong]

Player ratings France 2-1 Ireland.

0-1 2' Robbie Brady PK, 1-1 58' Antoine Griezmann h. (Bacary Sagna), 2-1 61' Antoine Griezmann l. (Olivier Giroud). Sent off: 66' Shane Duffy. Att: 56.279 (Lyon).

France: Hugo Lloris 6,70 - Patrice Evra 5,70, Adil Rami 5,40, Bacary Sagna 6,40, Laurent Koscielny 5,70, N'Golo Kanté 5,40 (46' Kingsley Coman 6,30 - 90' Moussa Sissoko), Blaise Matuidi 6,20, Paul Pogba 5,60, Antoine Griezmann 7,70, Dimitri Payet 6,30, Olivier Giroud 6,30 (73' André-Pierre Gignac 6,00). - coach: Didier Deschamps 6,40. = average: 6,13 [satisfactory]

Ireland: Darren Randolph 6,50 - Séamus Coleman 5,90, Richard Keogh 5,60, Shane Duffy 5,10, Stephen Ward 5,70, Robbie Brady 6,20, James McCarthy 5,70 (72' Wes Hoolahan 5,60), Jeff Hendrick 5,80, Shane Long 6,30, James McClean 5,70 (68' John O'Shea 5,70), Daryl Murphy 5,80 (65' Jon Walters 5,40). - coach: Martin O'Neill 5,90. = average: 5,79 [mediocre]

Average position: France 55,5 m, Ireland 45,6.

Player ratings Italy 0-1 Ireland.

0-1 85' Robbie Brady h. (Wes Hoolahan). Att: 44.268 (Lille).

Italy: Salvatore Sirigu 5,50 - Mattia De Sciglio 5,70 (82' Stephan El Shaarawy), Angelo Ogbonna 6,10, Andrea Barzagli 6,10, Leonardo Bonucci 5,60, Alessandro Florenzi 5,40, Thiago Motta 5,20, Stefano Sturaro 5,20, Simone Zaza 5,70, Ciro Immobile 5,30 (74' Lorenzo Insigne 6,30), Federico Bernardeschi 5,00 (60' Matteo Darmian 5,50). - coach: Antonio Conte 5,30. = average: 5,58 [failing]

Ireland: Darren Randolph 5,80 - Séamus Coleman 6,30, Richard Keogh 6,20, Shane Duffy 6,60, Stephen Ward 6,00, Robbie Brady 7,10, James McCarthy 6,20 (77' Wes Hoolahan 6,20), Jeff Hendrick 6,70, Shane Long 6,00 (90' Stephen Quinn), James McClean 6,30, Daryl Murphy 6,00 (70' Aiden McGeady 5,90). - coach: Martin O'Neill 6,80. = average: 6,25 [solid]

Player ratings Belgium 3-0 Ireland.

1-0 48' Romelu Lukaku l. (Kevin De Bruyne), 2-0 61' Axel Witsel h. (Thomas Meunier), 3-0 70' Romelu Lukaku l. (Eden Hazard). Att: 39.493 (Bordeaux).

Belgium: Thibaut Courtois 6,10 - Toby Alderweireld 6,40, Thomas Vermaelen 6,20, Jan Vertonghen 6,10, Thomas Meunier 6,80, Axel Witsel 6,90, Kevin De Bruyne 6,90, Eden Hazard 6,60, Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco 5,90 (64' Dries Mertens 6,00), Mousa Dembélé 6,30 (57' Radja Nainggolan 6,00), Romelu Lukaku 7,20 (83' Christian Benteke). - coach: Marc Wilmots 6,80. = average: 6,42 [strong]

Ireland: Darren Randolph 5,70 - Séamus Coleman 5,80, Ciaran Clark 5,20, John O'Shea 5,40, Stephen Ward 5,20, Robbie Brady 5,90, Glenn Whelan 5,50, James McCarthy 5,20 (62' James McClean 5,40), Jeff Hendrick 5,90, Wes Hoolahan 5,60 (71' Aiden McGeady 5,70), Shane Long 5,80 (79' Robbie Keane). - coach: Martin O'Neill 5,40. = average: 5,56 [failing]

Player ratings Ireland 1-1 Sweden.

1-0 48' Wes Hoolahan r. (Séamus Coleman), 1-1 71' og Ciaran Clark. Att: 73.419 (St Denis).

Ireland: Darren Randolph 6,10 - Séamus Coleman 6,40, Ciaran Clark 4,80, John O'Shea 6,30, Robbie Brady 6,60, Glenn Whelan 6,30, James McCarthy 6,00 (85' Aiden McGeady), Jeff Hendrick 6,90, Wes Hoolahan 7,00 (78' Robbie Keane), Shane Long 5,70, Jon Walters 5,60 (64' James McClean 5,70). - coach: Martin O'Neill 6,50. = average: 6,12 [satisfactory]

Sweden: Andreas Isaksson 6,40 - Mikael Lustig 5,40 (45' Erik Johansson 5,90), Andreas Granqvist 5,70, Martin Olsson 6,60, Victor Lindelöf 5,70, Emil Forsberg 5,90, Sebastian Larsson 5,40, Kim Källström 5,50, Oscar Lewicki 5,30 (86' Albin Ekdal), Zlatan Ibrahimović 6,30, Marcus Berg 5,10 (59' John Guidetti 6,00). - coach: Erik Hamrén 5,30. = average: 5,78 [mediocre]

Player ratings Ireland 2-0 Bosnia.

1-0 24' Jon Walters penalty, 2-0 70' Jon Walters r. Att: 50.500 (Aviva Stadium, Dublin).

Ireland: Darren Randolph 6,40 - Richard Keogh 6,40, Séamus Coleman 6,50, Ciaran Clark 6,70, James McCarthy 6,60, Wesley Hoolahan 6,00 (55' Shane Long 5,70), Jeff Hendrick 6,70, Robbie Brady 6,80, Glenn Whelan 6,30 (90' John O'Shea), Jon Walters 7,70, Daryl Murphy 5,60 (55' James McClean 5,60). - coach: Martin O'Neill 7,00. = average: 6,38 [strong]

Bosnia: Asmir Begović 5,60 - Sead Kolašinac 5,30, Edin Cocalić 5,70 (46' Muhamed Bešić 5,80), Ervin Zukanović 5,60, Ognjen Vranješ 5,50, Emir Spahić 4,70, Miralem Pjanić 5,80, Haris Medunjanin 5,70 (69' Milan Đurić 5,60), Senad Lulić 5,10 (80' Vedad Ibišević), Edin Višća 5,70, Edin Džeko 5,60. - coach: Mehmed Baždarević 4,80. = average: 5,52 [poor]

Player ratings Italy 0, Ireland 0.

Att: 22.879 (Craven Cottage, London).
Italy: Salvatore Sirigu 7,40 - Gabriel Paletta 5,10, Mattia De Sciglio 5,60, Matteo Darmian 6,50 (88' Ignazio Abate), Leonardo Bonucci 5,50, Marco Verratti 6,80, Thiago Motta 5,10 (62' Daniele De Rossi 6,00), Riccardo Montolivo (15' Alberto Aquilani - 37' Marco Parolo 6,30), Claudio Marchisio 6,60, Giuseppe Rossi 5,20 (71' Alessio Cerci 5,80), Ciro Immobile 5,70 (57' Antonio Cassano 6,30). - coach: Prandelli. = average: 5,99 [acceptable]
Ireland: David Forde 6,00 - Stephen Ward 5,90, Alex Pearce 5,40, John O'Shea 6,30, Sean Long 6,00 (73' Simon Cox), Seamus Coleman 6,10, Jeff Hendrick 5,70, Anthony Pilkington 6,40 (59' James McClean 5,70), David Meyler 5,70 (85' Paul Green), Aiden McGeady 6,40, Wesley Hoolahan 5,90 (67' Stephen Quinn 6,00). - coach: O'Neill. = average: 5,96 [acceptable]

Player ratings Spain 2, Ireland 0.

1-0 69' Soldado, 2-0 88' Mata. Att: 39.368 (Yankee Stadium, New York City).
Spain: Victor Valdés 5,40 (59' Iker Casillas 6,60) - Jordi Alba 6,30, Arbeloa 6,00, Sergio Ramos 6,20, Piqué 6,00 - Iniesta 5,70 (59' Soldado 7,00) David Silva 6,00 (46' Jesús Navas 5,90), Busquets 6,20, Xavi 6,20 (69' Mata 6,50) - David Villa 5,20 (59' Cesc Fábregas 6,00), Pedro 6,20 (80' Santi Cazorla 5,90). - coach: Vicente Del Bosque. = average: 6,08 [satisfactory]
Ireland: David Forde 6,20 (74' Darren Randolph 6,10) - Stephen Kelly 5,50 (90' Damien Delaney), Seamus Coleman 5,40, Sean St Ledger 6,00, Darren O'Dea 5,20 - Paul McShane 6,30, Jeff Hendrick 5,20 (46' Stephen Quinn 5,20), James McCarthy 6,00 (84' David Meyler), Andy Keogh 5,50 (74' James McClean 5,60) - Robbie Keane 5,50 (57' Simon Cox 5,50), Conor Sammon 6,10. - coach: Giovanni Trapattoni. = average: 5,69 [disappointing]

Player ratings England 1, Ireland 1.

0-1 13' Long, 1-1 23' Lampard. Att: 80.126.
England: Hart 6,00 (46' Foster 5,80) - G. Johnson 5,80 (46' P. Jones 6,00), Cahill 5,50, Jagielka 5,90, A. Cole 6,30 (54' Baines 5,70) - Walcott 6,50, Lampard 6,50, Carrick 5,50, Oxlade-Chamberlain 5,80 (87' Milner) - Rooney 5,20, Sturridge 6,00 (34' Defoe 5,40). - coach: Hodgson. = average: 5,86 [mediocre]
Ireland: Forde 6,80 - Coleman 6,70, O’Shea 6,00, St Ledger 5,70, Kelly 5,50 - Walters 6,30 (81' Sammon), McCarthy 6,30, Whelan 6,00 (73' Hendrick 5,80), McGeady 6,20 (68' McClean 5,80), Long 6,50 - Keane 5,70 (65' Cox 6,00). - coach: Trapattoni. = average: 6,09 [acceptable]

Player ratings Sweden 0, Ireland 0.

Att: 49.431 (Friends Arena, Solna).
Sweden: Andreas Isaksson 5,80 - Behrang Safari 5,90, Mikael Lustig 5,00 (46' Mikael Antonsson 6,10), Andreas Granqvist 5,80, Jonas Olsson 5,80 - Sebastian Larsson 5,60 (87' Jimmy Durmaz), Kim Källström 5,50, Rasmus Elm 5,00, Alexander Kačaniklić 6,10 - Zlatan Ibrahimović 5,70, Tobias Hysén 6,10 (73' Ola Toivonen 5,40). - coach: Hamrén. = average: 5,68 [disappointing]
Ireland: David Forde 6,80 - Ciaran Clark 6,00, John O'Shea 6,10, Seamus Coleman 6,90, Marc Wilson 6,10 - Jonathan Walters 5,50, Paul Green 6,10, James McClean 6,40 (83' Andrew Keogh), James McCarthy 6,70, Robbie Keane 5,80 (77' Wes Hoolahan) - Shane Long 5,80 (87' Conor Sammon). - coach: Trapattoni. = average: 6,20 [solid]

Player ratings Ireland 1, Germany 6.

0-1 32' Reus, 0-2 40' Reus, 0-3 55' Özil penalty, 0-4 58' Klose, 0-5 61' Kroos, 0-6 83' Kroos, 1-6 92' Keogh. Att: 51.150 (Aviva Stadium, Dublin).
Ireland: Westwood 4,60 - Coleman 4,60, O'Shea 4,60, O'Dea 4,50, S. Ward 4,50 - McCarthy 4,60, Andrews 4,50, Fahey 5,00 (51' Long 5,10) - Cox 4,50 (84' Brady), McGeady 4,60 (69' Keogh 6,10) - Walters 6,10.  - coach: Trapattoni. = average: 4,87 [outrageous]
Germany: Neuer 6,10 - J. Boateng 6,60, Mertesacker 6,30, Badstuber 6,10, Schmelzer 7,00 - Khedira 6,50 (46' Kroos 7,50), Schweinsteiger 7,00 - T. Müller 7,00, Özil 7,10, Reus 8,10 (66' Podolski 6,50) - Klose 7,50 (72' Schürrle). - coach: Löw. = average: 6,87 [superb]

Memory Lane: Ireland in the Euro 1988.

Ireland's first appearance at a major finals tournament.


6,93 Ray Houghton -photo-
6,60 Paul McGrath
6,57 Ronnie Whelan
6,50 Packie Bonner
6,40 Chris Morris & Steve Moran
6,37 Mick McCarthy
6,33 Chris Hughton
6,27 Tony Galvin
6,20 John Aldridge
5,95 Kevin Sheedy
5,87 Frank Stapleton

Player ratings Italy 2, Ireland 0.

1-0 35' Cassano, 2-0 90' Balotelli. Referee: Çakιr‎ 6,70. Sent-off: 88' Andrews. Att: 38.794 (Poznan).
Italy: Buffon 6,50 - Abate 6,00, Barzagli 6,70, Chiellini 6,30 (57' Bonucci 6,20), Balzaretti 6,70 - Marchisio 6,10, Pirlo 6,00, De Rossi 6,40, Thiago Motta 5,70 - Di Natale 6,20 (74' Balotelli 6,90), Cassano 7,20 (62' Diamanti 6,10). - coach: Prandelli 6,20. = average: 6,36.
Ireland: Given 5,20 - O’Shea 5,20, Dunne 5,70, St Ledger 6,50, S. Ward 5,80 - Duff 5,90, K. Andrews 5,50, Whelan 5,70, McGeady 5,60 (65' Long 5,70) - Doyle 5,80 (75' Walters), Keane 5,20 (87' Cox). - coach: Trapattoni 5,90. = average: 5,65.


Pagelle Italia-Irlanda su Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere della Sera, Corriere dello Sport, La Repubblica e sulla stampa internazionale.

Player ratings Spain 4, Ireland 0.

1-0 4' Fernando Torres, 2-0 49' Silva, 3-0 70' Fernando Torres, 4-0 82' Fàbregas. Referee: Proença 6,00. Att: 39.150 (Gdansk).
Spain: Casillas 6,30 - Arbeloa 6,50, Piqué 6,50, Sergio Ramos 6,30, Jordi Alba 6,30 - Xavi 7,00, Busquets 6,60, Xabi Alonso 6,50 (65' Javi Martínez 6,20) - Silva 7,20, Fernando Torres 7,30 (75' Fàbregas 6,70), Iniesta 7,10 (80' Cazorla). - coach: Del Bosque 6,80. = average: 6,65.
Ireland: Given 5,40 - O'Shea 5,80, St Ledger 5,40, Dunne 4,70, Ward 5,20 - Duff 5,30 (76' McClean), Andrews 5,50, Whelan 5,60 (84' Green), McGeady 5,40 - Cox 5,00 (46' Walters 5,50), Robbie Keane 5,80. - coach: Trapattoni 5,80. = average: 5,38.

Player ratings Ireland 1, Croatia 3.

1-0 3' Mandžukić, 1-1 19' St Ledger, 1-2 43' Jelavić, 1-3 48' og Given. Referee: Kuipers 5,50. Att: 39.550 (Poznan).
Irland: Given 4,90 - O’Shea 5,40, St Ledger 6,40, Dunne 5,60, Ward 4,60 - Duff 5,40, Andrews 5,90, Whelan 5,80, McGeady 5,40 (53' Cox 5,60) - Robbie Keane 5,50 (75' Long), Doyle 5,30 (53' Walters 5,80). - coach: Trapattoni 5,70. = average: 5,51.
Croatia: Pletikosa 6,30 - Srna 6,80, Ćorluka 5,90, Schildenfeld 5,90, Strinić 6,20 - Vukojević 6,60, Rakitić 6,40 (92' Dujmović), Modrić 6,80, Perišić 7,00 (89' Eduardo) - Jelavić 6,80 (72' Kranjčar), Mandžukić 7,30. - coach: Bilić 6,80. = average: 6,55.

Euro 2012 Hrvatska Irska igrač gostiju.