Throwback...Remembering Ireland's victory over Italy in '94
The World Cup graces us with its illustrious presence once every four years. This being said, the excitement and adrenaline that we experience throughout the month-long exploit of our favoured drug of choice can influence and feed our habits long past our three year wait, the ultimate comedown. Before we take another hit and witness history as it unfolds before us, it would be only right to remember a history of our own, with the glorification of Ireland’s memorable victory over the Italians on American soil in ’94.
The rare but ever-constant optimistic rumblings could be heard floating like a secluded ghost in the background of every pub in Ireland, although nobody truly gave us a chance against Goliath. In our heart of hearts we had come to the realisation that as a nation, damage limitation would be the key to sparing our blushes. Italy were a force, being touted as one of the favourites to lift the coveted World Cup trophy before a ball had touched the freshly cut grass in the centre of the aptly named Giant’s stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Everyone knew at the time that the best players in the world came from Italy, and when they lined out alongside our boys in front of a 75,338 strong crowd, we collectively held our rosary beads in hand and prayed for a miracle. A service, it seemed, God was willing to provide. As it turned out it wasn’t about whether or not the glass was half full or half empty but what in fact was in the glass on the day. It proved to be a mixture of determination and heart, drank down by eleven men and showcased in front of the World.
There were many footnotes to take from this World Cup run. The first being that 1994 was Irish legend Roy Keane’s only ever appearance at a World Cup for Ireland. Unfortunately we all know how this came to pass. A shame to think that one of Ireland’s finest sons got only one chance to showcase his talents on the World Stage before he overshot his prime. Another would be Charlton’s man-management of man of the moment Ray Houghton, whom he suggested before the tournament had surpassed his finest years as a footballer. If there was ever a way to prove your manager wrong, scoring the winning goal against the Italians was a sure fire solution to his problem.
The crucial, career-defining strike from Houghton came twelve minutes into the game. Who can forget the long ball into the box; dropping like a bomb onto the head of the Italian centre-half. A lapse of concentration from the Italian defence allows Houghton to pounce on the loose ball like a starved lion. One touch displayed the elegance needed to take him away from the opposition, and a second touch, captured on television by the heart in mouth silence, allowed the ball to loop over the head of the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net. We could almost hear the ball nestle in the fabric as the strike sent the crowd and the nation into raptures. A sea of green and a deafening roar erupted from the stands and Houghton wheeled away for a roly-poly. The infamous description from the man himself sums it up perfectly…”I just hit it and it went in”. We start to believe…
Of course it would be criminal not to mention the performance of Paul McGrath throughout the game. Many believed the Aston Villa man’s tattered knee cartilage wouldn’t hold true in the heat encapsulating New York that summer. Where many saw his knee as a weak point, McGrath sought to rid his sceptics of any doubts they may have made about his physical condition and determination going into the battle. McGrath then introduced Ireland to the miracle of the effects of Tiger Balm. Like a ravenous dog he swept up every loose ball in the Irish defence, battled for every header and won every war against the Italians strikers on his way to helping Ireland secure the momentous and historical victory in their first group game.
Unfortunately our lack of participation this summer means we will have to spectate and wonder what could have been had we managed to qualify for this year’s competition, but the memories of ’94 and other historic World Cup days for Ireland will always live long in the memory. On a positive note, we can enjoy the spectacles of Ireland vs Costa Rica at PPL Park in Pennsylvania on the 6th of June. This before Ireland vs Portugal game at MetLife stadium on the 10th of June, as we look to pick up two wins against teams who will light up our screens in two weeks’ time as they play across Brazil.
