The Republic Of Ireland Football Team In The Jack Charlton Years

[Cork Evertonian]

Very good documentary here about that wonderful era. I actually think that Ireland team could have achieved more, if they played a more positive style of football! Still though it was a wonderful period for Irish football. They were wonderful and memorable days to live through and experience, and i'm glad that big Jack got the job over Bob Paisley.

Italia 1990 was the tournament where we achieved our best performance, but USA 1994 was where we achieved our best result beating Italy. It's a shame that the win over Italy was as good as it got for us in that world cup though. The whole period brings back a lot of wonderful memories for sure.

 

[Neiler]

Very good documentary here about that wonderful era. I actually think that Ireland team could have achieved more, if they played a more positive style of football! Still though it was a wonderful period for Irish football. They were wonderful and memorable days to live through and experience, and i'm glad that big Jack got the job over Bob Paisley.

Italia 1990 was the tournament where we achieved our best performance, but USA 1994 was where we achieved our best result beating Italy. It's a shame that the win over Italy was as good as it got for us in that world cup though. The whole period brings back a lot of wonderful memories for sure.

Defo should have achieved more we had cracking players, we got giddy because we never had success before, but ultimately Charlton was a limited manager and we could have achieved more, especially as it evolved, some of the midfielders we had that we used to kick the ball over the heads off….Sheedy, Keane, Houghton, Townsend, Whealan, Brady….!

Actually think McCarty did a better job, building a young team after, Keane, Duff, Given etc.

Still great days. The country went mental for a few years.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Defo should have achieved more we had cracking players, we got giddy because we never had success before, but ultimately Charlton was a limited manager and we could have achieved more, especially as it evolved, some of the midfielders we had that we used to kick the ball over the heads off….Sheedy, Keane, Houghton, Townsend, Whealan, Brady….!

Actually think McCarty did a better job, building a young team after, Keane, Duff, Given etc.

Still great days. The country went mental for a few years.

In fairness he did make us hard to beat, in 1990 we were very unlucky not to beat Italy i think.

The Italy win apart we flopped in USA 1994 though. Jack had a great sense of charisma about him as well, but we definitely had a team that was good enough to win something. We of course were very unlucky not to qualify for Euro 1992 as well.

As for Mick McCarthy he did a fine job as well. The whole Saipan thing was such a shame, because with Roy Keane onboard we could have made the final in 2002. Still though we were unbeaten in that 2002 world cup, and we were very unlucky not to make another quarter finals appearance.

 

[Neiler]

In fairness he did make us hard to beat, in 1990 we were very unlucky not to beat Italy i think.

The Italy win apart we flopped in USA 1994 though. Jack had a great sense of charisma about him as well, but we definitely had a team that was good enough to win something. We of course were very unlucky not to qualify for Euro 1992 as well.

As for Mick McCarthy he did a fine job as well. The whole Saipan thing was such a shame, because with Roy Keane onboard we could have made the final in 2002. Still though we were unbeaten in that 2002 world cup, and we were unlucky not to make another quarter finals appearance.

We were one of the best teams in Europe in my opinion mate and certainly competitive with anyone, Euro 92 was the one I regret I think we could have had a tilt at that.

After novelty of Italia 90, i think we didn’t kick on or evolve, we had great players. 92 & 94 - we could have done more, in hindsight Jack should have went after 1990, in my opinion.

Nothing against him personally, he was national hero etc - but he didn't and don’t think could evolve that team, the way it should evolved. From 90 - 95.

 

[SussexToffee1980]

Definitely going to watch this, there was one on Ziggo Sport in the Netherlands when I was over there on holiday with English subtitles and that one was brilliant. Is this a recently released one?.

The Shredded Wheat commercial, Ray Houghton's goal against Italy..... my introduction to this fantastic game and then Everton FC found me..... such good simple times.

How excited I was when it was announced we would be signing up Daniel Amokachi from that exciting Nigeria team who were robbed by Italy with a late goal in 90 mins only to lose in ET.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Definitely going to watch this, there was one on Ziggo Sport in the Netherlands when I was over there on holiday with English subtitles and that one was brilliant. Is this a recently released one?.

The Shredded Wheat commercial, Ray Houghton's goal against Italy..... my introduction to this fantastic game and then Everton FC found me..... such good simple times.

How excited I was when it was announced we would be signing up Daniel Amokachi from that exciting Nigeria team who were robbed by Italy with a late goal in 90 mins only to lose in ET.

I think the documentary is from a couple of years ago. My memories of Italia 1990 are more vague, but i can still remember USA 1994 as if it were yesterday!

 

[Billy Dean]

IIRC Ireland had quite a tough draw in 94. The group was not the easiest with Italy and a good Norway side that had won their qualifying group ahead of England and Holland. Can't remember the last team in the group.

Then you had the bizarre situation of a last 16 game against the Dutch with a mid-afternoon kick off in the summer heat of Orlando. A team with Ireland's style was always going to struggle in those conditions against a Dutch team capable of keeping the ball for long periods.

I'd imagine we won't be seeing kick off times like that in the 2026 world cup.

 

[Lineker]

IIRC Ireland had quite a tough draw in 94. The group was not the easiest with Italy and a good Norway side that had won their qualifying group ahead of England and Holland. Can't remember the last team in the group.

Then you had the bizarre situation of a last 16 game against the Dutch with a mid-afternoon kick off in the summer heat of Orlando. A team with Ireland's style was always going to struggle in those conditions against a Dutch team capable of keeping the ball for long periods.

I'd imagine we won't be seeing kick off times like that in the 2026 world cup.

It was mexico, who mostly felt like a host nation.

I would imagine time zone considerations being what they are that kickoff times will still be a problem but be resolved by domed stadia.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

IIRC Ireland had quite a tough draw in 94. The group was not the easiest with Italy and a good Norway side that had won their qualifying group ahead of England and Holland. Can't remember the last team in the group.

Then you had the bizarre situation of a last 16 game against the Dutch with a mid-afternoon kick off in the summer heat of Orlando. A team with Ireland's style was always going to struggle in those conditions against a Dutch team capable of keeping the ball for long periods.

I'd imagine we won't be seeing kick off times like that in the 2026 world cup.

I remember us really struggling with the heat in that Mexico game. The players constantly had to take breaks, to either drink some water or have it splashed all over them.

I can remember all this clearly despite it being almost thirty years ago. How time flies! Yeah those conditions were not suitable at all, for Big Jacks put em under pressure long ball game plan!

 

[Billy Dean]

It was mexico, who mostly felt like a host nation.

I would imagine time zone considerations being what they are that kickoff times will still be a problem but be resolved by domed stadia.

I remember us really struggling with the heat in that Mexico game. The players constantly had to take breaks, to either drink some water or have it splashed all over them.

I can remember all this clearly despite it being almost thirty years ago. How time flies! Yeah those conditions were not suitable at all, for Big Jacks put em under pressure long ball game plan!

I was just looking on Wiki and it seems the vast majority of games were played at midday or shortly after. Clear disadvantage to north European teams lol

 

[Lineker]

I was just looking on Wiki and it seems the vast majority of games were played at midday or shortly after. Clear disadvantage to north European teams lol

Not to mention that the crowds would have been 90% amped up mexico fans. Yes a clear disadvantage.

 

[Lineker]

I dunno if you have ever been to central America, but usa team has to qualify by playing all those teams at 3 pm at maximum heat and humidity...it is unreal just stepping off the plane.

 

[Billy Dean]

I dunno if you have ever been to central America, but usa team has to qualify by playing all those teams at 3 pm at maximum heat and humidity...it is unreal just stepping off the plane.

For a lot of countries that kind of heat is absolutely no problem.

 

[Lineker]

For a lot of countries that kind of heat is absolutely no problem.

The game is played differently...slower paced, possession based...etc. all in the effort to conserve your energy for when the key moments arrive. My memories of usa vs mexico games from the 90s were of mexico just controlling the possession with absolutely no penetratiin. Hoping to wear the Americans out. They weren't always successful.

 

[sotnas]

Since a kid I've had a soft for football in the UK, and most of the Irish stars were playing over there. The Irish National team came to prominence in 88. Of course, looking at the players in that squad, Eire was, by no means, a lesser team. But I also think they've achieved what there was to achieve in "un natural" football style, considering the sort of players available and also the habits they had at their clubs.

A bit like Scotland, in the early 80's.

Even though Sheedy was not Everton's top player in the 80's, he was my favourite. He had a hard time with Charlton but that's what it is. And he had some good company, like our neighbours playing for Eire.

But again, at club level, England teams were dominant, before Heysel, but at their national sides, things were different.