Ah what a memory. Stuttgart 1988. I had some week, my eldest daughter was born two days later. I hardly left the pub for the week. God bless Ray. Hopefully one day, 12th of June will be made a bank holiday in Ireland
Thats the only 3 points you collected and you want a public holiday for beating England Perhaps your memory is a little jaded from the week in the pub, but I certainly wouldn't be celebrating beating anyone in the group stages and crashing out, even if it was Spain!
And thats not me defending England, its 100% club before country for me. Although I will always watch England when there playing the passion not there for me
Unforgettable scenes her though at the time and one goal every Irish footie fan can still picture vividly. Remember, at the time, it was our first major tournament finals. We're not used to the extensive success England enjoy at all internationa tournaments
Ah yes, it was your first tourney makes more sense now England are pish, especially in competition footy and the future doesnt look any brighter after watching the under 21s crash out pointless!
Was it in 94 you played in the yanks world cup with big Jack as the gaffer? I was cheering you boys on then
It was. Houghton scored another cracker against Italy in that one. Stadium was two thirds full of Irish. Incredible atmosphere. That as before we imploded into a black hole
I remember the goal! Wasn’t there a big spat about Charlton not being able to get subs on quick enough or something? Testing my memory now! also Diana Ross took a Will Smith style penno, completely missing the target but as if by the power of Hollywood the pyrotechnics went off either way And the yanks thought they could keep the 'soccer ball' when it went into the croud for the first few games! I wonder if our very own Jonny LA went to any of those games?
I was behind the goal that day. Unbelievable day, great atmosphere, how England didn't score is beyond me. The heat was a killer, but the craic I had with the English Leeds fans was brilliant, as for the beer, it was like nectar....
Are you saying we can't? Living in LA, I went to games on the west coast only: Argentina v Rumania (2-3 if I remember correctly) - Great game, perhaps best of the tournament, first game following the cheating "Hand-of-God's" lifetime ban for drug abuse, at the Rose Bowl in LA. Brazil v Rumania quarter final in San Jose. Brazil v Sweden semi-final at the Rose Bowl in LA. Lost out on getting a final ticket due to fidgeting with the telephone cord and cutting myself off as they were about to ask me for my credit card information! Turned down a final ticket for $300 at the stadium on the day as I thought it was too much to pay at that stage in my life!
Was that when all the Romanians dyed there hair blonde or was that another tournament? You done well to get to all those games, I bet there would be much more interest now if the world cup came back I gues $300 back then was about £150 which is probably the going rate these days for a world cup final ticket (I'm guessing) So you were probably right with it being overpriced back then, but the world cup doesnt come to your back yard too often! tough choice
I dont remember blonde Romanians then. The problem with tickets at that world cup was that they mostly went to corporations. The result was that many real fans were squeezed out and ignorant corporates went to many games. Actually, I paid $600 (face value) for my 2010 ticket behind the goal where the winner was scored. I made up for 1994 by going to 12 games in SA 2010! Had an absolute blast. One of my best experiences, after the birth of my daughters, in my life - a magical time!
