The Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign begins in Belgrade tonight. Stephen Kenny continues his search for his first win since replacing Mick McCarthy last year, away to Serbia at 7.45. Speaking of McCarthy, he was in charge of the Irish team the last time they qualified for a World Cup in 2002. He kicked off his qualifying campaign by drawing with a powerful Dutch team in 2000. Since then we have only managed to make it into two European championships. Today we are going to look at the first games of each qualifying effort and see how did they effect the eventual outcome? Lets find out.
Euro Qualifiers 23/03/2019 Gibraltar 0 v Ireland 1
Ireland have scored just one goal in Kenny’s eight games in charge so far. However this Irish team had not scored a goal in their previous four games before they met Gibraltar. Mick McCarthy in his first game back in charge of the Boys in Green looked set to change that. Seamus Coleman won his 50th cap and started alongside a more advanced Matt Doherty , who would hope to ping in balls to the attacking duo of David McGoldrick and Sean Maguire. It was my job on the day to provide updates on the radio throughout the match, and that became quite difficult. It was truly an awful performance, that had all the stink of the FAI controversy breaking. Jeff Hendrick saved Ireland’s blushes on the day with a strike to capture the three points for the travelling side. This was followed up with another 1-0 win against Georgia. Things seemed to be going well until a particularly disappointing draw against Georgia followed by a 2-0 loss to Switzerland, seen Ireland needing a playoff game to secure their place in the Euro’s. Unfortunately a loss to Slovakia on penalties in Stephen Kenny’s third game in charge, seen the Irish crash out.
World Cup Qualifiers 16/09/2016 Serbia 2 v Ireland 2
Ireland kicked off their Russia World Cup campaign much like they will the Qatar World Cup campaign, with a trip to Serbia. Martin O’Neill seen his men storm ahead after three minutes thanks to a Jeff Hendrick deflected goal. This seemed to spur Serbia on and for most of the game they were in control. Two goals in seven minutes turned the tie in the Serbians favor, no less then they deserved, all though one of the goals derived from a dubious penalty decision. The Irish looked defeated but managed to salvage a draw due to a Daryl Murphy header on the 81st minute , his first ever international goal on his 24th cap. Ireland actually managed quite a decent run, beating Georgia, Austria and Moldova over the next few games. However a defeat to Serbia would see the team finishing second, two points behind the Serbs. A familiar playoff place was needed , and unfortunately Denmark smashed us in the away fixture in Copenhagen to start an anti O’Neill and Keane brigade.
Euro Qualifiers 07/09/2014 Georgia 1 v Ireland 2
Unlike the Irish Rugby team that thrashed Georgia 49-7 at the Aviva Stadium in November, the Irish team struggled against them in September. It was Martin O’Neills first competitive game in charge where he opted for a 4-5-1 formation. Aidan McGeady scored in the first half before a Georgia equaliser 15 minutes later. Creating space and chances proved difficult for Ireland until Aidan McGeady scored his second on the 90th minute with a bending strike to secure a positive start to the campaign. It was a very difficult group for Ireland in general, where they came third in a group with included the World Champions Germany. A famous win after a tremendous Shane Long goal, helped Ireland reach the playoffs where they bested Bosnia and went through to the finals after coming out of top in the home fixture. The 2016 Euro’s in France was a fun dalliance where we met Belgium, Sweden, Italy before being knocked out to the host nation.
World Cup Qualifiers 07/09/2012 Kazakhstan 1 v Ireland 2
After the disappointment of Euro 2012, Ireland went back into qualification rounds with Giovanni Trappatoni. This time they started off against 142nd world ranked club Kazakhstan. The home side took the lead and look set to shock Ireland before the Irish salvaged three points with very late Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle goals. It was a disappointing performance which followed an uninspiring campaign. The only wins in the group came against both Kazakhstan and against former Irish manager Brian Kerr at Faroe Islands. They finished fourth in the group behind Germany, Sweden and Austria.
Euro 2012 Qualifiers – 03/09/2010 Armenia 0 v Ireland 1
Ireland escaped from Yerevan, Armneia with a narrow three points. Robbie Keane spurned a great chance to put Ireland ahead earlier on, before Trappatoni decided to make some changes. Substitute Keith Fahy , who was plying his trade with Birmingham at the time, grabbed a goal on the 75th minute. To be fair Armenia is quite a trip for anybody coming from Ireland. It’s actually further away then Iraq is. Ireland ultimately finished second in the group two points behind Russia and needed to enter a familiar play-off place. A convincing win over Estonia brought us to Euro 2012 in Poland…..and the less said about that the better. Italy, Spain and Croatia oh my!
World Cup 2010 Qualifiers – 06/09/2008 Georgia 1 Ireland 2
Due to conflict around Georgia, this game had to be moved to Germany, which is unfortunate for any team having to move their home fixture to a different ground. Despite the scoreline, Ireland were convincing enough in dispatching the Georgian team and confidence for the campaign was high under new man Giovanni Trappatoni. Glen Whelan and Kevin Doyle were on hand to secure the win before a late consolation goal in last few minutes reduced the deficit. Ireland managed to stay undefeated in the group and came away with four wins and six draws, which allowed them to finish second, only behind Italy. A play off with France loomed before bonafide ar*ehole Thierry Henry wrecked the hopes and dreams of every Irish person that night with his cheating cowardly ways.
Euro 2008 Qualifiers – 02/09/06 Germany 1 v Ireland 0
Steve Staunton was at the helm for Ireland this time and started his competitive tenure off with a 1-0 loss to Germany. It was an encouraging performance before Lukas Podolski’s free-kick deflected off Robbie Keane and into Shay Givan’s net. Not a bad result considering it was against Ze Germans, however what was to follow was nothing short of a disaster. I’m talking about the 5-2 loss at the hands of the mighty Cyprus. Some more suspects performances, particularly nearly drawing with minnows San Marino, seen Ireland finished third in the group and out of the Euro finals.
World Cup 2006 Qualifiers -04/09/04 Ireland 3 Cyprus 0
Brian Kerr watched on as Robbie Keane broke Niall Quinn’s international goal record in this demolition of Cyprus. Keane scored a penalty and with that secured his 21st international goal, along with Clinton Morrisson and Andy Reid getting on the scoresheet. Unfortunately this was to be Ireland’s best performance in the race to the World Cup in Germany. Draws with Israel in particular were huge annoyances for supporters as Ireland finished in fourth behind France, Switzerland and Israel, only three points off the top spot.
Euro 2004 Qualifiers 07/09/02 Russia 4 v Ireland 2
Mick McCarthy stayed in charge of the first two games of this campaign before stepping down. Two goals in quick succession for the Russians put the tie in their favour. Gary Doherty offered some hope before Russia scored a third almost immediately. Clinton Morrison was on hand to make it 3-2 before Phil Babb put the ball in his own net and made it 4-2. Another disappointing display against Switzerland marked the end of the McCarthy era and the advent of Brian Kerr. Ireland managed to go undefeated in five games before losing to Switzerland in their last game and missing out of a place in the finals.
World Cup 2002 Qualifiers 02/09/00 Holland 2 v Ireland 2
Ah the last time Ireland qualified for the World Cup, and what a time it was. Ireland had not got to an international tournament since 1994, and stared at a group of Portugal, Holland, Estonia, Cyprus and Andorra. Ireland had a less then ideal time in preparation as Phill Babb and Mark Kennedy got arrested for jumping on an off duty garda car when drunk in Dublin. Both players got dropped with Richard Dunne being brought in for his first competitive game. The Irish stormed ahead in Amsterdam against Holland, with goals from Robbie Keane and Jason McAteer. The Dutch lads rallied to get a draw, but a marker had been laid, Ireland could compete with the best of them. Portugal were the next to drop points to us, and Ireland ultimately qualified undefeated in the group for the 2002 World Cup. Games against Saudi Arabia, Cameroon , Germany and Spain awaited the Irish in South Korea and Japan, and our defeat on penalties was the last time we got to experience a World Cup final.
This time in two years will we be looking back at an Irelands first qualifying game against Serbia, as one that ultimately set the tone for qualification to the finals. I certainly hope so, by then it would of been 20 years…..we need this.
