Six against the best: A decade of playing the top seeds at home
Compiled by EMMET MALONE
Republic of Ireland 2 Russia 3
(Euro 2012 qualifier, Lansdowne Road)
October 8th, 2010
Ireland lost this one and were flattered by the score with only a storming last half, during which Robbie Keane and Shane Long scored, putting a gloss on things from the home side’s perspective.
Goals from Alexander Kerzhakov, Alan Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov gave the Russians a deserved and what looked an unassailable advantage after they had overrun Giovanni Trapattoni’s men in midfield.
Long and a soft penalty made quite a difference, though, and either side could have scored in the frantic closing stages. If Ireland had it would have been a bit of a travesty. As it was the defeat intensified the debate regarding Ireland’s need for a tactical Plan B.
How they lined out
Given, O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence (Long, 62), Green, Whelan (Gibson, 62), McGeady; Doyle (Fahey, 71), Keane.
Rep of Ireland 1 Netherlands 0
(World Cup 2002 qualifier, Lansdowne Road
September 1st, 2001
This, the last really great day for Irish football at Lansdowne Road, is starting to feel like it was very long time ago but certain things about it are unforgettable, like Roy Keane letting Marc Overmars know he was about early on and, of course, Jason McAteer’s second-half winner.
In truth, the Irish were outplayed pretty much from start to finish and to add to the injustice of it all from a Dutch perspective, they were denied a pretty obvious penalty when Shay Given bundled into Ruud van Nistelrooy after Steve Staunton had played his goalkeeper into terrible trouble.
But then Steve Finnan took off up the right and teed up McAteer for the goal. The rest, as they say, is (increasingly distant) history.
How they lined out
Given; Kelly, Staunton, Dunne, Harte (Quinn, 87); McAteer (O’Brien, 90), Holland, Roy Keane, Kilbane, Duff, Robbie Keane (Finnan, 60)
Republic of Ireland 2 Italy 2
(World Cup 2010 qualifier, Croke Park)
October 10th, 2009
Giovanni Trapattoni seemed to struggle afterwards with the idea that his side had been denied a victory over the then world champions after being caught on the break trying to push forward so as to double their lead in the closing stages but that’s pretty much what happened.
Glenn Whelan had given the home side the lead with a shot from outside the area after Liam Lawrence had squared a free-kick before Mauro Camoranesi headed home Andrea Pirlo’s corner.
When Sean St Ledger restored the lead it looked as if Ireland might secure a famous victory but a minute from time John O’Shea pushed forward out of position, the Italians broke and Vincenzo Iaquinto set up Alberto Gilardino to score.
How they lined out
Team: Given; O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence, Andrews, Whelan (Rowlands, 76), McGeady (S Hunt, 78); Doyle (Best, 66), Keane.
Republic of Ireland 1 Russia 1
