The Republic of Ireland made their first-ever appearance at the World Cup in 1990 – and they were determined to prove they belonged on the biggest stage.
After edging out the Netherlands, who were then the reigning European champions, to secure a spot in the last 16, they went on to defeat Gheorghe Hagi’s Romania in a tense penalty shootout, with David O’Leary converting the decisive kick.
However, their fairytale run came to an end in the quarter-finals, when hosts Italy triumphed 1-0, courtesy of a strike from Golden Boot winner Toto Schillaci.
Having made such an impression at Italia ’90, Jack Charlton’s squad returned four years later for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Fate would have them face Italy once again – this time in their opening Group E fixture.
The match took place at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, the predecessor to today’s MetLife Stadium, which is set to host this summer’s World Cup final. For former Ireland defender Terry Phelan, it became the unforgettable setting for one of Ireland’s most memorable football nights.
“There were 75,000 fans inside the stadium, and you thought, ‘Wow, is this really happening?’” Phelan told FourFourTwo.
“Before kick-off, you walked down the tunnel and saw Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Donadoni, Daniele Massaro, Alessandro Costacurta and Gianfranco Zola. You asked yourself, ‘Do we actually have a chance here?’ But we did – because 90 per cent of the crowd were Irish supporters.”
Buoyed by that incredible backing, Charlton’s men approached the game with confidence and determination.
“We went out there with no fear. Jack Charlton set us up in a 4-5-1 formation. We packed the midfield and made sure Roberto Baggio couldn’t get on the ball – I forgot to mention him earlier!” Phelan added with a laugh.
The decisive moment came early, in the 11th minute, when a strike that still lives in Irish sporting legend found the back of the net.
“The ball came to Ray Houghton, and bang – that was pure history right there,” Phelan recalled. Ireland’s 1-0 win over Italy served as both revenge for their 1990 exit and the platform for another successful group-stage campaign that saw them reach the knockout rounds once more.
Although Ireland’s journey ended with a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands in the Round of 16, Phelan remains immensely proud of what the team accomplished that summer.
“Getting out of the group was magical,” he said. “We were among the 16 best teams in the world – not bad for a small country like Ireland.”
– Chris Flanagan, Senior Staff Writer
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