COME WITH US on a journey through space and time, football fans. To get us all in the mood for tomorrow night’s big international friendly between Ireland and England at Wembley, we once again fired up the Delorean and landed back in Cagliari in June 1990.
We went minute-by-minute on the Italia ’90 showdown between tournament new boys the Boys in Green and Bobby Robson’s English. Here’s how it unfolded.
Full-time: Ireland 1 England 1
YouTube: mafiakk
Hello 2013, this is a message from the past.
We’re about 30 minutes away from kick off in Cagliari (disclaimer: we may not have actually travelled in time or by Ryanair to Italy) in what will be Ireland’s first outing at the World Cup finals. ‘Citing. Jack Charlton’s side have been drawn in a tough group with the English, European champions Holland and unknown quantities Egypt. We’ll never get out of that one right?
So this is the scene in Toner’s on Baggot Street at the moment:
Pic: Inpho
And that’s just for Billo and the lads.
Good tunes on the tannoy before kick-off:
YouTube: RhinoUK
YouTube: BigNoel12345
That video may contain spoilers. Somehow.
10 minutes to kick off. Just enough time for a battered burger, Ireland.
And let’s have those predictions.
Okay, are we all seated? Let us know where you’re watching (in 1990). Also, when are we ever going to have a lady president?
2 mins: And we’re off! And for some really grim reason we have to watch it on Eurosport rather than RTÉ. I’m sure it’s all very civilised in Montrose though.
Let’s have the teams shall we?
Ireland<: Packie Bonner, Chris Morris, Steve Staunton, Mick McCarthy, Kevin Moran, Paul McGrath, Ray Houghton, Andy Townsend, John Aldridge, Tony Cascarino, Kevin Sheedy.
England: Peter Shilton, Gary Stevens, Stuart Pearce, Des Walker, Terry Butcher, Bryan Robson, Chris Waddle, Paul Gascoigne, Peter Barnes, Gary Lineker, Peter Beardsley.
Four minutes: Not long in and Ireland have already hinted at what their approach will be. Mick McCarthy’s first throw in was launched right in on top of Peter Shilton with Aston Villa target man Tony Cascarino lurking. The English seem a little nervy with Chris Waddle already wasting possession it has to be said. Paul McGrath seems to be picking up the young Paul Gascoigne, which could be a good battle.
Whoever had five minutes for the first reference to Kevin Sheedy’s ‘educated’ left foot, collect your prize at the side of the stage. The Everton winger just had his first range finder on the English goal but he never really got a hold of it. Gazza moments later latched onto a free-kick but headed just wide.
GOAL! England 1 Ireland 0 Lineker 8′ Heart-breaker. The Irish defence go to sleep when they think the ball’s gone out for a throw-in. Waddle bends it in from the sideline and the Spurs forward gets in between Chris Morris and Mick McCarthy to bundle it in. What a sickener.
And then this lad Clio (?) slides across the screen and makes a little squeel. I don’t remember that.
How are things in Toner’s now?
Pic: Inpho
Looks serious craic.
Back in Italy, Bryan Robson is up and down that pitch like no one’s business while Gazza, we’re told by the British broadcasters, has lost ‘two stones in weight over the past year’ because he cut out the chocolate and the pints of that ‘funny stuff’. Those Curly Wurlys will be his undoing, mark my words.
This game is muck. If this was an introduction to football for an Irish generation, no wonder I just spent an hour at five a side rooting the ball halfway up the pitch.
But we live in hope. England aren’t doing much either.
Peter Shilton equals Pet Jennings’ record of most international appearances tonight and he is earning his most recent and 119th cap. The island of Sardinia seems to be at the centre of a gathering storm as both teams battle a really strong wind meanwhile. It looks like Ireland are going to head in at half-time a goal down. But hey! At least we’re not Scotland — they were beaten by Costa Rica earlier today.
Half-time: Well holy God. That was tough going. Jack Charlton will earn whatever the Merrion Square chiefs are paying him in the next 10 minutes. Ireland’s Plan A isn’t working in tough conditions and they don’t seem to have a Plan B. England haven’t set the world alight either, only taking the lead because of the Irish defence switching off. Paul Gascoigne has impressed on his World Cup bow though.
What do you think? Can the Irish nick something?
50 mins: I once spent a night on a train with a station-full of English fans at the World Cup in Germany, singing repeatedly: we’re on the train, we’re on the train, we’re on the train, we’re on the train, we’re on the train. Top, tune tune.
Back at Italia ’90, they’re taunting the Irish with a ’1-0, 1-0, 1-0′ chant now in Cagliari. On the pitch Tony Cascarino very nearly punished a slack square ball across his own box but Shilton was equal to it.
TONY CASCARINO FACTFILE TIME!
Paul McGrath just had a strong shot on goal but it fizzed over Shilton’s bar. Moments later Chris Waddle slalommed into the box after cutting inside and seemed to be tripped but penalty shouts are waved away by the West German referee. The game’s opening up now and, as I type, Maurice Setters is giving last-minute instructions for Alan McLoughlin who’s about to be introduced.
65 minutes: Swindon Town’s Alan McLoughlin trots on for John Aldridge after 64 minutes. Did I mention this game is poor?
We’ve just had the Gary Lineker toileting-himself incident. Not pleasant even through the remove of two decades.
GOAL! England 1 Ireland 1 Kevin Sheedy has scored Ireland’s first ever goal at a World Cup! The travelling Irish fans are going thermo-nuclear in the stands thanks to the Everton man’s 71st-minute strike out of the blue. Sheedy looked like he’d lost possession to Steve McMahon but it broke to him again despite the Liverpool midfielder’s efforts and he arrowed it past Shilton.
How are we feeling out there now Ireland?
Pic: Inpho
KABLAMO!
Steve Bull is on for Gary Lineker by the way.
Two minutes to go. The little, state-of-the-art information graphic just flashed up to tell us this will be the first draw of the tournament. Well stick with us, Italia ’90, if you’re looking for more of the same.
Full-time: Ireland 1 England 1 Peep peep! The West German ref blows his whistle and the nation can celebrate a World Cup point. It wasn’t pretty — God, it wasn’t pretty- but Jack Charlton’s band of brothers are off the mark in their pool and will turn their attentions to the Egypt game with new confidence. That should be more entertaining right?
Thanks for your company and memories tonight. Join us tomorrow night when we’ll be back in 2012 — DeLorean permitting — for Ireland’s visit to Wembley. Ciao.
His 21 year old kid. Done more then Harry Kane at his age. Give him time.
@Derek O Connor: agreed, big season for him this year, looks like Òle has put his faith in him making him first choice striker, would be great to see an academy player go on to become a world class striker for his club, has he got it?? I’m not sure yet, but at least he is being given his chance.
How about just taking your chances!
A lot of talk coming out of man utd, let’s see what happens on the pitch..
@munsterman: tbh they need to, poor transfer window, defense looks good however lack 2 midfielders and a 20+ goal striker. Liverpool and city are levels above
@Danger: how can you say the defence looks good?? Half of it is new players that haven’t even played a game together yet! Add in the fact the only decent bit of help the defence got from midfield last season was from Herrera and he’s gone and hasn’t been replaced, taking that into account I still think Utd biggest problems this year are still going to come from defence, and may I also add that De Gea still hasn’t signed his new deal,, what does that tell his teammates??
@Devilsavocado: Statistically the best defensive right back in the league last year in Wan Bissaka, address probably United’s weakest position. An aerial dominant centre half who completed 50% more passes per 90 mins than any of Jones, Smalling or Baily in Maguire, who should form a solid partnership with the promising Lindalof who’s main weakness is in the air.
There are now options across the back four who are comfortable on the ball which bridges the gap between De Gea and the midfield which was a huge weakness last season as all teams had to do was mark Lindalof and the midfield where isolated and bypassed as a result.
The jury may be out on just how good they can be as a back four but all of the evidence suggests they will be a huge upgrade on what United have had since the Fergie days.
@Sean: fair enough Sean, I’d say after about 10games or so we should have a much better idea of how good they are (can be). I’m just not feeling impressed by what I would consider a Utd first team on paper. If this team doesn’t get off to a good start, it could be a very long season for the fans….
Start practicing your finishing so Marcus
“I give my life” is an odd turn of phrase given that he’s making 100′s of thousands a week to be there.
@Laura Walsh: some people can’t see past the money, rather than what it takes to get it. He has been part of the club, working his way up since he was a kid. That’s what he means.
Yeah just hit the balls near the goals next time.
That’s great… couldn’t have ‘given your life’ last season instead of pissing away chances half the time. Winning penalty against PSG doesn’t make up for not trying most of the season.
@Ricky: He played the most of the games towards the end of last season visibly carrying an injury, fans can question his quality at times but not his commitment.
Rash- u need to stay away from lingard and the fashion shite. Play ball man.