Ireland’s Denis Irwin challenges Martin Wagner. Credit: INPHO/Billy Stickland
MAY 29, 1994 — Under Big Jack, Ireland had qualified for their third major tournament thanks to a 1-1 draw away to Northern Ireland the previous November and, after holding Russia to a 0-0 stalemate and recorded victories over Holland and Bolivia in pre-World Cup friendlies, confidence was sky high.
For their penultimate warm-up game ahead of USA ’94, Ireland travelled to Hannover’s Niedersachsenstadion where a star-studded German side awaited.
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Managed by Berti Vogts, they had qualified automatically as defending world champions and possessed talents such as Jurgen Klinsmann, Matthias Sammer, Andreas Moeller and a young Stefan Effenberg.
Charlton gave the ‘Three Amigos’ Phil Babb, Jason McAteer and Gary Kelly a chance in the starting XI while Tony Cascarino was given the nod up front.
And Big Cas came up with the goods in the 31st minute. Having got down the right flank, McAteer sent in a cross which wasn’t cleared by the defender at the front post and striker headed home from close range.
Paul McGrath and Matthias Sammer. Credit: INPHO/Billy Stickland
Having managed to keep the home side at bay, Ireland then doubled their lead midway through the second half. More uncharacteristically slack defending saw the ball fally to 19-year-old Gary Kelly.
Showing confidence beyond his years, the full-back cut inside onto his weaker left foot and left fly. Fortunately, the strike took a wicked deflection off a defender and curled past Bodo Illgner to seal an unlikely win.
In their final fixture before jetting off to the States, expectation levels were brought back down to earth somewhat by a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Czech Republic in Dublin.
History lesson: The day Ireland defeated Germany in their own back yard
MAY 29, 1994 — Under Big Jack, Ireland had qualified for their third major tournament thanks to a 1-1 draw away to Northern Ireland the previous November and, after holding Russia to a 0-0 stalemate and recorded victories over Holland and Bolivia in pre-World Cup friendlies, confidence was sky high.
For their penultimate warm-up game ahead of USA ’94, Ireland travelled to Hannover’s Niedersachsenstadion where a star-studded German side awaited.
Managed by Berti Vogts, they had qualified automatically as defending world champions and possessed talents such as Jurgen Klinsmann, Matthias Sammer, Andreas Moeller and a young Stefan Effenberg.
Charlton gave the ‘Three Amigos’ Phil Babb, Jason McAteer and Gary Kelly a chance in the starting XI while Tony Cascarino was given the nod up front.
And Big Cas came up with the goods in the 31st minute. Having got down the right flank, McAteer sent in a cross which wasn’t cleared by the defender at the front post and striker headed home from close range.
Having managed to keep the home side at bay, Ireland then doubled their lead midway through the second half. More uncharacteristically slack defending saw the ball fally to 19-year-old Gary Kelly.
Showing confidence beyond his years, the full-back cut inside onto his weaker left foot and left fly. Fortunately, the strike took a wicked deflection off a defender and curled past Bodo Illgner to seal an unlikely win.
In their final fixture before jetting off to the States, expectation levels were brought back down to earth somewhat by a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Czech Republic in Dublin.
YouTube credit: rooney2cantona
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COYBIG Germany Ireland memory lane