Steve Staunton’s shambolic reign as first team manager was a month away from its end when Ireland travelled to Prague for a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier in September ’07. Marek Jankulovski, who last week announced his retirement due to a persistant knee injury, scored the only goal of the game on 15 minutes.
Substitute Stephen Hunt was given his marching orders for a lunge on Jan Polak on the hour mark and the closest Ireland came was Kevin Doyle’s effort which struck the post on a bad night at the office.
A year earlier, Stan had seen his side pick up their first point of the campaign in Dublin four days after the horror show in Nicosia, where Cyprus had put five past Ireland. Kevin Kilbane was on hand to fire home a Damien Duff cross on 62 minutes but Paul McShane, who had been having a fine debut, stood off target man Jan Koller to allow him a strike which beat Wayne Henderson. Robbie Keane also missed a super chance late on by somehow putting his header wide.
Robbie Keane wasn’t far off Niall Quinn’s 21-goal international record in March 2004 after a double ended a 20-game unbeaten run on the Czechs. The visitors hadn’t lost since November 2001 but went a goal down to a trademark Ian Harte free-kick early in the second half. Milan Baros outmuscled Alan Maybury to poke an equaliser past Shay Given but 23-year-old Keane latched ont0 Alan Lee’s cut-back to score goal No19 in injury time during the Brian Kerr era.
Ireland recorded their first win over the Czech Republic since the separation of Czechoslovakia in 1993 thanks again to Ian Harte and Robbie Keane. Jan Koller was on target after just five minutes before defender Karel Rada (pictured below) managed to head a corner past Ladislav Maier and into his own net. Koller doubled his tally on 35 minutes but Harte capitalised on a mix-up between the centre forward and Maier to level the terms and Keane bundled home from five yards with three minutes remaining.
Mick McCarthy handed Damien Duff, Robbie Keane, Rory Delap and Mark Kinsella their senior debuts in one of only five international matches ever played at SK Sigma Olomouc’s Andruv Stadium. Gary Breen opened the scoring on 10 minutes but the experimental side were beaten after Edvard Lasota added to a Vladimir Smicer strike.
McCarthy was a month into the job, having taken over from Jack Charlton, when Ireland travelled over to take on a talented Czech team. Six of the players who started in the Euro 1996 final defeat to Germany featured on the day and goals from Martin Frydek and Pavel Kuka handed the away team a 2-0 defeat in Prague.
The goal in 1996 wasn’t Kuka’s first against the Boys in Green as he had scored twice during a friendly in the run-up to USA 1994. In what was Ireland’s last game before the World Cup, a newly-formed Czech team put a dampener on the send-off as the striker dispatched from the spot after Terry Phelan had given away a penalty and notched another from open play before Jan Suchoparek wrapped things up. Andy Townsend was also on target for Ireland.
Ireland v Czech Republic: Seven past meetings
1. Czech Rep 1-0 Ireland, September 2007
Steve Staunton’s shambolic reign as first team manager was a month away from its end when Ireland travelled to Prague for a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier in September ’07. Marek Jankulovski, who last week announced his retirement due to a persistant knee injury, scored the only goal of the game on 15 minutes.
Substitute Stephen Hunt was given his marching orders for a lunge on Jan Polak on the hour mark and the closest Ireland came was Kevin Doyle’s effort which struck the post on a bad night at the office.
YouTube credit: sp1873
2. Ireland 1-1 Czech Rep, October 2006
A year earlier, Stan had seen his side pick up their first point of the campaign in Dublin four days after the horror show in Nicosia, where Cyprus had put five past Ireland. Kevin Kilbane was on hand to fire home a Damien Duff cross on 62 minutes but Paul McShane, who had been having a fine debut, stood off target man Jan Koller to allow him a strike which beat Wayne Henderson. Robbie Keane also missed a super chance late on by somehow putting his header wide.
YouTube credit: stanireland
3. Ireland 2-1 Czech Rep, March 2004
Robbie Keane wasn’t far off Niall Quinn’s 21-goal international record in March 2004 after a double ended a 20-game unbeaten run on the Czechs. The visitors hadn’t lost since November 2001 but went a goal down to a trademark Ian Harte free-kick early in the second half. Milan Baros outmuscled Alan Maybury to poke an equaliser past Shay Given but 23-year-old Keane latched ont0 Alan Lee’s cut-back to score goal No19 in injury time during the Brian Kerr era.
YouTube credit: sp1873
4. Ireland 3-2 Czech Rep, February 2000
Ireland recorded their first win over the Czech Republic since the separation of Czechoslovakia in 1993 thanks again to Ian Harte and Robbie Keane. Jan Koller was on target after just five minutes before defender Karel Rada (pictured below) managed to head a corner past Ladislav Maier and into his own net. Koller doubled his tally on 35 minutes but Harte capitalised on a mix-up between the centre forward and Maier to level the terms and Keane bundled home from five yards with three minutes remaining.
A fresh-faced Robbie Keane gets away from Karel Rada. Credit: ©INPHO/Tom Honan
5. Czech Rep 2-1 Ireland, March 1998
Mick McCarthy handed Damien Duff, Robbie Keane, Rory Delap and Mark Kinsella their senior debuts in one of only five international matches ever played at SK Sigma Olomouc’s Andruv Stadium. Gary Breen opened the scoring on 10 minutes but the experimental side were beaten after Edvard Lasota added to a Vladimir Smicer strike.
Duff, sporting a fine head of hair, closes down Radek Latal. Credit: © INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
6. Czech Rep 2-0 Ireland, April 1996
McCarthy was a month into the job, having taken over from Jack Charlton, when Ireland travelled over to take on a talented Czech team. Six of the players who started in the Euro 1996 final defeat to Germany featured on the day and goals from Martin Frydek and Pavel Kuka handed the away team a 2-0 defeat in Prague.
Paul McGrath looks to dispossess Vaclav Nemecek. Credit: © INPHO / Lorraine O’Sullivan
7. Ireland 1-3 Czech Rep, June 1994
The goal in 1996 wasn’t Kuka’s first against the Boys in Green as he had scored twice during a friendly in the run-up to USA 1994. In what was Ireland’s last game before the World Cup, a newly-formed Czech team put a dampener on the send-off as the striker dispatched from the spot after Terry Phelan had given away a penalty and notched another from open play before Jan Suchoparek wrapped things up. Andy Townsend was also on target for Ireland.
YouTube credit: sp1873
‘Players can do a McClean’ – Derry boss Declan Devine
Petr Cech enjoying Dublin break from Chelsea daggers
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
COYBIG Czech Republic Damien Duff FAI Green army Ireland Jack Charlton Jan Koller memory lane Mick McCarthy Paul McGrath Paul McShane Road to Euro 2012 Robbie Keane