- Relive Ireland v England here and Ireland v Egypt here
If things go our way elsewhere, all we need is a draw? We’re listening.
25 years since Ireland and the Netherlands locked horns for a place in the World Cup second round.
Here are the 29 stages of one of the biggest ever nights in Irish football.
1. The buzz is building
2. Someone is missing though
After his pen-throwing strop post Egypt, Eamon Dunphy isn’t with the RTÉ panel for this one having flown out to Italy. However, he was denied an interview with Irish manager, Jack Charlton, so Bill O’Herlihy is at hand to calm the storm. Again.
3. Someone else is missing
4. The Irish fans are belting out the anthem long after the Italian band’s shortened version has finished
But not everyone has goosebumps.
5. This is where the term going to the wire comes from
Ireland are rooting for an England or Egypt win – as long as it’s a win – because we’re of course going for the draw ourselves.
6. John Aldridge fires in a thunderbolt at van Breukelen early on
It’s all Ireland.
7. But Ruud Gullit quickly kills the joy
The Irish are torn apart.
8. And everyone wants a piece
9. Ireland should have a penalty and then they should have a goal
The world is against them.
10. Some people sympathise
11. Others don’t
12. Kevin Sheedy winds up that left foot again…
It's a point for D̶u̶b̶l̶i̶n̶ Wales!https://t.co/iRUNMuRApZ
— FootballLOLS (@Football__LOLS) June 18, 2015
13. Johnny Giles is drawing all over our TV screens and no-one knows what’s happening
Especially Billy Hamilton.
14. The people miss The Dunphy 15. A big chance passes both strikers by in the second period
But Quinn’s fall-on-your-arse trick is under most scrutiny.
Pick Niall Quinn, he said. It'll work, he said.#CharltonOuthttps://t.co/jsNXXFRETc
— Tony Cascarino Fans (@CascarinoFans) June 18, 2015
16. The tactics aren’t working
17. Until…
18. Was it the greatest goal of all time?
19. England are 1-0 up in Egypt, a draw will see the Irish through
20. There’s an unspoken agreement playing out
1-1 suits both the Netherlands and the Irish perfectly and the finest piece of injury time in football history unfolds in Palermo.
21. It’s over
22. But we were lucky…
23. Except it wasn’t luck
Big Jack masterminded the draw and he doesn’t even care if they have to face West Germany now.
24. Bill O’Herlihy sums up the feelings of a nation
25. Now no-one cares about Dunphy’s ramblings
26. Ireland’s group standing will be decided by drawing lots
Second place plays Romania, third place faces West Germany. Attention turns to Rome.
27. Johnny Giles sums up the draw in the most Johnny Giles way possible
28. Goalscorer Niall Quinn calls the Irish fans the best in the world
Not before a classic 90s television gaffe.
29. Romania on Monday. Let’s ‘give it a lash’