Republic of Ireland at the FIFA World Cup
Appearance
The Republic of Ireland have appeared in the FIFA World Cup on three occasions, in 1990, 1994, and 2002. They have always advanced from the group stage but have never advanced beyond the quarter finals. Ireland hold the record for getting furthest in the tournament without winning a match.
Their first appearance was in Italy at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.[1][2][3][4][5] 1990 was also their best performance in a major championship, where they reached the quarterfinals.[6][7][8]
FIFA World Cup record
FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
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Year 2002 they won the world cup | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Position | |
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Did not enter | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 3/3 | ||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2/2 | |||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 2/3 | |||||||||
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4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2/3 | |||||||||
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2/3 | |||||||||
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4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 3/3 | |||||||||
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3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Lost Playoff | |||||||||
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6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 4/4 | |||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2/3 | |||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3/3 | |||||||||
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8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 3/5 | |||||||||
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8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 4/5 | |||||||||
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Quarter-finals | 8th | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 2/5 | |
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Round of 16 | 15th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 6 | 2/7 | |
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Did not qualify | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 11 | 2/6 Lost Playoff | ||||||||
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Round of 16 | 12th | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 6 | 2/6 Won Playoff | |
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Did not qualify | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 4/6 | ||||||||
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12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 2/6 Lost Playoff | |||||||||
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10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 4/6 | |||||||||
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12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 2/6 Lost Playoff | |||||||||
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To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
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Total | Quarter-finals | 3/21 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 141 | 56 | 43 | 42 | 199 | 169 |
- '*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty shootout.
FIFA World Cup History | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Score | Result | Republic of Ireland scorers |
1990 | Round 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | Kevin Sheedy ![]() |
Round 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | Niall Quinn ![]() | |
Round 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | ||
Round 2 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | ||
Quarter-finals | ![]() ![]() |
Loss | ||
1994 | Round 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Win | Ray Houghton ![]() |
Round 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Loss | John Aldridge ![]() | |
Round 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | ||
Round 2 | ![]() ![]() |
Loss | ||
2002 | Round 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | Matt Holland ![]() |
Round 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | Robbie Keane ![]() | |
Round 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Win | Robbie Keane ![]() Gary Breen ![]() Damien Duff ![]() | |
Round 2 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | Robbie Keane ![]() |
Republic of Ireland at Italy 1990
Group F
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
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3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
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3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
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3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 |
Note: Republic of Ireland awarded second place by drawing of lots
England ![]() | 1 – 1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Lineker ![]() |
(Report) | Sheedy ![]() |
Republic of Ireland ![]() | 0 – 0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
(Report) |
Netherlands ![]() | 1 – 1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Gullit ![]() |
(Report) | Quinn ![]() |
Knockout phase
Republic of Ireland ![]() | 0 – 0 (a.e.t.) | ![]() |
---|---|---|
(Report) | ||
Penalties | ||
Sheedy ![]() Houghton ![]() Townsend ![]() Cascarino ![]() O'Leary ![]() |
5 – 4 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Italy ![]() | 1 – 0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Schillaci ![]() |
(Report) |
Republic of Ireland at US 1994
Group E
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Italy ![]() | 0 – 1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
(Report) | Houghton ![]() |
Mexico ![]() | 2 – 1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
García ![]() ![]() |
(Report) | Aldridge ![]() |
Knockout phase
Netherlands ![]() | 2 – 0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Bergkamp ![]() Jonk ![]() |
(Report) |
Republic of Ireland at Korea/Japan 2002
Group E
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 7 |
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3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 5 |
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 |
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3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | -12 | 0 |
Republic of Ireland ![]() | 1 – 1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Holland ![]() |
(Report) | Mboma ![]() |
Germany ![]() | 1 – 1 | ![]() |
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Klose ![]() |
(Report) | Robbie Keane ![]() |
Saudi Arabia ![]() | 0 – 3 | ![]() |
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(Report) | Robbie Keane ![]() Breen ![]() Duff ![]() |
Knockout phase
Spain ![]() | 1 – 1 (a.e.t.) | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Morientes ![]() |
(Report) | Robbie Keane ![]() |
Penalties | ||
Hierro ![]() Baraja ![]() Juanfran ![]() Valerón ![]() Mendieta ![]() |
3 – 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record players
Defender Steve Staunton has represented the Irish team in all of their 13 World Cup matches, captaining the team in 2002.
No. | Name | Matches | World Cups |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Steve Staunton | 13 | 1990, 1994 and 2002 |
2 | Pat Bonner | 9 | 1990 and 1994 |
Ray Houghton | 9 | 1990 and 1994 | |
Paul McGrath | 9 | 1990 and 1994 | |
Andy Townsend | 9 | 1990 and 1994 | |
6 | John Aldridge | 8 | 1990 and 1994 |
7 | Niall Quinn | 7 | 1990 and 2002 |
8 | Tony Cascarino | 6 | 1990 and 1994 |
Gary Kelly | 6 | 1994 and 2002 | |
Jason McAteer | 6 | 1994 and 2002 |
Top goalscorers
No. | Name | Goals | World Cups |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Robbie Keane | 3 | 2002 |
2 | Niall Quinn | 1 | 1990 |
Kevin Sheedy | 1 | 1990 | |
John Aldridge | 1 | 1994 | |
Ray Houghton | 1 | 1994 | |
Gary Breen | 1 | 2002 | |
Damien Duff | 1 | 2002 | |
Matt Holland | 1 | 2002 |
See also
References
- ^ "1990 FIFA World Cup". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "Ireland's Italia '90 squad - where are they now?". RTE Sport. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "Niall Quinn: 'People can talk about the ramshackle Irish team, but we knew what the real story was'". Irish Examiner. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "24 World Cup memories we won't forget from Italia '90". The 42. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "On Second Thoughts: Italia 90". Guardian. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "11 iconic images that bring back memories of the Italia 90 good times". The 42. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "Where are Ireland's Italia 90 dream team now?". The 42. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "Italia '90". Irish Times. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.