The 1990 World Cup was a landmark event for the Irish. They began to show their ambitions already in the group stage. Surprisingly, the team advanced to the playoffs, finishing second without winning a single match. In Group F, the "green army" faced:
- Egypt;
- The Netherlands;
- England.
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England was the favorite of the group, and many predicted they would take first place. Although the Netherlands had failed to qualify for the previous two championships, their high level of preparation raised hopes for a second position. The Irish, according to experts, were expected to battle Egypt for third place.
The first match surprised everyone: the Irish drew 1:1 with England. Then the match against Egypt ended in a goalless draw, and in the final encounter with the Netherlands, the result was again 1:1. The outcome of the group stage was determined by a draw, as the Netherlands and Ireland had identical records, allowing the Irish team to advance to the playoffs in second place.
World Cup Playoff Matches
In the Round of 16, Ireland faced Romania, which had previously only qualified for the World Cup a few times but had never gone beyond the group stage. It was expected that the Irish would handle this opponent, but the match ended in a draw, both in regular and extra time. The outcome was decided in a penalty shootout, where Ireland triumphed 5:4. If you are interested in predictions for such events, you can place live bets.
The next opponent for the "green army" was Italy, which ultimately finished third in the tournament. At that time, the Italians were experiencing a "trophy hunger," yet they remained one of the strongest teams in the world. The Irish put up stubborn resistance, but the only goal from Salvatore Schillaci in the 38th minute determined the outcome of the match — 1:0. Thus, Ireland exited the tournament, just a step away from the semifinals. On 1xBet, you can place bets on goal scorers and the timing of goals.
The 1990 World Cup was the best performance for the Irish national team on the international stage. In the 1994 World Cup, the team also qualified and advanced from the group but was eliminated in the Round of 16. A similar result was achieved in 2002, after which the team failed to qualify for subsequent championships. If you believe that the team can improve its achievements in 2026, place a live bet on football right now.
