Ireland at 2002 World Cup Finals in Japan

& South Korea

Prior to the 2002 World

Cup finals the Republic of Ireland had only qualified for the finals on

two prior occasions and only Jack

Charlton had ever led the Irish to the finals of any major competition.

With a stunning 1-0 win over the Netherlands in September 2001 at Lansdowne

Road (now the Aviva

Stadium) Mick

McCarthy had virtually assured himself of emulating the former Irish

manager’s feat.

McCarthy managed the Irish

team through a very difficult 2002

World Cup qualifying group that included Holland and Portugal. By

finishing runners-up to Portugal on goal difference the Irish entered

a two match play-off against Iran. While they lost the second Iran

match to a last minute goal qualification had be assured by virtue

of a 2-0 win in the home leg at Lansdowne Road.

Trouble Before Departure for Finals

Part of the preparations

by the Irish squad for the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea involved

participation in Niall

Quinn’s testimonial match in Sunderland. Roy

Keane of Man Utd caused

some consternation by choosing not to take part tin the match, the proceeds

of which were going to charity, to concentrate on treatment for niggling

injuries and to spend some time with his family before heading for the

Far East. A successful campaign would mean being separated from his family

for month or more. This was a prospect that simply did not appeal to family

man Keane.

Elements of the media portrayed

this as disunity within the Irish squad despite denials by manager McCarthy.

When the Irish football squad assembled in a chaotic Dublin airport it

was obvious to all that Roy Keane was in a foul mood even before the squad

had departed for the World Cup.

Saipan Eruption

It didn’t take long for

the tensions to raise to the surface and following a foul-mouthed Roy

Keane tirade directed at Republic of Ireland manager the Irish captain

was sent home leaving an Irish squad in disarray behind him. The Saipan

incident extended for a protracted period beyond the row between Keane

and McCarthy as Irish football supporters and the media were divided into

opposing camps. In Saipan the Irish squad, the FAI,

and ultimately McCarthy were torn over whether Keane should be asked to

rejoin the Irish squad. In the end Keane would not return to Saipan and

the Irish preparations for the 2002 World

Cup group matches had been severely impacted.

Republic of Ireland Group Matches at World

Cup 2002

The consequences of the

Saipan affair were that the Irish

team entered it’s first group match in apparent disarray. Expectations

were severely dented as the Irish took to the pitch in Niigata’s Big Swan

Stadium against Cameroon without the one and only truly World class Irish

player, Roy Keane. For the first time ever an Irish team took part in

a major football tournament with less than full support. Some of those

in the Keane camp were stating openly their wish that Ireland would lose

and that McCarthy would get his due reward for sending Keane home. This

was epitomised by TV football

pundit Eamon Dunphy

wearing Cameroon colours on RTE television.

Despite a team-bonding

huddle before the kick-off Ireland started nervously and Cameroon looked

very dominant. It appeared to be very ominous for the Irish when Cameroon

took the lead just before half-time. McCarthy earned some grudging respect

from some of the Keanites when he turned things around at half-time

and an improved performance in the second half saw the Irish earn a well-deserved

draw against the African champions.

Next up was Germany and

despite falling behind again to an early goal from Klose the Irish battled

back to earn another draw through a Robbie

Keane goal in the last seconds of the game. It was the only goal that

the Germans conceded on the away to the final against Brazil.

With two draws and two

points in the group Irish qualification for the last 16 of 2002 World

Cup was within their own hands. Any kind of a two goal victory over Saudi

Arabia would be enough to see the Republic progress regardless of the

result between Germany and Cameroon. Goals from Robbie

Keane, Gary Breen, and Damien

Duff assured that Ireland qualified for the knock-out stages against

Spain.

Penalty Shoot-out Heartbreak for Ireland

Against Spain

By qualifying for the last

16 the Republic of Ireland had surpassed all expectations. Even the pro-Roy

Keane faction were forced to grudgingly acknowledge that the Irish team

had performed admirably in the face of adversity.

One more win and the Irish

would emulate their best ever World Cup finals performance – a quarter

final appearance in Italia 1990.

For the third time in the

2002 World Cup the Irish fell behind when Morientes scored in the eight

minute. Yet again the Irish fought back to equalise late in the match

through a Robbie Keane penalty following a foul on Niall Quinn. Despite

dominating the two periods of extra time the Irish could not find the

winner and a penalty shoot-out ensued.

Three missed Irish penalties

meant that Spain proceeded to the quarter finals and the Republic of Ireland

squad were heading home to a party in the Phoenix Park in Dublin where

100,000 fans turned out.

2002 World Cup Finals Conclusion

The Republic of Ireland

2002 World Cup adventure had been a real roller coaster ride. The campaign

started with great fanfare and excitement as the team left Dublin Airport,

endured the Saipan disaster, celebrated qualification for the last 16,

and finally suffered the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out exit. Even

the matches had their highs and lows. In three matches the Irish were

1-0 down at end of the first half, and on each occasion they fought back

to earn a draw – including two last-minute equalisers. It was a campaign

that deserved to be celebrated but as well as the McCarthy’s Irish squad

had performed there will always be the lingering question; How far

could the Republic of Ireland squad have gone in the 2002 World Cup finals

had the Saipan debacle not occurred and had the magnificent Roy Keane

played in the tournament?

Ireland

Euro 2016 – Irish Squad

Euro 2016 – Ireland V Sweden Euro

2016
 Ireland V

Belgium Euro 2016 – Ireland

V Italy Euro 2016 – Ireland V France Euro 2016

Ireland
Euro 2012 – Irish Squad

Euro 2012 – Euro 2012 Warm-up

Matches
Ireland V Croatia Euro

2012 – Ireland V Spain

Euro 2012 – Ireland

V Italy Euro 2012
Fields of Athenry

at Euro 2012

Ireland Euro 88 – Irish

Squad Euro 88
Ireland v England Euro

88 – Ireland

v Soviet Union Euro 88 – Ireland

v Holland Euro 88

Ireland

& 1990 World Cup Finals – Irish

Squad World Cup 1990
Ireland V England 1990

– Ireland V Egypt 1990

– a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 1 9 9 0 / i r e l a n d – n e t h e r l a n d s . h t m ” > I r e l a n d V H o l l a n d

1 9 9 0 / a > b r >

a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 1 9 9 0 / i r e l a n d – r o m a n i a . h t m ” > I r e l a n d V R o m a n i a 1 9 9 0 / a >

– a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 1 9 9 0 / i r e l a n d – i t a l y . h t m ” > I r e l a n d V I t a l y 1 9 9 0 / a > b r >

b > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 1 9 9 4 / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r e l a n d &a m p ; 1 9 9 4 W o r l d C u p

F i n a l s / a > / b > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 1 9 9 4 / r e p u b l i c – i r e l a n d – s q u a d . h t m ” > b > I r i s h

S q u a d W o r l d C u p 1 9 9 4 / b > / a > b r >

a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 1 9 9 4 / i r e l a n d – i t a l y . h t m ” > I r e l a n d V I t a l y 1 9 9 4 / a >

– a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 1 9 9 4 / i r e l a n d – m e x i c o . h t m ” > I r e l a n d V M e x i c o 1 9 9 4 / a >

– a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 1 9 9 4 / i r e l a n d – n o r w a y . h t m ” > I r e l a n d V N o r w a y 1 9 9 4 / a >

– a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 1 9 9 4 / i r e l a n d – n e t h e r l a n d s . h t m ” > I r e l a n d V N e t h e r l a n d s

1 9 9 4 / a > b r >

a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 2 0 0 2 / i n d e x . h t m ” > b > I r e l a n d &a m p ; 2 0 0 2 W o r l d C u p

F i n a l s / b > / a > b > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 2 0 0 2 / r e p u b l i c – i r e l a n d – s q u a d . h t m ” > 2 0 0 2

W o r l d C u p I r i s h S q u a d / a > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 2 0 0 2 / g r o u p – m a t c h e s . h t m ” > 2 0 0 2

W o r l d C u p I r i s h G r o u p M a t c h e s / a > b r >

/ b > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 2 0 0 2 / i r e l a n d – c a m e r o o n . h t m ” > I r e l a n d V C a m e r o o n

2 0 0 2 / a > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 2 0 0 2 / i r e l a n d – g e r m a n y . h t m ” > I r e l a n d V G e r m a n y

2 0 0 2 / a > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 2 0 0 2 / i r e l a n d – s a u d i – a r a b i a . h t m ” > I r e l a n d

V S a u d i A r a b i a 2 0 0 2 / a > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o r l d – c u p – 2 0 0 2 / i r e l a n d – s p a i n . h t m ” > I r e l a n d

V S p a i n 2 0 0 2 / a > / f o n t > / p >

t a b l e w i d t h = ” 7 4 5 ” c e l l s p a c i n g = ” 0 ” c e l l p a d d i n g = ” 4 ” >

t r >

t d c o l s p a n = ” 3 ” > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 3 ” > b > I r i s h S o c c e r I n f o r m a t i o n

/ b > / f o n t > / t d >

/ t r >

t r >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 7 5 ” b g c o l o r = ” # 0 0 C C 3 3 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / f o o t b a l l – t e a m – c o u n t i e s . h t m ” > I r i s h

F o o t b a l l C l u b D i r e c t o r y / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / i r i s h – s o c c e r – l e a g u e s / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

S o c c e r L e a g u e s / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” b g c o l o r = ” # F F 9 9 0 0 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / w o m e n s – s o c c e r – i r e l a n d / i r i s h – w o m e n s – f o o t b a l l . h t m ” > W o m e n ‘ s

S o c c e r i n I r e l a n d / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

/ t r >

t r >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 7 5 ” b g c o l o r = ” # 0 0 C C 3 3 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / d u b l i n – f o o t b a l l – c l u b s / i n d e x . h t m ” > D u b l i n

F o o t b a l l C l u b s / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / f o o t b a l l – a s s o c i a t i o n – i r e l a n d / i n d e x . h t m ” > F o o t b a l l

A s s o c i a t i o n o f I r e l a n d / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” b g c o l o r = ” # F F 9 9 0 0 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / i r i s h – s o c c e r – p l a y e r s / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

S o c c e r P l a y e r s / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

/ t r >

t r >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 7 5 ” b g c o l o r = ” # 0 0 C C 3 3 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / d u b l i n – s o c c e r / i n d e x . h t m ” > D u b l i n

F o o t b a l l C l u b s b y A r e a / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / s o c c e r – c l u b – w e b s i t e s / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

F o o t b a l l C l u b W e b s i t e s / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” b g c o l o r = ” # F F 9 9 0 0 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / f u t s a l – i r e l a n d . h t m ” > F u t s a l

i n I r e l a n d / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

/ t r >

t r >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 7 5 ” b g c o l o r = ” # 0 0 C C 3 3 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / i r i s h – s o c c e r – m a n a g e r s / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

S o c c e r M a n a g e r s / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” >

d i v a l i g n = ” l e f t ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / f o o t b a l l – g r o u n d s / a v i v a – s t a d i u m . h t m ” > A v i v a

S t a d i u m / a > / f o n t > / b > / d i v >

/ t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” b g c o l o r = ” # F F 9 9 0 0 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / i r i s h – f o o t b a l l – r e s u l t s / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

S o c c e r R e s u l t s / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

/ t r >

t r >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 7 5 ” b g c o l o r = ” # 0 0 C C 3 3 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / i r i s h – f o o t b a l l – h i s t o r y / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

F o o t b a l l H i s t o r y / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” >

d i v a l i g n = ” l e f t ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / i r i s h – f o o t b a l l – h i s t o r y / i n d e x . h t m ” > F o o t b a l l

B o o k s / a > / f o n t > / b > / d i v >

/ t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” b g c o l o r = ” # F F 9 9 0 0 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / f o o t b a l l – p u n d i t s / i n d e x . h t m ” > F o o t b a l l

P u n d i t s / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

/ t r >

t r >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 7 5 ” b g c o l o r = ” # 0 0 C C 3 3 ” > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > b > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / s o c c e r – r e f e r e e s / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

S o c c e r R e f e r e e s / a > / b > / f o n t > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” >

d i v a l i g n = ” l e f t ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / f o o t b a l l – q u o t e s / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

F o o t b a l l Q u o t e s / a > / f o n t > / b > / d i v >

/ t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” b g c o l o r = ” # F F 9 9 0 0 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / i r i s h – s o c c e r – m a n a g e r s / i n d e x . h t m ” > R e p u b l i c

o f I r e l a n d M a n a g e r s / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

/ t r >

t r >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 7 5 ” b g c o l o r = ” # 0 0 C C 3 3 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / l e a g u e – o f – i r e l a n d / i n d e x . h t m ” > L e a g u e

o f I r e l a n d / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” >

d i v a l i g n = ” l e f t ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / i r i s h – q u a l i f y i n g – c a m p a i g n s / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

Q u a l i f i e r R e s u l t s / a > / f o n t > / b > / d i v >

/ t d >

t d w i d t h = ” 3 5 6 ” b g c o l o r = ” # F F 9 9 0 0 ” > b > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / f o o t b a l l – s t a t i s t i c s / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

F o o t b a l l S t a t i s t i c s / a > / f o n t > / b > / t d >

/ t r >

t r b g c o l o r = ” # F F F F F F ” >

t d c o l s p a n = ” 3 ” > / t d >

/ t r >

/ t a b l e >

b r >

/ t d >

/ t r >

/ t a b l e >

t a b l e w i d t h = ” 7 4 5 ” b o r d e r = ” 0 ” c e l l s p a c i n g = ” 0 ” c e l l p a d d i n g = ” 0 ” a l i g n = ” c e n t e r ” >

t r >

t d b g c o l o r = ” # F F F F F F ” h e i g h t = ” 2 9 ” > b r >

d i v a l i g n = ” c e n t e r ” > f o n t s i z e = ” 2 ” f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / i n d e x . h t m ” > I r i s h

S o c c e r / a > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / s a i p a n / i n t r o d u c t i o n . h t m ” > S a i p a n I n c i d e n t / a >

– a h r e f = ” . . / . . / l i n k . h t m ” > L i n k t o S o c c e r I r e l a n d / a > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / c o n t a c t – s o c c e r – i r e l a n d . h t m ” > C o n t a c t

U s / a > / f o n t > b r >

f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 2 ” > a h r e f = ” . . / . . / s i t e m a p . h t m ” > S i t e m a p / a > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / s i t e m a p – d u b l i n – c l u b s . h t m ” > D u b l i n

C l u b s S i t e m a p / a > – a h r e f = ” . . / . . / s i t e m a p – n o n – i r i s h . h t m ” > N o n – I r i s h S i t e m a p / a >

– a h r e f = ” . . / . . / s i t e m a p – s a i p a n . h t m ” > S a i p a n S i t e m a p / a > / f o n t >

p > f o n t f a c e = ” V e r d a n a ” s i z e = ” 1 ” > b > &c o p y ; 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 8 S o c c e r – I r e l a n d . c o m .

A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d / b > / f o n t > / p >

/ d i v >

/ t d >

/ t r >

/ t a b l e >

s c r i p t t y p e = ” t e x t / j a v a s c r i p t ” > s t L i g h t . o p t i o n s ( { p u b l i s h e r : ” d 5 a 8 2 3 8 0 – c 4 3 9 – 4 4 1 d – 9 4 1 f – 2 a a 7 2 a 9 6 f 3 c c ” , d o N o t H a s h : f a l s e , d o N o t C o p y : f a l s e , h a s h A d d r e s s B a r : f a l s e } ) ; / s c r i p t >

s c r i p t >

v a r o p t i o n s = { ” p u b l i s h e r ” : ” d 5 a 8 2 3 8 0 – c 4 3 9 – 4 4 1 d – 9 4 1 f – 2 a a 7 2 a 9 6 f 3 c c ” , ” p o s i t i o n ” : ” r i g h t ” , ” a d ” : { ” v i s i b l e ” : f a l s e , ” o p e n D e l a y ” : 5 , ” c l o s e D e l a y ” : 0 } , ” c h i c k l e t s ” : { ” i t e m s ” : [ ” f a c e b o o k ” , ” t w i t t e r ” , ” g o o g l e p l u s ” , ” l i n k e d i n ” , ” s h a r e t h i s ” , ” p i n t e r e s t ” , ” e m a i l ” ] } } ;

v a r s t _ h o v e r _ w i d g e t = n e w s h a r e t h i s . w i d g e t s . h o v e r b u t t o n s ( o p t i o n s ) ;

/ s c r i p t >

s c r i p t t y p e = ” t e x t / j a v a s c r i p t ” >

v a r g a J s H o s t = ( ( ” h t t p s : ” = = d o c u m e n t . l o c a t i o n . p r o t o c o l ) ? ” h t t p s : / / s s l . ” : ” h t t p : / / w w w . ” ) ;

d o c u m e n t . w r i t e ( u n e s c a p e ( ” % 3 C s c r i p t s r c = ‘ ” + g a J s H o s t + ” g o o g l e – a n a l y t i c s . c o m / g a . j s ‘ t y p e = ‘ t e x t / j a v a s c r i p t ‘ % 3 E % 3 C / s c r i p t % 3 E ” ) ) ;

/ s c r i p t >

s c r i p t t y p e = ” t e x t / j a v a s c r i p t ” >

t r y {

v a r p a g e T r a c k e r = _ g a t . _ g e t T r a c k e r ( ” U A – 6 6 1 2 1 6 7 – 1 ” ) ;

p a g e T r a c k e r . _ t r a c k P a g e v i e w ( ) ;

} c a t c h ( e r r ) { } / s c r i p t >

s c r i p t t y p e = ” t e x t / j a v a s c r i p t ” s r c = ” h t t p s : / / a p i s . g o o g l e . c o m / j s / p l u s o n e . j s ” > / s c r i p t >

/ b o d y >

/ h t m l >