It was 20 years ago today

[Des]

...that Houghton taught the English how to play.

 

 

Remember this like it was about ten minutes ago. Stuck right in the middle of my A Levels at the time as well so unable to celebrate as I would've wanted. I think we can mark the point of Houghton's header looping over Shilton as the exact moment the Celtic Tiger was born.

 

Oh and Whelan's goal against the godless Soviet hordes a couple of days later was an absolute f*cking belter and we should've won that game and gone through...ah well.

[ExCorkExile]

...that Houghton taught the English how to play.

 

 

Remember this like it was about ten minutes ago. Stuck right in the middle of my A Levels at the time as well so unable to celebrate as I would've wanted. I think we can mark the point of Houghton's header looping over Shilton as the exact moment the Celtic Tiger was born.

 

Oh and Whelan's goal against the godless Soviet hordes a couple of days later was an absolute f*cking belter and we should've won that game and gone through...ah well.

 

Interestingly enough (or not) there was an article in last weekends Sunday Tribune by an economist who claimed that Euro 88 was the start of the Celtic Tiger

 

Bloody Wim Kieft with his jammy header as well

[Des]

Interestingly enough (or not) there was an article in last weekends Sunday Tribune by an economist who claimed that Euro 88 was the start of the Celtic Tiger

 

And I bet the c nut earns about ten times more than me for searing insight like that.

 

Bloody Wim Kieft with his jammy header as well

 

Aye. Still, nice of England to do us a favour against the USSR, wasn't it?

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

...that Houghton taught the English how to play.

 

 

Remember this like it was about ten minutes ago. Stuck right in the middle of my A Levels at the time as well so unable to celebrate as I would've wanted. I think we can mark the point of Houghton's header looping over Shilton as the exact moment the Celtic Tiger was born.

 

Oh and Whelan's goal against the godless Soviet hordes a couple of days later was an absolute f*cking belter and we should've won that game and gone through...ah well.

sweet it was - Whelan's goal is in the Guardian's youtube top 10 Euro Champ'ship goals

[ExCorkExile]

sweet it was - Whelan's goal is in the Guardian's youtube top 10 Euro Champ'ship goals

 

Best shinned goal ever !

[John am Rhein]

...that Houghton taught the English how to play.

 

 

Remember this like it was about ten minutes ago. Stuck right in the middle of my A Levels at the time as well so unable to celebrate as I would've wanted. I think we can mark the point of Houghton's header looping over Shilton as the exact moment the Celtic Tiger was born.

 

Oh and Whelan's goal against the godless Soviet hordes a couple of days later was an absolute f*cking belter and we should've won that game and gone through...ah well.

 

You should of (sic) drawn with Holland

[Dee]

that header bouncing past Packie's outstretched hand still haunts me...I remember that so vividedly

 

euro88 & italia 90 had astounding transformatory effects on Irish society. There have been loads of studies and articles written on it..

[ExCorkExile]

And I bet the c nut earns about ten times more than me for searing insight like that.

Aye. Still, nice of England to do us a favour against the USSR, wasn't it?

 

Yeah...when you need England to do yah a favour

 

Van Basten's hat-trick against them was rather sweet though

 

Hard to believe its 20 years ago..

[Des]

that header bouncing past Packie's outstretched hand still haunts me...I remember that so vividedly

 

It was excruciating. Jammy Dutch feckers.

 

euro88 & italia 90 had astounding transformatory effects on Irish society. There have been loads of studies and articles written on it..

 

It's true to an extent, but it was the economic and political changes brought about by EU membership that really transformed Ireland, not limited success in a couple of football tournaments. Might have been an indication of a new confidence in Ireland that was never there previously but just in a symbolic way rather than anything else.

[John am Rhein]

If Ireland HAD drawn with Holland, who would have gone out? Holland or USSR?

[Dee]

It was excruciating. Jammy Dutch feckers.

It's true to an extent, but it was the economic and political changes brought about by EU membership that really transformed Ireland, not limited success in a couple of football tournaments. Might have been an indication of a new confidence in Ireland that was never there previously but just in a symbolic way rather than anything else.

I agree completely that the face of Ireland was shaped more prominently by EU membership...but I'm trying to get at the changes socially and more importantly culturally. The 'gelling' nature of the world cup especially was massive. I'd venture it was a defining moment in Irish social history!

[Des]

If Ireland HAD drawn with Holland, who would have gone out? Holland or USSR?

 

Holland, I think as the USSR had a better gd against England. Walloped them 4-0 if memory serves.

 

EDIT: Sh*t, the USSR beat the Dutch 1-0 so definitely Holland. Of course!

Edited June 12, 2008 by Des

[Des]

Was that game against Holland when Kieft scored the same day as the big Mandela concert at Wembley?

 

F*ck me...20 years ago!

[Des]

I agree completely that the face of Ireland was shaped more prominently by EU membership...but I'm trying to get at the changes socially and more importantly culturally. The 'gelling' nature of the world cup especially was massive. I'd venture it was a defining moment in Irish social history!

 

Something definitely changed. Ireland shook off its inferiority complex for a start.

[ExCorkExile]

I agree completely that the face of Ireland was shaped more prominently by EU membership...but I'm trying to get at the changes socially and more importantly culturally. The 'gelling' nature of the world cup especially was massive. I'd venture it was a defining moment in Irish social history!

 

It needed a cultural & societal change for the benefit of EU membership to really take effect. Remember that we had already been a member of the EU for 15 years and the economy was a basket case. Euro 88 and Italia 90 had a hugely positive effect in terms of our national awareness and self confidence. People genuinely felt that we could actually achieve something as a nation.

 

Obviously the effects of the first national social partnership and a belated tackling of the underlying economic problems gave the stimulus needed to kick start Ireland Inc but I don't think it would have the effect it had without Euro 88 / Italia 90

 

And we have Englishmen to thank for it...the irony of it

[Des]

Although no-one in 1988 actually ever called the tournament "Euro 88".

[Gary Wolf]

I really wanted Ireland to qualify from that group on Holland's expence. Holland were lucky to score that. After all, without the Dutch Lobanovsky would have won the title that he deserved.

[Gary Wolf]

Holland, I think as the USSR had a better gd against England. Walloped them 4-0 if memory serves.

 

EDIT: Sh*t, the USSR beat the Dutch 1-0 so definitely Holland. Of course!

Your memory misleads you a bit. We beat England 3-1 with Aleinikov scoring on the 2nd minute, then the equalizer from Adams (or Platt) and later Mikhailichenko and Passulko to kill them off.

[John am Rhein]

Your memory misleads you a bit. We beat England 3-1 with Aleinikov scoring on the 2nd minute, then the equalizer from Adams (or Platt) and later Mikhailichenko and Passulko to kill them off.

 

England were utterly outplayed, though...

 

which was nice

[Gary Wolf]

England were utterly outplayed, though...

 

which was nice

Not their worst, though.

Had to wait till 1992.

[Snookie]

Arguably the most important social/cultural event of the last 30 years in Ireland. Its difficult to overstate how much it helped us move away from defining ourselves in terms of the past, anti-Englishness and a sense of cultural inferiority.

That whole period is defined by contradictions for me;

 

- An English man leading an Irish team to a victory which led to a positive re-evaluation of our relationship with Englishness

- The single best group of footballers we've ever had playing some of the worst football I've ever seen

- Reaching a quarter final of a major tournament without winning a game and it still being fun

 

Istanbul is the only thing that stands comparison as far as I'm concerned