Póg Mo Goal

Month: October 2014

A Different Shade of Green – The Alan McLoughlin Story

Gary Mackay’s goal for Scotland sent Ireland to Euro ’88. A facile win in Malta secured passage to our first ever World Cup in 1990. Play-offs, where the job was virtually done in the first leg, earned us the right to compete on a global stage in 2002 and 2012.

The World Cup in America was different though. Irish footballing lore is peppered with iconic goals that stay at the forefront of every Republic fan’s memory. Whelan against USSR, McAteer against the Netherlands, Keane versus the Germans, even O’Shea in Gelsenkirchen. And another of those standout strikes came in Belfast in 1993. For the hero of that hour, his toughest fight was yet to come. His newly released autobiography has already been nominated for the Irish Sports Book of the Year.

When Support Doesn’t Work

They’re regarded as being among the best football supporters in the world and were featured in a promotional campaign about Ireland’s loyal Green Army of fans. But with some missing out on tickets for the qualifier with Scotland, and the FAI coming under fire, a new protest video has emerged.

Pelé, the Nickname, and Jimmy Magee

He was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, but is known throughout the world simply as Pelé. The origin of the nickname given to the man who turns 74 today is far from certain, but, as ever, an Irish footballing myth gained legs over the years.

Pluck of the Irish Raises More Questions for Germany

“Germany had no clue how to find a loose brick in the Irish wall and this time there was no David Hasselhoff at hand to just sing it down.” What ever happened to the champions of 2014? After the triumph of Rio, Germany now has a hangover in the qualification round. The World Cup memories fade as scepticism grows, writes 11freunde’s Ron Ulrich.

No German Panic but Fighting Irish Could Strike Another Blow

Call it a World Cup hangover, but the Germans are still feeling a little delicate since their caipirinha-fuelled conquest by the Copacabana. Retirements and injuries have certainly affected ‘Die Mannschaft’ and their performances since the Maracana triumph have been sluggish. A friendly-drubbing at the hands of Argentina was followed up with the nervy win over Scotland, and a shock defeat to Poland. But German football fans don’t necessarily care. They are the world champions. And the country is still basking in the Brazilian glow. The flags remain on cars and outside houses, if a little more ragged now, a bit like Jogi Loew’s squad.

Schalke’s Tunnel Vision

This is the players’ tunnel that awaits Ireland and Germany at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen. The pitch entrance was installed at the home of Schalke 04 this season as a tribute to the region’s mining tradition.

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