🎥 OTD 1994: Ireland win first-ever World Cup game in epic fashion
🎥 OTD 1994: Ireland win first-ever World Cup game in epic fashion
Jack Charlton's Ireland side of the late 1980s and early 1990s were one of the toughest sides to play in the world, and pulled off more than one giant-killing.
On this day 31 years ago, they stunned Italy to seal their first-ever World Cup win.
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The Boys in Green had made the quarter-finals of Italia '90, but drew all four of their games (winning on penalties in the round of 16).
Four years later at Giants Stadium in New York, Ray Houghton was the hero, as he was against England at EURO '88, looping a brilliant strike over the head of Gianluca Pagliuca in the 11th minute.
It sealed a 1-0 win for the Irish, with Paul McGrath and Roy Keane standout performers against a Roberto Baggio-led Azzurri, who went onto make the final.
Ireland have only played in one World Cup since, where they won their only other finals game against Saudi Arabia in 2002.
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With the US one of the hosts next year, could a return to the States be in store?
📸 CLAUDIO ONORATI
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