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Replying To KillingFields: "why wouldnt you?
would be fantastic to have 2 teams from this island in the tournament. wierd to be so down on them" I support the team that draws players from all 32 counties of the island and are proud to represent that nation. The other team on the island has players that are proud to play for that particular small pocket of the island and fair play to them for doing so. I have no interest in supporting that team, as it is hypocritical. Why would I want another nation to do as well as my own nation?
alalalalalum (USA) - Posts: 99 - 17/11/2025 12:01:38
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Comparing a friendly win on Saturday night to the magical events that transpired in Budapest yesterday is hilarious. For a small pocket of fans though it probably has more meaning than yesterday in Budapest, and that is their right even though it is baffling.
There is imo simply no comparison. You will see no videos for rugby games like the ones doing the rounds last night and today of the sheer joy of Irish people in bars around the world. Rugby will never have that hold on the majority of Irish people.
alalalalalum (USA) - Posts: 99 - 17/11/2025 12:05:45
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Replying To Lockjaw: "Away from the rugby talk for a minute, I think it's absolutely fantastic that the Irish football team have restored a bit of pride and interest. Look - there's still a lot of work to do to qualify, we know that. But it's still nice to savour two brilliant victories. My young fella has already updated his Santa list from wanting an Mbappe Real Madrid jersey to wanting an Ireland shirt with Parrott on the back.
Growing up, we were so lucky to enjoy big tournaments that Ireland qualified for. I don't think anything else captivates the nation so much as when the Ireland team is involved in a major football tournament. The rugby lads do very well, but when football mania kicks in, it's a differeny story altogether." An amazing few days for Irish soccer no doubt. I absolutely live for hurling, but was fortunate enough to be there when 10 man Ireland beat a star studded Dutch team in Lansdowne in 01 and that memory is very hard to beat. Yesterday and Thursday came close.
I don't remember Italia 90 but have all the tapes, remember 94, 02 and euros in 16. It's a very special feeling that brings everyone together in a totally unique way. My wife who has no interest in field sports was sobbing away during Parrott's interview, like Brady in 16.
Please God they do the business in march. A trip to the US would be magic, and a tonic to the forgotten sport on our island that's brought us a lot of joy over the years.
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4032 - 17/11/2025 12:17:03
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Replying To Lockjaw: "Away from the rugby talk for a minute, I think it's absolutely fantastic that the Irish football team have restored a bit of pride and interest. Look - there's still a lot of work to do to qualify, we know that. But it's still nice to savour two brilliant victories. My young fella has already updated his Santa list from wanting an Mbappe Real Madrid jersey to wanting an Ireland shirt with Parrott on the back.
Growing up, we were so lucky to enjoy big tournaments that Ireland qualified for. I don't think anything else captivates the nation so much as when the Ireland team is involved in a major football tournament. The rugby lads do very well, but when football mania kicks in, it's a differeny story altogether." That's class. You'd forget there's a whole section of the young population that has never experienced Ireland doing well and the excitement it brings. We were spoiled growing up really. I hold my hands up, had big question marks over a few of those lads but they really redeemed themselves.
Obviously no international element to the GAA where you can get behind the a national team (not even going to pretend that farce Aussie rules plus Gaelic is worth watching) and rugby just does not come close to capturing the immagination or reaching every corner of the country. Bar the very staunch garrison sports people, most people from every county have played and followed soccer at some level, even at its most agricultural! There is no other sport that stirs national pride as much as the soccer team when they are competing with the best. As someone from a family and part of the country that has lost a lot of people to immigration, the pride and joy that brings the diaspora as well is phenomenal and can't be underestimated.
FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 476 - 17/11/2025 12:24:47
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Replying To SouthGalway: "Did the Ireland Rugby team no harm." So Northern Ireland have an away Play Off v either Italy, Turkey, Poland or Ukraine!
The Republic of Ireland could be away to Scotland, Slovakia Cheq Republic or Wales.
If North Macedonia draw with Wales in last group game then the Republic could have home draw v either Kosovo, Bosnia, Albania or Wales.
katser (Galway) - Posts: 2754 - 17/11/2025 12:35:46
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Replying To Viking66: "Who played in that game Barney? And was Liam McCarthy qualification or seeding affected by it? Big difference between challenge games and games which decide if you qualify for the World Cup at all, and what seed you are in the draw." In fairness the Rugby PR department know how to promote these games, and fair play to them. The pyrotechincs before the game looked great and I'm sure added to the atmosphere.
Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2588 - 17/11/2025 13:56:05
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Replying To katser: "So Northern Ireland have an away Play Off v either Italy, Turkey, Poland or Ukraine!
The Republic of Ireland could be away to Scotland, Slovakia Cheq Republic or Wales.
If North Macedonia draw with Wales in last group game then the Republic could have home draw v either Kosovo, Bosnia, Albania or Wales." Are we better off getting someone like Turkey who we'll be underdogs against but well capable of getting a result if its approached like the last two games? Favourites tag doesn't suit us and you'd nearly be afraid they'd revert back to how we approached Aremnia if we got the likes of Kosovo.
FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 476 - 17/11/2025 13:59:43
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Replying To FullOfPorter: "That's class. You'd forget there's a whole section of the young population that has never experienced Ireland doing well and the excitement it brings. We were spoiled growing up really. I hold my hands up, had big question marks over a few of those lads but they really redeemed themselves.
Obviously no international element to the GAA where you can get behind the a national team (not even going to pretend that farce Aussie rules plus Gaelic is worth watching) and rugby just does not come close to capturing the immagination or reaching every corner of the country. Bar the very staunch garrison sports people, most people from every county have played and followed soccer at some level, even at its most agricultural! There is no other sport that stirs national pride as much as the soccer team when they are competing with the best. As someone from a family and part of the country that has lost a lot of people to immigration, the pride and joy that brings the diaspora as well is phenomenal and can't be underestimated." Yours is a very good post, with some balance.
supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3310 - 17/11/2025 14:04:21
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Replying To zinny: "Since you have never been involved in the sport, its no great surprise that you don't understand it. Its the same for any sport, players and supporters of that sport will always find reason to be more passionate about it than those looking on from the outside. However what object to is people making lazy comparisons to their own sport in a way to try and belittle the other sport.
Ask yourself a question - where was the last friendly game that Kildare had played? I guarantee you they didn't trave to Australia to play it. The world cup comes around once ever four years, A lot of sports you could argue ar the same in the Olympics would be seen as the top of the game, however do they stop trying to be the best they can be for the other 3years ? Everytime they go out they want to prove they are the best and be the best, that just doesn't happen in a world cup. SA are the best in the world not because they won a world cup but because of their consistency against all major teams." SA rugby players have had failed dope tests too, since you're assessing why they're the best in the world there for a finish. Did you ever wonder why their forward packs are as 'consistently' strong as they are, for the last 60 years and more?
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4472 - 17/11/2025 14:23:06
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Replying To FullOfPorter: "That's class. You'd forget there's a whole section of the young population that has never experienced Ireland doing well and the excitement it brings. We were spoiled growing up really. I hold my hands up, had big question marks over a few of those lads but they really redeemed themselves.
Obviously no international element to the GAA where you can get behind the a national team (not even going to pretend that farce Aussie rules plus Gaelic is worth watching) and rugby just does not come close to capturing the immagination or reaching every corner of the country. Bar the very staunch garrison sports people, most people from every county have played and followed soccer at some level, even at its most agricultural! There is no other sport that stirs national pride as much as the soccer team when they are competing with the best. As someone from a family and part of the country that has lost a lot of people to immigration, the pride and joy that brings the diaspora as well is phenomenal and can't be underestimated." Yes it's going to be exciting to see what the playoff draw reveals. But I don't think we should fear any team, even Italy if it comes to pass. Gattuso is under big pressure there. They haven't qualified for the last two World Cups, which is pretty extraordinary given their history and tradition. They certainly aren't any better than Portugal.
I would nearly be more fearful of drawing a Kosovo or an Albania. Technically very good and they play with a fierce spirit.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10133 - 17/11/2025 14:37:03
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Replying To katser: "So Northern Ireland have an away Play Off v either Italy, Turkey, Poland or Ukraine!
The Republic of Ireland could be away to Scotland, Slovakia Cheq Republic or Wales.
If North Macedonia draw with Wales in last group game then the Republic could have home draw v either Kosovo, Bosnia, Albania or Wales." I can see it now, we'll get Wales again in the play off. Can't rem what year it was they knocked us out before,
nearly as bad as playing the english,
Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3564 - 17/11/2025 14:49:47
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Replying To alalalalalum: "I support the team that draws players from all 32 counties of the island and are proud to represent that nation. The other team on the island has players that are proud to play for that particular small pocket of the island and fair play to them for doing so. I have no interest in supporting that team, as it is hypocritical. Why would I want another nation to do as well as my own nation?" There's always been plenty lads from a nationalist background play for the 6 counties team.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17544 - 17/11/2025 15:10:47
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Replying To GreenandRed: "'On the day'. Ireland weren't good enough. Same as Mayo since 1951. You win or you lose. Fine margins have zero to to do with it. A lovely excuse when you lose. Good teams can do what it takes to get the right side of fine margins. New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, England, France, Argentina aim to peak for the World Cup. We never have, despite being highly ranked and beating those countries outside the World Cup. If the Kiwi players didn't bring us past the quarter final they haven't improved our standard. Keep them as coaches, they haven't loads of paying years left. But why don't the IRFU back their homegrown talent and leave the imports to the provincial teams, not the national team?" All those good teams you mention have lost world cup games by fine margins also. As regards RWCs, we have beaten all those countries in world cup games except New Zealand who we have hardly ever beaten in any games, and England who strangely enough we have never played at any World Cup.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17544 - 17/11/2025 15:19:20
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Replying To FullOfPorter: "Are we better off getting someone like Turkey who we'll be underdogs against but well capable of getting a result if its approached like the last two games? Favourites tag doesn't suit us and you'd nearly be afraid they'd revert back to how we approached Aremnia if we got the likes of Kosovo." The Republic can't draw Turkey but Northern Ireland can.
Turkey are Pot 1, the Republic are Pot 3 but could move upto Pot 2 iF North Macedonia win or draw v Wales.
Semi Finals
Pot 1 v Pot 4
Pot 2 v Pot 3.
All Pot 1 and Pot 2 teams are home
All Pot 3 and Pot 4 teams are away.
katser (Galway) - Posts: 2754 - 17/11/2025 15:20:15
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Replying To GreenandRed: "'On the day'. Ireland weren't good enough. Same as Mayo since 1951. You win or you lose. Fine margins have zero to to do with it. A lovely excuse when you lose. Good teams can do what it takes to get the right side of fine margins. New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, England, France, Argentina aim to peak for the World Cup. We never have, despite being highly ranked and beating those countries outside the World Cup. If the Kiwi players didn't bring us past the quarter final they haven't improved our standard. Keep them as coaches, they haven't loads of paying years left. But why don't the IRFU back their homegrown talent and leave the imports to the provincial teams, not the national team?" As regards imports if a fella emmigrates here, raises a family here, and is an Irish citizen why shouldn't he be allowed play for Ireland? And in the case of Gibson Park he never even won a cap for Ireland until quite some time after he was eligible to play for us.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17544 - 17/11/2025 15:21:17
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Replying To Lockjaw: "Yes it's going to be exciting to see what the playoff draw reveals. But I don't think we should fear any team, even Italy if it comes to pass. Gattuso is under big pressure there. They haven't qualified for the last two World Cups, which is pretty extraordinary given their history and tradition. They certainly aren't any better than Portugal.
I would nearly be more fearful of drawing a Kosovo or an Albania. Technically very good and they play with a fierce spirit." Let's face it any team we might draw in a playoff is there for a reason, and would be beatable for that reason. Bring em on!!!!
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17544 - 17/11/2025 15:25:09
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Replying To Viking66: "As regards imports if a fella emmigrates here, raises a family here, and is an Irish citizen why shouldn't he be allowed play for Ireland? And in the case of Gibson Park he never even won a cap for Ireland until quite some time after he was eligible to play for us." He's not Irish. He is class, no doubts. He came here because the IRFU brought him here and is now a citizen. I don't think that's international rugby. New Zealand is his national team. He definitely raises the standard. But I'd prefer to see Irish players with less ability starting out for Ireland and slowly and gradually improve the standard for the national team.
GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8361 - 17/11/2025 15:35:56
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Replying To GreenandRed: "He's not Irish. He is class, no doubts. He came here because the IRFU brought him here and is now a citizen. I don't think that's international rugby. New Zealand is his national team. He definitely raises the standard. But I'd prefer to see Irish players with less ability starting out for Ireland and slowly and gradually improve the standard for the national team." If the IRFU brought him here to play why didnt they play him until I think 2 years after he was eligible to play?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17544 - 17/11/2025 16:14:06
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Replying To Tirchonaill1: "I can see it now, we'll get Wales again in the play off. Can't rem what year it was they knocked us out before,
nearly as bad as playing the english," We knocked Wales out of something too iirc. I remember a McClean goal in Wales being a key one. If it was the 70s or 80s, I'd remember the specifics, but for the last 20 years or so, I can't tell one year from another with the same laser focus.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4472 - 17/11/2025 16:21:37
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Replying To Viking66: "If the IRFU brought him here to play why didnt they play him until I think 2 years after he was eligible to play?" Dunno. Conor Murray form better? They can't be guaranteed that an Irish player's form would keep them out of the team when they're eligible.
GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8361 - 17/11/2025 16:35:29
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