March 29, 2024

Irish 1994 World Cup Qualifying Campaign

The Republic of Ireland soccer team was drawn in World Cup Group 3 that also included Spain, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Albania. The Irish, managed by Jack Charlton, were looking to qualify for successive World Cup Finals having had a successful qualifying campaign for the 1990 World Cup. Once again the favourites to win the group would be Spain, as in the previous campaign, but Denmark and Northern Ireland would be also be competing fiercely for one of the top two automatic qualifying spots.

Outstanding Start to 1994 World Cup Qualifying Group 3

Group 8 started for Ireland on the 26 May 1992 at Lansdowne Road (now the Aviva Stadium) against Albania. Goals from John Aldridge and Paul McGrath gave the Irish a 2-0 win over opponents that have always proved difficult to beat. This was followed up with a comprehensive 4-0 home win over Latvia. A John Aldridge hat trick being supplemented by a Kevin Sheedy goal in the 30th minute ensuring that Ireland had maximum points after two matches. Two 0-0 draws away to Denmark and Spain was followed up by a 3-0 win at Lansdowne Road over Northern Ireland. After five matches, three wins, two away draws against their main opponents, no losses, nine goals for and none against, left the Irish in pole position to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals in the USA.

1994 World Cup Qualifier Mid-Term Report

The Danes arrived at Lansdowne Road in April 1993 in good form having beaten Latvia and, group favourites, Spain in their previous two qualifiers. The Danes maintained their good form as they secured a draw against the Irish. It took a late equaliser by Niall Quinn to cancel out the Danish lead given to them by Vilfort in the 27th minute. After this hiccup Ireland went on a run of four consecutive wins, Albania and Latvia away, and Lithuania both home and away. Denmark kept the pressure on with four successive victories also. The Irish still had automatic qualification in their own hands with a home match against Spain and an away match with near neighbours Northern Ireland.

Penultimate 1994 World Cup Qualifying Match

On 13 October 1993 Spain arrived in Dublin on a mission and having being beaten by Denmark, the Spanish were intent upon getting a win. Ireland lined up in an unusual 4-5-1 formation due to an injury to John Aldridge and Niall Quinn was the lone striker. Within 27 minutes the Spanish had raced to a 0-3 lead playing fast counter-attacking soccer. The formation was foreign to the Irish style of play but the Republic’s cause was not helped by a very poor performance by defender Alan Kernaghan who was responsible for two of the Spaniard’s goals. John Sheridan scored a consolation goal in the 72nd minute but it was too little too late.

Grand Finale to 1994 World Cup Qualification Campaign

Going into the last football match of qualifying group 3 the Irish would qualify if they won in Belfast against Northern Ireland and, depending upon what happened between Spain and Denmark in Seville, a draw might even do.

In his last match as manager of Northern Ireland, Billy Bingham inflamed an already fraught occasion by branding the Republic of Ireland players as a “bunch of mercenaries”. It was very hostile environment in Windsor Park and with qualification out of reach the Northern Irish players were playing only for pride.

The Republic team was on the rack early on with Packy Bonner called upon to make a few saves. Gradually the Republic moved into the ascendancy playing pressing soccer but not making the breakthrough. Then in the 73rd minute disaster struck when 34 year old Jimmy Quinn struck for Northern Ireland volleying past Bonner.

The Republic looked to be heading out of the 1994 World Cup. The gloom didn’t last long though. Alan McLoughlin scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland when he fired a poor clearance from the Northern Ireland defence through a crowded box into the net. With Spain winning 1-0 in Seville, the Republic of Ireland had qualified for the 1994 World Cup Finals by finishing second in qualifying Group 3.

Irish World Cup 1994 Qualifying Campaign – Group Table

World Cup 1994 – Qualifying Group 3

Nation
Played
Won
Drew
Lost
Goals F
Goals A
Points
Spain
12
8
3
1
27
4
19
Ireland
12
7
4
1
19
6
18
Denmark
12
7
4
1
15
2
18
Northern Ireland
12
5
3
4
14
13
13
Lithuania
12
2
3
7
8
21
7
Latvia
12
0
5
7
4
21
5
Albania
12
1
2
9
6
26
4

Republic of Ireland World Cup 1994 Qualifying Campaign – Match Results

22/04/92: Seville: Spain 3-0 Albania
28/04/92: Belfast: Northern Ireland 2-2 Lithuania26/05/92: Lansdowne Road, Dublin: Ireland 2-0 Albania
John Aldridge 60, Paul McGrath 8003/06/92: Tirana: Albania 1-0 Lithuania

12/08/92: Riga: Latvia 1-2 Lithuania

26/08/92: Riga: Latvia 0-0 Denmark

09/09/92: Lansdowne Road, Dublin: Ireland 4-0 Latvia
Kevin Sheedy 30, John Aldridge 5, 82 Pen, 86
09/09/92: Belfast: Northern Ireland 3-0 Albania

23/09/92: Vilnius: Lithuania 0-0 Denmark
23/09/92: Riga: Latvia 0-0 Spain

14/10/92: Copenhagen: Denmark 0-0 Ireland

14/10/92: Belfast: Northern Ireland 0-0 Spain

28/10/92: Vilnius: Lithuania 1-1 Latvia

11/11/92: Tirana: Albania 1-1 Latvia

18/11/92: Belfast: Northern Ireland 0-1 Denmark
18/11/92: Seville: Spain 0-0 Ireland

16/12/92: Seville: Spain 5-0 Latvia

17/02/93: Tirana: Albania 1-2 Northern Ireland

24/02/93: Seville: Spain 5-0 Lithuania

31/03/93: Copenhagen: Denmark 1-0 Spain
31/03/93: Lansdowne Rd, Dublin: Ireland 3-0 Northern Ireland
Andy Townsend 20, Niall Quinn 22, Stephen Staunton 28

14/04/93: Copenhagen: Denmark 2-0 Latvia
14/04/93: Vilnius: Lithuania 3-1 Albania

28/04/93: Lansdowne Road, Dublin: Ireland 1-1 Denmark
Niall Quinn 75 / Vilfort 27
28/04/93: Seville: Spain 3-1 Northern Ireland

15/05/93: Riga: Latvia 0-0 Albania

25/05/93: Vilnius: Lithuania 0-1 Northern Ireland

26/05/93: Tirana: Albania 1-2 Ireland
Kushta 7 / Steve Staunton 13, Tony Cascarino 77

02/06/93: Copenhagen: Denmark 4-0 Albania
02/06/93: Riga: Latvia 1-2 Northern Ireland
02/06/93: Vilnius: Lithuania 0-2 Spain

09/06/93: Riga: Latvia 0-2 Ireland
John Aldridge 14, Paul McGrath 43

16/06/93: Vilnius: Lithuania 0-1 Ireland
Stephen Staunton 40

25/08/93: Copenhagen: Denmark 4-0 Lithuania

08/09/93: Tirana: Albania 0-1 Denmark
08/09/93: Lansdowne Road, Dublin: Ireland 2-0 Lithuania
John Aldridge 5, Alan Kernaghan 26

08/09/93: Belfast: Northern Ireland 2-0 Latvia

22/09/93: Tirana: Albania 1-5 Spain

13/10/93: Copenhagen: Denmark 1-0 Northern Ireland
13/10/93: Dublin: Ireland 1-3 Spain
John Sheridan 72 / Caminero 11, Salinas 14, 26

17/11/93: Belfast: Northern Ireland 1-1 Ireland
Jimmy Quinn 73 / Alan McLoughlin 76
17/11/93: Seville: Spain 1-0 Denmark

Irish World Cup Qualifying Group Results

World Cup 1950 Qualification
World Cup 1954 Qualification
World Cup 1958 Qualification
1962 World Cup Qualifying
1966 World Cup Qualifying
1970 World Cup Qualifying
1974 World Cup Qualifiers
1978 World Cup Qualifiers
1982 World Cup Qualifiers
1986 World Cup Qualification
1990 World Cup Qualification
1994 World Cup Qualification
1998 World Cup Qualifiers
2002 World Cup Qualifiers
2006 World Cup Qualifiers
World Cup 2010 Qualification
World Cup 2014 Qualifiers
World Cup 2018 Qualifiers

Number of Appearances and Goals Scored in Irish World Cup Qualifying Campaigns

World Cup 1938 Appearances
World Cup 1950 Appearances
World Cup 1954 Appearances
1958 World Cup Appearances
1962 World Cup Appearances
1966 World Cup Appearances
1970 World Cup Appearances
1974 World Cup Appearances
1978 World Cup Appearances
1982 World Cup Appearances
1986 World Cup Appearances
1990 World Cup Appearances
1994 World Cup Appearances
1998 World Cup Appearances
2002 World Cup Appearances
World Cup 2006 Appearances
World Cup 2010 Appearances
World Cup 2014 Appearances
World Cup 2018 Appearances

Irish European Championship Qualifying Group Results

European Nations Cup 1960
European Nations Cup 1964
European Nations Cup 1968
European Championship 1972
Euro Championship 1976
Euro Championship 1980
European Championship 1984
Euro 1988
Euro 1992
Euro 1996 Qualifiers
Euro 2000 Qualifiers
2004 Euro Qualifiers
Euro 2008 Qualifiers
Euro 2012 Qualifiers
Irish Euro 2012 Play Offs
Euro 2016 Qualifiers
Euro 2020 Qualifiers
Euro 2024 Qualifiers

Number of Appearances and Goals Scored in Irish Euro Championship Finals Qualifying Campaigns

Euro 1960 Appearances
Euro 1964 Appearances
World Cup 1968 Appearances
Euro 1972 Appearances
Euro 1976 Appearances
Euro 1980 Appearances
Euro 1984 Appearances
Euro 1988 Appearances
Euro 1992 Appearances
Euro 1996 Appearances
Euro 2000 Appearances
Euro 2004 Appearances
Euro 2008 Appearances
Euro 2012 Appearances
Euro 2016 Appearances

 

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
Ireland V Holland 1990
Ireland V Romania 1990
Ireland V Italy 1990
Ireland & 2002 World Cup Finals
2002 World Cup Irish Squad
2002 World Cup Irish Group Matches
Ireland V Cameroon 2002
Ireland V Germany 2002
Ireland V Saudi Arabia 2002
Ireland V Spain 2002

 

Ireland & 1994 World Cup Finals
Irish Squad World Cup 1994
Ireland V Italy 1994
Ireland V Mexico 1994
Ireland V Norway 1994
Ireland V Netherlands 1994
Ireland Euro 2012
Euro 2012 Fixture List
Ireland Euro 2012 Squad
Euro 2012 Warm-up Matches
Ireland V Croatia 2012
Ireland V Spain 2012
Ireland V Italy 2012
Fields of Athenry at Euro 2012
Ireland’s Play Off Matches
Ireland Spain Play Off
Ireland Holland Play Off
Ireland Belgium Play Off
Ireland Turkey Play Off
Ireland Iran Play Off
Ireland France Play Off
Ireland Estonia Play Off
Ireland Bosnia Herzegovina Play Off

 

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

 

All Irish Football Results
Ireland Austria Football Results
Ireland Bosnia & Herzegovina Football Results
Ireland Croatia Football Results
Ireland England Football Results
Ireland Faroe Islands Football Results
Ireland Germany Football Results
Ireland Georgia Football Results
Ireland Gibraltar Football Results
Ireland Italy Football Results
Ireland Kazakhstan Football Results
Ireland Moldova Football Results
Ireland Holland Football Results
Ireland Poland Football Results
Ireland Scotland Football Results
Ireland Serbia Football Results
Ireland Spain Football Results
Ireland Sweden Football Results
Ireland Wales Football Results

Irish International Match Results 1924 – 1939
Ireland Soccer Results 1940 – 1959
Republic of Ireland Results 1960 – 1969
Irish International Soccer Results 1970 – 1979
Republic of Ireland Soccer Results 1980 – 1984
Irish International Soccer Results 1985 – 1989
Irish Soccer Team Results 1990 – 1994
Republic of Ireland Football Results 1995 – 1999
Irish International Football Results 2000 – 2004
Republic of Ireland Soccer Results 2005 – 2009
Republic of Ireland Football Fixtures & Results 2010
Republic of Ireland Fixtures & Results 2011
Republic of Ireland Fixtures & Results 2012
Republic of Ireland Fixtures & Results 2013
Republic of Ireland Fixtures & Results 2014
Republic of Ireland Fixtures & Results 2015
Republic of Ireland Fixtures & Results 2016
Republic of Ireland Fixtures & Results 2017

Irish International Soccer Results Index Page

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