March 29, 2024

Irish 2002 World Cup Qualifying Campaign

The Republic of Ireland soccer team was drawn in World Cup Group 2 that also included Portugal, Holland, Estonia, Cyprus and Andorra. In his third qualifying campaign as Republic of Ireland soccer team manager, Mick McCarthy, finally succeeded in leading the Irish to a major championship finals tournament. Qualifying from World Cup Group 2 was hugely impressive as the group contained both soccer powers – Portugal and the Netherlands.

Ireland Takes Points Away to Portugal & the Netherlands

In the two previous campaigns Ireland had lost out in the play-offs to both Belgium and Turkey. Before a football had been kicked in Group 2 it looked as though a play-off position was the best the team could aspire to. However after the first two matches Ireland had taken points from the Dutch and the Portuguese in two away scoring draws. In fact the away draw in the Netherlands was a disappointment as the Irish had held a two goal lead with just twenty minutes remaining.

Jason McAteer Scores Winner Against Holland

The crunch match in this World Cup qualifying campaign came in the second last match at Lansdowne Road (now the Aviva Stadium) to the Dutch. A win would assure the Republic of Ireland a play-off place at the very least. In an inspiring performance Roy Keane drove the Irish to a fantastic victory with Jason McAteer scoring the deciding goal in the 68th minute.

Despite beating the Cypriots 4-0 in the final match the Irish team could not overhaul the superior goal difference of the the Portuguese who scored 15 goals in their last three group matches. Ireland finished second in the group on goal difference thus qualifying to play Iran in a two-legged World Cup play-off.

Irish Play-off Ecstasy in Iran

Following a 2-0 win at Lansdowne Road in Dublin the Irish travelled to Tehran for the return match with some optimism. However this optimism was dampened somewhat when Roy Keane withdrew from the squad through injury. Despite a late scrappy goal by the Iranians the Republic of Ireland team held out to qualify for the 2002 World Cup Finals in Japan and South Korea winning 2-1 over the two legs.

Irish World Cup 2002 Qualifying Campaign – Group Table

World Cup 2002 – Qualifying Group 2

Nation
Played
Won
Drew
Lost
Goals F
Goals A
Points
Portugal
10
7
3
0
33
7
24
Ireland
10
7
3
0
23
5
24
Holland
10
6
2
2
30
9
20
Estonia
10
2
2
6
10
26
8
Cyprus
10
2
2
6
13
31
8
Andorra
10
0
0
10
5
36
0

Republic of Ireland World Cup 2002 Qualifying Campaign – Match Results

16/08/0: Tallinn: Estonia 1-0 Andorra
02/09/00: Andorra La V: Andorra 2-3 Cyprus
02/09/00: Amsterdam: Holland 2-2 Ireland
Jeffrey Talan 70, Giovanni van Bronckhorst 83 – Robbie Keane 21, Jason McAteer 6403/09/00: Tallinn: Estonia 1-3 Portugal07/09/00: Andorra La V: Andorra 1-2 Estonia
07/09/00: Lefkosia: Cyprus 0-4 Holland
07/09/00: Lisbon: Portugal 1-1 Ireland
Sergio Conceicao 57 – Matt Holland 72

11/10/00: Dublin: Ireland 2-0 Estonia
Mark Kinsella 25, Richard Dunne 50
11/10/00: Rotterdam: Holland 0-2 Portugal

15/11/00: Lefkosia: Cyprus 5-0 Andorra

28/02/01: Funchal: Portugal 3-0 Andorra

24/03/01: Barcelona: Andorra 0-5 Holland

24/03/01: Lefkosia: Cyprus 0-4 Ireland
Roy Keane 33, 89, Ian Harte 43pen, Gary Kelly 80

28/03/01: Barcelona: Andorra 0-3 Ireland
Ian Harte 33pen, Kevin Kilbane 76, Matt Holland 80
28/03/01: Limassol: Cyprus 2-2 Estonia

28/03/01: Porto: Portugal 2-2 Holland

25/04/01: Dublin: Ireland 3-1 Andorra
Kevin Kilbane 34, Mark Kinsella 36, Gary Breen 76 –
Ildefons Lima 33
25/04/01: Eindhoven: Holland 4-0 Cyprus

02/06/01: Tallinn: Estonia 2-4 Holland

02/06/01: Dublin: Ireland 1-1 Portugal
Roy Keane 65 – Luis Figo 79

06/06/01: Tallinn: Estonia 0-2 Ireland
Richard Dunne 8, Matt Holland 39
06/06/01: Lisbon: Portugal 6-0 Cyprus

15/08/01: Tallinn: Estonia 2-2 Cyprus

01/09/01: Lleida: Andorra 1-7 Portugal
01/09/01: Dublin: Ireland 1-0 Holland
Jason McAteer 68

05/09-01: Larnaka: Cyprus 1-3 Portugal
05/09/01: Eindhoven: Holland 5-0 Estonia

06/10/01: Dublin: Ireland 4-0 Cyprus
Ian Harte 3, Niall Quinn 11, David Connolly 63, Roy Keane 68
06/10/01: Arnhem: Holland 4-0 Andorra

06/10/01: Lisbon: Portugal 5-0 Estonia

World Cup 2002 Qualifier Play-off Matches
10/11/01: Lansdowne Road, Dublin: Ireland 2-0 Iran
Ian Harte 45 Pen, Robbie Keane 50

15/11/01: Tehran: Iran 1-0 Ireland
Yahya Golmohammadi 90
Ireland qualified for 2002 World Cup Finals : 2-1 on aggregate

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
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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
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Ireland Belgium Play Off
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Ireland Iran Play Off
Ireland France Play Off
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