Ireland v Netherlands at World Cup 94 – Match Report

By virtue of the fact that Ireland had finished in second place in Group E the team would now face the Netherlands in Orlando, Florida. The Citrus Bowl didn’t hold many positives for the Irish.

The soaring temperatures during the group match against Mexico had seriously impacted upon the performance of the Irish players and had given the Mexicans a major advantage. At least against the Dutch the heat in Orlando would have a more equal effect on the two teams but there were concerns that the ageing Irish team might struggle as the match wore on.

As it transpired the Netherlands secured the winning margin before the first half had concluded. Their wingers Marc Overmars and Peter Van Vossen were causing major headaches for the Irish defence. It was no great surprise when the Dutch took the lead with just over ten minutes gone. Overmars set up the first goal crossing the ball to Dennis Bergkamp. The Arsenal forward easily flicked it past Irish keeper Packie Bonner for his second goal in two matches.

With less than five minutes to go to half time the Dutch increased their lead through an uncharacteristic error by the Irish keeper. Bonner, the most experienced player in Irish international history at that point, misjudged Wim Jonk’s relatively tame shot from 30 yards out in the 41st minute. The ball bounced off his raised hands and trickled into the net. “I can’t explain. It wasn’t anything that I tried to do,” Bonner said. “It just happened. That’s the way it goes. That’s just football. “

The Dutch became more withdrawn in the second half as they protected their 2-0 lead. Midfielders Aron Winter and Frank Rijkaard providing deep cover for their defenders as the Irish began to find their attack. In the 86th minute, substitute Tony Cascarino found an unmarked Phil Babb inside the penalty area to the right of Dutch keeper Ed de Goey. But Babb’s shot whistled wide left of the Dutch goal.

At the death Paul McGrath controlled a high pass from Ray Houghton by sweeping his leg high in the air and then slid the ball past De Goey for what would have been a brilliant goal. McGrath, however, was penalised for dangerous play because his boot made contact with Rijkaard’s head.

The defeat ended the Irish magical World Cup ride, which included the historic defeat of Italy. Ireland fell one match shy of matching it’s only previous World Cup performance, when it advanced to the quarterfinals in Italy in 1990.

Paul McGrath’s Disallowed Goal Against the Netherlands at 1994 World Cup

Teams Line Up

Republic of Ireland: 1 Packie Bonner (Glasgow Celtic), 3 Terry Phelan (Manchester City), 5 Paul McGrath (Aston Villa), 11 Steve Staunton (Aston Villa), 12 Gary Kelly (Leeds United), 14 Phil Babb (Coventry City), 6 Roy Keane (Manchester United), 7 Andy Townsend (capt) (Aston Villa), 8 Ray Houghton (Aston Villa), 10 John Sheridan (Sheffield Wednesday) 15 Tommy Coyne (Motherwell)
Irish Football Manager: Jack Charlton Goals: None Booked: None Subs: 21 Jason McAteer 63′ (Bolton Wanderers) for Staunton, Tony Cascarino 74′ (Chelsea) for Coyne

Netherlands: Ed de Goey, Frank de Boer, Ronald Koeman (capt), Stan Valckx, Frank Rijkaard, Rob Witschge, Wim Jonk, Aron Winter, Marc Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp, Peter van Vossen.
Dutch Football Manager: Dick Advocaat Goals: Bergkamp 11′ Jonk 41′ Booked: R Koeman 72′ Subs: Bryan Roy for van Vossen 70′, Arthur Numan for Witschge 79′

Venue: Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida, Date: 24th June 1994 Attendance: 61,355 Referee: Peter Mikkelsen from Denmark.

Result: Netherlands 2-0 Ireland

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 & 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 & 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