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History lesson: The day Ireland defeated Germany in their own back yard

It is 19 years since the Boys in Green earned a 2-0 win in Hannover.

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Ireland’s Denis Irwin challenges Martin Wagner. Credit: INPHO/Billy Stickland

MAY 29, 1994 — Under Big Jack, Ireland had qualified for their third major tournament thanks to a 1-1 draw away to Northern Ireland the previous November and, after holding Russia to a 0-0 stalemate and recorded victories over Holland and Bolivia in pre-World Cup friendlies, confidence was sky high.

For their penultimate warm-up game ahead of USA ’94, Ireland travelled to Hannover’s Niedersachsenstadion where a star-studded German side awaited.

Managed by Berti Vogts, they had qualified automatically as defending world champions and possessed talents such as Jurgen Klinsmann, Matthias Sammer, Andreas Moeller and a young Stefan Effenberg.

Charlton gave the ‘Three Amigos’ Phil Babb, Jason McAteer and Gary Kelly a chance in the starting XI while Tony Cascarino was given the nod up front.

And Big Cas came up with the goods in the 31st minute. Having got down the right flank, McAteer sent in a cross which wasn’t cleared by the defender at the front post and striker headed home from close range.

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Paul McGrath and Matthias Sammer. Credit: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Having managed to keep the home side at bay, Ireland then doubled their lead midway through the second half. More uncharacteristically slack defending saw the ball fally to 19-year-old Gary Kelly.

Showing confidence beyond his years, the full-back cut inside onto his weaker left foot and left fly. Fortunately, the strike took a wicked deflection off a defender and curled past Bodo Illgner to seal an unlikely win.

In their final fixture before jetting off to the States, expectation levels were brought back down to earth somewhat by a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Czech Republic in Dublin.

Germany: Illgner, Matthäus, Kohler (Häßler 46), Strunz, Basler, Buchwald (Berthold 36), Sammer, Wagner, A Möller (Effenberg 46), Riedle (Völler 76), Klinsmann.
Ireland: A Kelly, Irwin (G Kelly 46), McGrath, Babb, Phelan, McAteer (Houghton 86), Sheridan (Whelan 46), Townsend, Keane, Staunton, Cascarino (Coyne 70).

YouTube credit: rooney2cantona

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14 Comments
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    Mute Riocard Ó Tiarnaigh
    Favourite Riocard Ó Tiarnaigh
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    Oct 10th 2013, 6:42 AM

    The best bit was the Irish fans chanting in the last ten minutes “Auf Wiedersehen, Auf Wiedersehen….” Lol!!!!

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    Mute Paddy Moran
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    Oct 10th 2013, 10:31 AM

    19 years!!!Jesus I feel old,,I still remember going into the front garden after and copying Gary Kelly’s turn and left foot strike and celebration for hours,,an 8 year old with World Cup fever,great memories.

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    Mute Frank Higgins
    Favourite Frank Higgins
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    Oct 10th 2013, 12:38 PM

    not as old as a 15 year old with World Cup fever

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    Mute Gerard Fitzgerald
    Favourite Gerard Fitzgerald
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    Oct 10th 2013, 12:15 PM

    BY their standards?germany won the euros two years later,there is no such thing as a poor german team,why do so many in this country refuse to give credit when our team does well?

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    Mute L-Plate
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    Oct 10th 2013, 12:59 PM

    That was such a great team…

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    Mute Gerry O'Connell
    Favourite Gerry O'Connell
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    Oct 10th 2013, 12:09 PM

    We beat Holland 1-0 in Tilburg a few weeks before hand, A serious run of pre World Cup form.

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    Mute Deco
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:29 AM

    Back garden?? Do you mean back yard by any chance?

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    Mute Seán Prendeville
    Favourite Seán Prendeville
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:30 AM

    I’ve seen both used

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    Mute Mr Know It All
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    Oct 10th 2013, 1:11 PM

    I remember it well, I was in my aunties sat down in front of the telly tucking into a packet of Jacobs Mikados. What a day.

    It must be said this was Germany at a pretty low ebb. After being dumped out of the World Cup by Bulgaria it was at this point they decided implement their now famous youth structure. If only we could be as pragmatic instead of heaping all our eggs in one basket in the form of the senior team manager.

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    Mute Gerry O'Connell
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    Oct 10th 2013, 12:08 PM

    We beat 1-0 in Tilburg a few weeks before that game. A serious run of form before the World Cup.

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    Mute Ronan Brady
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:23 AM

    good result, but don’t forget only a friendly and no one wanted to get injured before the finals!!

    http://ozilblog.wordpress.com/

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    Mute Seán Prendeville
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:29 AM

    A poor German team as well, by their usual standards anyway

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Oct 10th 2013, 1:08 PM

    Over half that team won a World Cup, others such as Effenberg, Moller, Sammer and Basler would win Champions Leagues and be big names in that competition, a lot of that team would win Euro 96(and thankfully stop England from doing so). You obviously were not a football fan back then Sean.

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    Mute Seán Prendeville
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    Oct 10th 2013, 1:57 PM

    You obviously can’t read correctly David

    They WON a World Cup but were knocked out in the Quarter Finals of 1994, bad by any German teams standards, and yes A LOT but NOT ALL won Euro 96. I can tell that you are not a football fan by saying you were thankful that they stopped England winning Euro 96, one of the typical couch supporters who goes all out to hate England.

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