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World Cup 2002 Qualifying Group
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**15th November 2001**
We're there!!! After 8 years we made it to a World Cup Finals.
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Results of World Cup Play-off
10th November 2001 Ireland 2 - 0 Iran (Dublin)
Harte Pen(45 Min), Robbie Keane (50 min).
15th November 2001 Iran 1 - 0 Ireland (Tehran)
Golmohammadi (90 min)
Ireland go through to World Cup Finals 2-1 on agg.
Ireland begin the first qualifying game of World Cup 2002 playing away to Holland on September 2, 2000. Our next game is away to Portugal the following month. Talk about an easy start! Two good results here would be a massive boost for the team. Anything else and you can book that ski trip to Andorra instead.
**Update 6th October 2001**
After our final game against Cyprus Ireland finished second in the group behind Portugal, level on points but Portugal had a better goal difference. It was a fantastic result with such strong teams in the group (Holland & Portugal).
Ireland are now in the play-off's and will play a team from Asia over two games on November 10th & 15th.
Teams in Ireland's group :
Holland
Portugal
Republic of Ireland
Cyprus
Andorra
Estonia
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Dates of Fixtures :
Sept 2, 2000 Away Holland
Oct 7, 2000 Away Portugal
Oct 11, 2000 Home Estonia
March 24, 2001 Away Cyprus
March 28, 2001 Away Andorra
April 25, 2001 Home Andorra
June 2, 2001 Home Portugal
June 6, 2001 Away Estonia
September 1, 2001 Home Holland
October 6, 2001 Home Cyprus
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Results :
Holland 2 - 2 Republic of Ireland (Away) Sept 2 2000
Robbie Keane (21), McAteer (65), Talan (70), Van Bronkhorst (84).
A fantastic result in Amsterdam, so close to a win but a draw is still great. Now for the same again in Portugal!
Portugal 1 - 1 Republic of Ireland (Away) Oct 7 2000
Conceciao (57), Holland (73).
An even better result than the Dutch match. Mick McCarthy's best result thanks to super sub Matt Holland.
Republic of Ireland 2 - 0 Estonia (Home) Oct 11 2000
Kinsella (25), Dunne (50).
Not just three points but a great performance as well. Could have been a lot more but the win was the main thing.
Cyprus 0 - 4 Republic of Ireland (Away) March 24 2001
Roy Keane (32) (89), Harte (pen) (43), Gary Kelly (81).
A great performance by Roy Keane who kept going after a few players had packed it in.
Andorra 0 - 3 Republic of Ireland (Away) March 28 2001
Harte (32)(pen), Kilbane (75), Holland (80).
Another great game for Roy Keane but the rest of the team looked off form. The Elvis gang in the stands were the match highlight.
Republic of Ireland 3 - 1 Andorra (Home) April 25 2001
Lima (32), Kilbane (33), Kinsella (36), Breen (73).
So much for a goal feast, Lima scored a great goal to give the part timers the lead! Roy Keane was rested and it showed, even against Andorra.
Republic of Ireland 1 - 1 Portugal (Home) June 2 2001
Roy Keane (67), Figo (79).
So close to a win, so close to getting hammered. Very strange game that Ireland almost stole. Again another huge performance by Roy Keane. Poor finishing by Portugal and great play by Given keep our chances of a play-off alive.
Estonia 0 - 2 Republic of Ireland (Away) June 6 2001
Dunne (8), Holland (38).
No Roy Keane but this time a great effort by the Irish team.
Matt Holland get's his 3rd goal in 7 games.
Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 Holland (Home) September 1 2001
McAteer (68).
A great result with only 10 men. Should now get second place in the group.
Republic of Ireland 4 - 0 Cyprus (Home) October 6 2001
Harte (3), N Quinn (21), Connolly (63), Roy Keane (66).
What a way to finish, unbeaten in the group and into the play off's. Nial Quinn sets a new scoring record for Ireland.
The final table as of 6th October 2001
Portugal 24 points
Ireland 24
Holland 20
Estonia 8
Cyprus 8
Andorra 0
My own forecast as of 11 October 2000 was for the group to finish :
Portugal 26
Ireland 22
Holland 20
Estonia 10
Cyprus 7
Andorra 0
This depends on Portugal beating Holland in Lisbon (drew 2-2) and Ireland drawing with Portugal (drew 1-1) and Holland in Dublin (Won 1-0). A place in the playoffs would be great (it is!).
Final Stats from Group :
Ireland scored 23 goals in 10 games.
Only 5 goals were let in.
Ireland had 6 clean sheets.
12 players scored for Ireland.
Ireland scored in every game.
Top scorers:
Roy Keane 4
Matt Holland 3
Ian Harte 3
McAteer, Kinsella, Dunne and Kilbane scored 2 goals each
When the goals came :
00 - 15 mins 2 goals
16 - 30 mins 3 goals
31 - 45 mins 6 goals
46 - 60 mins 1 goal
61 - 75 mins 8 goals
76 - 90 mins 3 goals
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