Ahhh, what could've been... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/20/world-cup-2010-france-training-ground-refuse-train
Truth is, if Ireland wanted any sort of vindication for the Henry handball and Gallas goal, then Irish fans should have been hoping that France would win the whole thing. Then it could be claimed that Ireland were better than and robbed by the WC winners. So far, matching France's results doesn't seem so difficult (2 matches, no goals for, 2 conceded) and Ireland even has done the WC squad meltdown thing, though recovered somewhat better than the French seem to have done.
Round of 16 and a hard-fought game with Spain not shabby at all. Too bad Roy wasn't there to enjoy it France had no shot in hell of winning the whole thing. Getting out of the group stage was a more realistic goal. Ireland would've made it out IMO.
Or does it? Saying that Ireland would have been better than France is cold comfort. Boatloads of teams would have been better than France. If France had won the whole thing, then Ireland might have had interesting bragging rights. As of now, all that can really be said is that Ireland were there or thereabouts with France and drew home and away with Italy. Let's put it like this - if Ireland was going for a job, I'm not sure that the French or Italian results would be strong reference points on any CV or résumé. Not sure you'd even mention them.
Samarkand, this annihilation of France at the WC is probably very warm comfort. Ireland is the good, upcoming, spirited boxer who is pummeling an arrogant and outclassed End of the Roper, only for the aged cad to slip in a vicious low blow while the ref's view is blocked. End of roper thinks he's really clever and funny and all that, and goes bouncing shamelessly off for one last cashstorm against the Champeen of Da World--while the spirited boxer is consigned to dank club gigs in Detroit. So, half a year later, young Ireland is in a bar, thinking of the years of slogging ahead to return to where he was before he was robbed by that *&(* when what does he see on the telly but *&(* Roper getting his brains splattered over the canvas, in the first minute of training--- by his sparring partner who was supposed to be playing the Champeen's role in preparation for the bout. Then Roper gets up, sputtering, and is immediately floored again, then gets up crying and is knocked for a loop, over the ring ropes and into the bucket of dirty water by the bench. Then drowns. Young Ireland's comfort ain't cold at all, that night.
I would be inclined to think the opposite, the French debacle to me underscores what a lost opportunity this WC was for us. They cheated their way there, and then clearly couldn't be arsed.
France went to the WC, Ireland didn't. France's subsequent exploits, up or down, are little more, if even that, than cold comfort. All Ireland have is woulda, coulda, shoulda. As I say, France went, Ireland didn't.
nah I don't really agree with this. France have the playing staff to win this group with relative ease and make the quarterfinals minimum. It was their attitude and own management problems that led to their demise, not the talent they had available. It would have been interesting to see how a Trappatoni-led Ireland would have done. Nevertheless I don't really believe in karma but I find it ironic that France were eventually eliminated by men in green.
Fantastic. This was hugely entertaining and I get the feeling that this one could run and run given that the players have stated they may be going to the press to state what exactly happened behind the scenes.
It's always dangerous to fall into false equivalencies such as Team A beat Team B which in turn beat Team C, therefore Team A will beat Team C. But! Ireland lost out to France in a home and away playoff and drew home and away with Italy in the qualifiers. There's a case to be made that Ireland could/should have won all four of those games. Razor thin margins, handballs, etc. But it's fair to say that Ireland were there or thereabouts with Italy and France in competitive play in the last year. Italy and France. Not exactly slaying giants there.
it sends a message to those who think they'll squeak by the irish. that irish karma will come back and get you. if the us plays ireland any time soon, i hope ireland tonks us so we can get our cosmic status right.