Your Favourite International Tournament?

**NileBread** · 13-7-11,09:28

For me its the 98 World Cup in France. Think thats maybe because i look back on it very favourably as it was just about the first tournament i remember watching from start to finish as i was bout 9 at the time. As you and many like us would remember at that age my life was about footy. Watching and playing it.

That tournament for me was brilliant. Seemed like there was so many great footballers on show and loads of great attacking football to watch. Only really problem with it was Ireland didn't make it. Still remember that great Holland vs Argentina match with that exceptional goal from Bergkamp. The Brazilian team was a joy to watch. With Ronaldo breaking on the scene. Then of course that, imo, near to perfect France team with Zizou leading them on. I was actually in France on holiday with my parents at the time of the final. When France won remember the whole small town we were in running out on the street celebrating shouting "VIVE LA FRANCE!" with gun shots going off in the air. Was pretty crazy but good fun.

So got any International tournament you remember fondly?

**riacan** · 13-7-11,11:21

Probably Italia '90

It was the first football tournament I ever watched, and being an Irish kid, I actually thought we were gonna win!

Especially after we beat Italy, I went from not knowing football very well to wanting to play it every day after that game!

**NileBread** · 13-7-11,11:37

Originally Posted by riacan

Probably Italia '90

It was the first football tournament I ever watched, and being an Irish kid, I actually thought we were gonna win!

Especially after we beat Italy, I went from not knowing football very well to wanting to play it every day after that game!

Too young for that myself but hear bout all the parties and great atmosphere in Ireland at the time. Must be some great sessions during matches being first world cup an all. Good old Jack Charlton. Put'em under pressure!

**AlonsO-Lfc** · 13-7-11,11:42

Greatest moment of my young life

Remember watching this in school and the place went mad!!

**TheChangeIsComing** · 13-7-11,11:43

Home nations 2011 for me

**NileBread** · 13-7-11,11:45

Originally Posted by AlonsO-Lfc

Greatest moment of my young life

Remember watching this in school and the place went mad!!

Ha great moment. We got sent home from school early that day to go home and watch the match.

Schooling in Ireland have there priorities correct.

Don't know if its just me but tournaments these days don't have the same feel about them. Maybe because Ireland hasn't been there but not sure.

**Leo Suarez** · 13-7-11,11:47

Mexico '86 as a kid, Germany '88 and Italia '90 as it was during secondary school, so understood the game more. All great tournaments for me.

**Panic-Button** · 13-7-11,11:49

World cup 2010.

**Jesal** · 13-7-11,11:51

Has to actually be USA 1994. That was a classic, apart from the final. So many cracking games!

Euro '96 was fun too.

**fowlers2atgrayskull** · 13-7-11,11:55

Tel Aviv 1852 What a night, what a match !!!

**spineless** · 13-7-11,12:00

Italia 90, im opinion one of the best world cups ever, certainly nothing has come close to it ever since.

**ShayGuevara** · 13-7-11,12:01

World Cup '94, was only a kid with a passion for playing and watching football staying with my granny who was half Italian - half Irish. They got to the final and we did well also and gave a good account of ourselves. I just sat in front of that telly for the month enjoying the football with my gran, one of my best memorys as a kid.

Add to that seeing players like Romario, Cafu, Bebeto, Dunga, Carlos Valderrama, Gheorghe Hagi, a 42 year old Roger Milla, Thomas Hassler, Jurgen Klinnsman, Fernando Hierro, Luis Enrique, Batistuta, Maradona (before he was sent home), Hristo Stoichkov, Finidi George, Jay Jay Okocha, Costacourta, Maldini, Roberto Baggio, Dino Baggio, Donadoni, Albertini, Jorge Campos, Paul McGrath, Ray Houghton, John Aldridge, Ronnie Whelean, Roy Keane, Mustapha Hadji, Frank and Ronald De Boer, Denis Bergkamp, Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard. Im sure there is a few Im missing also.

Some might not be as big name or even have the same quality as others but every name on that list excited me, not so sure if I look back at World Cup 2006 or 2010 in 15/20 years I'll be able to mention as many as that.

**ShayGuevara** · 13-7-11,12:04

Originally Posted by OneItchyBall

Ha great moment. We got sent home from school early that day to go home and watch the match.

Schooling in Ireland have there priorities correct.

Don't know if its just me but tournaments these days don't have the same feel about them. Maybe because Ireland hasn't been there but not sure.

I was on holidays and the TV and the radio that provided English commentary were off. When the ball got knocked long the radio started going mad saying goal.. I didnt know how to react then seconds later Robbie Keane scored was amazing definitly a memory Ill never forget.

**riacan** · 13-7-11,12:06

Originally Posted by OneItchyBall

Too young for that myself but hear bout all the parties and great atmosphere in Ireland at the time. Must be some great sessions during matches being first world cup an all. Good old Jack Charlton. Put'em under pressure!

It was amazing, it got my whole generation into soccer!

Unfortunately our National side isn't very good and doesn't excite kids like it use to, most are getting into Rugby instead.

But I like Rugby too

That time in Ireland was magic!

**riacan** · 13-7-11,12:07

Originally Posted by spineless

Italia 90, im opinion one of the best world cups ever, certainly nothing has come close to it ever since.

Agreed!

**NileBread** · 13-7-11,12:16

When Charles Haughey went to visit the Irish dressing room after a world cup football match in Rome, he met men in Green shirts with limited experience of Erin's shores. "Who the hell is he?" striker Tony Cascarino asked Niall Quinn. "That's the Taoiseach," replied Niall. "Who is it, Cas?" asked Andy Townsend. "I dunno," Cascarino replied. "Quinny says he owns a tea shop!"

Genius.

Really hope we make the Euro's. Such a better feeling when we're in there proving hard work gets you a long way. Still look back on that Ian Heart peno miss in '02 and think we could have been playing South Korea in the quarter final of a world cup with a great chance of getting to a semi final! Sickening really.

**Luis-Garcia's-left-peg** · 13-7-11,12:19

Originally Posted by OneItchyBall

For me its the 98 World Cup in France. Think thats maybe because i look back on it very favourably as it was just about the first tournament i remember watching from start to finish as i was bout 9 at the time. As you and many like us would remember at that age my life was about footy. Watching and playing it.

That tournament for me was brilliant. Seemed like there was so many great footballers on show and loads of great attacking football to watch. Only really problem with it was Ireland didn't make it. Still remember that great Holland vs Argentina match with that exceptional goal from Bergkamp. The Brazilian team was a joy to watch. With Ronaldo breaking on the scene. Then of course that, imo, near to perfect France team with Zizou leading them on. I was actually in France on holiday with my parents at the time of the final. When France won remember the whole small town we were in running out on the street celebrating shouting "VIVE LA FRANCE!" with gun shots going off in the air. Was pretty crazy but good fun.

So got any International tournament you remember fondly?

ok dis is freaky....it was my first tournament i watched from start to finish as i was about 8 at the time....funnily enough i was i france on holidays for the final too.

repped

**Clfc** · 13-7-11,12:19

Don't care what any of you say i loved the atmosphere of 2010! Really made the lesser games seem better than they were.

**AnfieldsVoice** · 13-7-11,12:21

In my lifetime 2002 world cup

**hitmanlfc** · 13-7-11,12:21

mexico 86 for me, watching maradona at the peak of his powers was something else

**TheChangeIsComing** · 13-7-11,12:22

Originally Posted by riacan

It was amazing, it got my whole generation into soccer!

Unfortunately our National side isn't very good and doesn't excite kids like it use to, most are getting into Rugby instead.

But I like Rugby too

That time in Ireland was magic!

o be fair we are improving and we have alot of young prospects elligible to play(whether we like them or not)

Ireland, McCarthy, Coleman, Cox, Clarke, McGeady

along with

Keane, Doyle, Given, O'Shea, Dunne, Duff

we have a good squad to be fair and even though its a friendly tourny, winning things like the nations cup is a good confidence boost

----------------Given
Coleman---Dunne----Clarke----Kilbane
McGeady---Andrews--Gibson---Duff
-----------Keane
-------------------Cox

------------------Forde
Foley-----McShane----OShea----ODea
Lawrence--McCarthy--Whelan---A.Reid
-------------Keogh
---------------------Doyle

if we could bring back a couple from retirement such as Carr, Kiely and Ireland we would have huge strenght in depth

considering you can pick 26 players for the international tourneys we dont have a bad selection

**NileBread** · 13-7-11,12:25

Originally Posted by The-Son-Of-God

ok dis is freaky....it was my first tournament i watched from start to finish as i was about 8 at the time....funnily enough i was i france on holidays for the final too.

repped

Cheers. Maybe your my alternate universe duplicate and we can only communicate across the internet!

Only difference is you seem to like GAA a lot more.

**Luis-Garcia's-left-peg** · 13-7-11,12:26

Originally Posted by OneItchyBall

Cheers. Maybe your my alternate universe duplicate and we can only communicate across the internet!

Only difference is you seem to like GAA a lot more.

Have you been checking me out?

**NileBread** · 13-7-11,12:29

Originally Posted by hitmanlfc

mexico 86 for me, watching maradona at the peak of his powers was something else

Would have loved to see him live at that time. Must have really been something else. One of my favourite players ever and thats just mainly from clips.

Originally Posted by TheChangeIsComing

o be fair we are improving and we have alot of young prospects elligible to play(whether we like them or not)

Ireland, McCarthy, Coleman, Cox, Clarke, McGeady

along with

Keane, Doyle, Given, O'Shea, Dunne, Duff

we have a good squad to be fair and even though its a friendly tourny, winning things like the nations cup is a good confidence boost

----------------Given
Coleman---Dunne----Clarke----Kilbane
McGeady---Andrews--Gibson---Duff
-----------Keane
-------------------Cox

------------------Forde
Foley-----McShane----OShea----ODea
Lawrence--McCarthy--Whelan---A.Reid
-------------Keogh
---------------------Doyle

if we could bring back a couple from retirement such as Carr, Kiely and Ireland we would have huge strenght in depth

considering you can pick 26 players for the international tourneys we dont have a bad selection

I agree with this but i think added to what we have we need another gem to come through. Like Duff and Keane at '02. We need that little bit of added magic in the team and we could do quite well in the near future. Could possibly be McCarthy or Cox.

**NileBread** · 13-7-11,12:31

Originally Posted by The-Son-Of-God

Have you been checking me out?

Yes. You disappoint.

**Silverthorn** · 13-7-11,13:18

There has been some crackers down the years, but Euro 88 and Italia 90 being the first ones involving the Irish teams for me have to be right up there. The atmosphere was incredible and the feel good factor is something that none of us will really forget.

However honourable mentions must go to Mexico 86, and watching Maradonna at his peak was a joy to behold. Also the Spain 1982 World Cup holds mixed emotions for me, watching the last really amazing Brazilian side, with the flair and everything we associate with Brazilian football, but who just went asleep against the Italians and got knocked out when they really should have go on and won the competition. Its my view that the fundamental attacking mindset of the previous Brazilian sides was changed after that match, and a more European style was adopted, a loss the game as a whole.

**wookiesRus** · 13-7-11,14:02

Tournoi de France (Le Tournoi) 1997

Mainly because its the only thing England have won in my life time and will probably be the only thing they will win

Even though it was only a friendly tournament

**NileBread** · 13-7-11,14:07

Originally Posted by wookiesRus

Tournoi de France (Le Tournoi) 1997

Mainly because its the only thing England have won in my life time and will probably be the only thing they will win

Even though it was only a friendly tournament

That famous Roberto Carlos free kick was during that. Remember it well cause was one of first times i saw Ronaldo playing. He really was the phenomenon at that time. Never dived just wanted to put the ball in the net at all times.

**cloudy12** · 13-7-11,15:21

For me World Cup 1998. Finished School, had no responsibilties, hit the age where your start going to bars (armed with fake I.d of course

) and watched almost every single match of the hole Tournament there.

And the Atmosphere for the England games was just on another Level.

Euro 96 was fantastic as well like.

**DublinKopite79** · 13-7-11,15:42

Originally Posted by riacan

Probably Italia '90

It was the first football tournament I ever watched, and being an Irish kid, I actually thought we were gonna win!

Especially after we beat Italy, I went from not knowing football very well to wanting to play it every day after that game!

Where are you from? Argentina?
They were the only team to beat Italy at Italia 90.
If you are Irish we lost 1 0 to Italy in the Quarters.

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