Czech Out...
Wed, Oct 14 2009
By Northern Ireland football supporter standards it was a subdued day in a freezing cold Prague as the 2,000 travelling GAWA knew this was really a few days break from work rather than any form of World Cup celebration.
Yes, we blew it. Ultimately we cocked up against Slovakia but cannot go home crying. The whole campaign has been a classic Norn Iron display. It's the hope we can't stand.
Yet again we have started poorly and pulled out unimaginable results that have given us a chance to make our first appearance at a World Cup for 24 years. But, not surprisingly at all, it wasn't to be, and that is no discredit to Nigel Worthington.
There are still audible groans that Sanchez left when he did. The defeat against Latvia is now more significant than ever yet, when we look at recent performances, the Euros are probably more our kind of tournament. Come on. If we had have qualified for South Africa not that many of us could have travelled and we'd have had to pay a fortune from start to finish, now that the Englanders have qualified.
Worthington has done a good job and our performances have been consistent. We have missed Healy's goals but at the same time discovered what we have in reserve and it all looks good. We just didn't turn up last month and ultimately that has put us out of a play-off chance. Sickeningly the ROI have booked their play-off place. What can we do? It'd be bad sportsmanship to wish them anything but the best.
Forget the match tonight in Prague. It was shite and it was very, very cold. Most noteable was McGivern and McGinn on the left. It worked well and these two will be our standard for Euro 2012. We will qualify for this tournament. Email me now and I will hold you to a pint if we don't.
It is so cold it is quite unbelievable. A pivo is in order. The game was just a cold side show.
Final Score: Czech Republic (0) 0 N Ireland (0) 0
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