1st Round Group Tables

Knockout Rounds Results

Group A Results

Group B Results

Group C Results

Group D Results

Please Click on the Republic of Ireland matches in the lists above to see full match reports and Republic of Ireland Line-ups.

Recap

Republic of Ireland went into their first Major World Soccer Tournament in the 6th World Youth Cup for the FIFA / Coca-Cola Cup in Portugal 1991 with seemingly little chance of reaching the Quarter-Finals having been drawn in the “Group of Death” with hosts Portugal, Argentina and South Korea, the best team in Asia, or from outside Europe and Latin America for that matter.

It looked even bleaker for the Irish after a lacklustre opening match against hosts Portugal with Ireland losing 2-0. However, Coach Maurice Setters voiced some hope after an ill-tempered match between Argentina and South Korea was won by a last minute Korean goal.

Ireland played Korea next and despite controlling the match, and keeping the Koreans pinned in their own half for most of the match they were only able to score the one goal from Paul McCarthy. Korea then produced another escape with a late equaliser by Choi-Choi with the last kick of the game.

With Portugal defeating Argentina 3-0 in another ill-tempered match which left the possibility of Argentina facing a World ban, Ireland now needed to beat Argentina in their last match and hope Portugal did them favours against Korea.

Ireland battled hard against Argentina going 1-0 up through Barry O’Connor in the first half. Argentina survived several goal mouth scares towards the end of the first half and came out with more intent in the second, netting through Delgado in the 55th minute and then going ahead from the penalty spot in the 59th minute.

Coach Setters had already criticised the Refereeing in the tournament and was seething at what was a harsh decision. It changed the nature of the game and although Ireland equalised three minutes later through Brian Byrne’s individual effort, a goal which was candidate for goal of the tournament, Ireland were chasing the game from the penalty decision. Despite firing in shot after shot in the dying minutes they could not find a breakthrough and with Portugal defeating Korea 1-0 those two teams qualified for the Quarter-Finals. Ireland received a standing ovation from the Portuguese home crowd after the Final whistle.

Portugal went on to win the Tournament, their golden generation which would form the backbone of the Senior Team for a decade to come with names like Luis Figo, Silva, Rui Costa, Torres and Pinto gracing the World Stage. Brazil were the team they beat on penalties to claim their first major Trophy.

It was also a first Major World Soccer Tournament for Trinidad & Tobago, and a last for the USSR before the breakup of that country. Australia and Syria were surprise packets, Australia winning all three group games including a defeat of USSR and eventually finished fourth. Syria too created a surprise in reaching the quarter-Finals ahead of England, the two teams 3-3 draw being one of the most exciting goal-wise in the entire tournament.

References

[1] (1991) “6th World Youth Championship for the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Cup 1991” World Soccer. August 1991. pg. 19.

[2] Paul Hyland (1991) “Irish hopes high after sparks fly in Lisbon” Irish Independent. Monday June 17th, 1991. pg. 23 [Past Copies of the Irish Independent are Available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ][Accessed 4 December 2021]

[3] Paul Hyland (1991) “Argentina face World ban” Irish Independent. Wednesday June 19th, 1991. pg. 12 [Past Copies of the Irish Independent are Available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ][Accessed 4 December 2021]

[4] Paul Hyland (1991) “Heartbreak for Ireland” Irish Independent. Tuesday June 18th, 1991. pg. 14 [Past Copies of the Irish Independent are Available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ][Accessed 4 December 2021]

[5] Paul Hyland (1991) “Lights go out for Irish” Irish Independent. Friday June 21st, 1991. pg. 13 [Past Copies of the Irish Independent are Available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ][Accessed 4 December 2021]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Paul Foley, Jason Caldwell and Rose McCabe.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, Compiled and Written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 4 December 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021

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