h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No match in the history of football stands out for me more than the second round qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Romania in Genoa on June 25th, 1990.

The score at full time was 0-0. The match had not been spectacular by any stretch of the imagination, but nevertheless Ireland had hung on against a team of sporting greats, most notibly the famed Georgi Hagi.

What was memorable was the penalty shoot out. It was the most tense moment of my life, and the life of almost everybody in the country at that time. Romania scored, then Ireland, then Romania... For four high-tension rounds the ball was plummeled into the back of the opposing nets, the goalkeepers making valiant but unsuccessful efforts to write themselves into the record books. Then Daniel Timofte stood up for Romania - he kicked the ball and Pakie Bonner, Irish goalkeeper caught it and saved it. The place went wild, but quickly a hush followed. David O'Leary, an international veteran, stepped up onto the plate. The whole country stopped breathing. The pressure on him was unimaginable. A run, a deft kick, and Ireland, on their first entry to the World Cup Finals, was into the quarter finals! I never, ever, experienced anything like the euphoria afterwards. Olé, olé indeed!

We were subsequently beaten by Italy 1-0, but nobody really minded. Toto Schillaci, the Italian scorer on that day, is still a bit of a celebrity here, as evidenced by a recent beer ad on Irish television.

Great posting, that.

Why, thanks a lot, Sam!