Duels with Les Bleus were never dull when the fires were stoked
IT IS a rivalry that began almost 80 years ago, long before the slender arm of Thierry Henry reached out in the Stade de France and seized its place in sporting infamy.
Over the course of 15 jousts, 12 of them in World Cup qualifiers, none in the Euros, there have been tales of courage, controversy, and refereeing cock-ups.
Along the way, there have been penalty saves, scraps and goals disallowed, a number of which came courtesy of a deliberate use of the hand – Henry certainly didn’t apply for the patent.
Ahead of European Championship battle today, best be strapped in for a rollercoaster ride in Lyon as things have never been dull when Les Bleus have duelled with Les Verts.
It began back in May 1937, a low-key friendly in Paris in front of just 16,688 which Ireland won 2-0 but all the more memorable for the penalty save by Tommy Breen in the first half.
When the teams next met, in Dublin in November 1952, the seeds of a serious rivalry were planted in the Dalymount Park turf. For this was anything but a friendly. With fans among the 40,000 crowd encroaching on the sidelines, the atmosphere fizzed from the off. A French player, Curyl, used his hand to steer the ball into the net but it was spotted by the Belgian referee, who wasn’t so eagle-eyed later when Jackie Carey deliberately intercepted a ball in the Irish box with his arm.
In the second half, the game deteriorated to a bruising battle with punches thrown and kicks raining in. At one point, a French player was chased down the line by an Irish player.
The game finished 1-1 with Ireland’s goal coming via an own goal after a Sean Fallon shot, as tensions ran high.
The following October, the French returned for a World Cup qualifier and meant business with Raymond Kopa leading the line at Dalyer.
In front of 45,000 fans, they won 5-3, but actually led 5-1 until easing up late on. A frustrated Davy Walsh punched the ball towards goal but it was saved by the ‘keeper which was just as well as the referee, another Belgian, waved play on.
In the November return, also handled by a Belgian ref, France scored a dodgy winner in the 73rd minute through Roger Piantoni after Robin Lawlor was blatantly fouled.
It was almost 19 years later before hostilities resumed, with the first of six World Cup qualifiers between 1972 and 1981, of which Ireland won three and drew one.
The first of those engagements in Dalyer in November, 1972 was a huge result for Ireland and may have paved the way for the improvements under John Giles and Eoin Hand.
A Ray Treacy header in the 76th minute, from Hand’s cross, gave Ireland their first home win for six years. Six years! If Martin O’Neill went six months without a win in Dublin, there would be mutterings.
The following May in Parc des Princes, Liam Tuohy’s final game as manager ended with a creditable 1-1 draw where Mick Martin’s 83rdminute header salvaged a point.
When the teams met again in the 1978 World Cup qualifiers, Giles was player-manager and a nucleus of young players, Liam Brady, Frank Stapleton and Dave O’Leary were emerging.
It was Stapleton who felt the wrath of refereeing thievery in Paris in November, 1976. Ireland were a goal down but very much in the game when Brady crossed for Stapleton to head home but the goal was mysteriously ruled out – it wouldn’t be the last time for Irish teams in this period.
France earlier had a goal cancelled when Dominique Bathenay used his hand, believe it or not, to force the ball into the net. Even then, the sleight of hand was not uncommon.
The World Cup dream was all but ended when the teams met in Dublin for the return the following March, Brady’s slalom dribble and ice-cool finish after 10 minutes settled the outcome.
Once again, Ireland had the ball in the net only to have it ruled out.
The third leg of the World Cup qualifying trilogy was again tainted by scandal, and talking points.
For the trip to Paris in October, 1980, the FAI invoked a FIFA ruling and successfully released English based players from League Cup games that week.
The FAI also played the ‘granny rule’ card for the first time which enabled Michael Robinson to bolster the ranks. Others would follow later, including Tony Cascarino, John Aldridge and Jason McAteer.
France won 2-0 but the score was 1-0 when Kevin Moran headed down for Robinson to sweep the ball into the net. But Spanish referee Lamo Castillo incorrectly adjudged that Moran had handled. The last act of this sequence unfolded on October 14, 1981, and was a classic.
In front of a bumper 53,000 attendance, Lansdowne Road was rocking as Ireland chased a World Cup rainbow.
A first half blitzkrieg saw a rampant Ireland lead 3-1 but Michel Platini inspired a French fightback it required a superb reflex save in injury-time to preserve Ireland’s 3-2 winning scoreline. The goalkeeper was known then as Jim McDonagh but now goes by Seamus and is Ireland’s goalkeeping coach.
There was a low-key scoreless draw in Dalymount in February ’89, notable for Andy Townsend’s debut, no more.
And then came the World Cup renewals of 2006 and 2010, highlighted by Henry’s class, and then cunning. Expect more fireworks today.