From Italia ’90 to Now: International Football My View

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My love of football didn’t start with any club. While there were great teams to admire growing up, especially from England and Europe, it was international football that truly captured my heart and set me on a lifelong obsession with the sport.

For many of my generation, that obsession began with Italia ’90. It was a magical time, and those memories will stay with me forever. The entire country united in both joy and despair as Ireland made history. Whether people realised it at the time or not, it was something truly special. Just a game, eh?

Four years later, USA ’94 brought more unforgettable moments, none bigger than Ray Houghton’s stunning goal against Italy. The sense of national pride and even a touch of revenge made it feel like we had won the World Cup. The celebrations were incredible.

But over time, my passion for international football started to fade. I can’t pinpoint exactly when it happened. Maybe it coincided with the Irish team’s struggles, but I don’t think that tells the full story. Even in 2002, when Ireland returned to the World Cup, the excitement wasn’t quite the same for me. Some say the Roy Keane–Mick McCarthy debacle overshadowed that tournament, but I don’t believe that was it either.

Perhaps club football became a bigger focus for me. Maybe, as I grew older, I expected a higher standard of play. When I was younger, it was simply about the spectacle, seeing the best players on the biggest stage. As I learned more about the game, some of that childlike wonder for it faded.

Then there’s the state of Irish football itself. The FAI’s mismanagement and the lack of proper investment in the game have made it hard to stay hopeful about a return to past glories. It’s sad to think that entire generations have grown up without experiencing the excitement of Ireland at a major tournament, without that inspiration to fall in love with the sport the way I did.

But it’s not just about Ireland. Outside of major tournaments, I struggle to get into international football at all. Something just feels off. Maybe I unfairly compare it to the week-to-week quality of top-tier club football. After all, these are supposedly the best players each country has to offer, but with limited time together, can we really expect them to play at their peak?

Ultimately, my fading passion for international football is probably a mix of all these factors. I wonder if it’s just me, or if others feel the same way. Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers for now!

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I think there are many factors in the decline of international football. Foremost is the transfer system. Take for example the premier league, up until the mid 90s the leauge was almost exclusively players from Ireland and Great Britain. So of course being the pick of the bunch was kinda like going off to play with the elite. Could Phil Foden and TAA say they are going on international duty to play with a higher standard of player than they already do with their clubs?? Giving England’s recent tournament record , if playing with them isnt a step up then what other nation is?? The lack of importance in 90% of games . Almost has a feel of stopping a thrilling game at half time so players can go work on their set pieces. Not to mention if a game is important the clashes in standards between 2 teams is much more than in league football. If you were seed 1 ranked also 1 in the world your worst case scenario for a group would be teams ranked 9th 18th 25th 33rd 40th 48th. Finally , The decline in the collective audience. Players would have once wanted to play international for tv exposure in a similar way to the f.a. cuo. Ask a player pre sky tv if they would rather win the league or f.a cup im sure many would go with the latter, simply because the world was watching. Perhaps it was the only live game many would see that year. I think this is similar to internationals.

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100% on the exposure of the FA Cup. It was definitely an occasion back then. There used to be a real buzz on the day, youd have the e hour buildnup on the BBC teams having a song in the charts and all the craic.

More recently its almost felt loke someting of a consolation prize, although I do feel that is starting to change a bit again but definitely not to the levels of the 80s and 90s.

Your point about players going off to play with a higher standard of player is a good one. It’s definitely true of back then.

But yes, with the standard of player at top level clubs now, its hard to say that going off on international duty is brining the cream of the crop together.

Unfortunately I think what we had in the 90s is possibly gone forever, glad wenhad it as it was then though.

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I think the stop start nature doesn’t help either. It can feel its getting in the way of club football.

I like Wenger’s idea of having just a month to sort out qualifers, gets people more involved.

Also there is the siz of tournaments now. In 90 and 94 you had to be a top side to qualify.

For the last Euros Ireland only bet Gilbaltor and somehow on the last day away to Holland could have qualified.

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I hadn’t heard that from Wenger, it’s certainly an interesting idea although would it feel like breaking the season for an extended international break a bit like the winter world cup? Or is it more of month in the summer sort of thing?

Either way it impact on player welfare again I think to do a full month.