An article written in the Sunday Independent on November 22nd 2009 summerises the times Ireland nearly made it big in football history but had victory taken from them before they had the chance. Today we will look back to see what could have came from Irish football.

Ireland isnt the first country that comes to mind when you think of victorys in football. We have always advanced from the group stage in the World Cup but have never made it past the quater finals. Our first appearance was in Italy at the 1990 Men's FIFA World Cup. We had made it past group stage and to the quarter finals. We played Italy on the 30th of June 1990. It had everyone on the edge of their seats watching the game in Italy and on our home soil.

Not too many people in Italy remember Salvatore Schilliaci but in Ireland he will never be forgotten. He got the golden boot at the 1990 World Cup with six goals for Italy. One of them six goals knocked Ireland out at the quarter final stage. Packie Bonner wasnt able to hold Roberto Donadoni's shot and our villian Schilliachi swept the ball into the empty net, ending our historical run in the World Cup.

Below is the detested Salvatore Schilliaci after scoring the legendary goal.

The rest of the article can be found on our archives in the Sunday Independent on November 22nd 2009.