Republic Of Ireland's 5 Most Memorable Moments

2. Beating Italy 1-0

World Cup 1994 18th June 1994. Giants Stadium, New Jersey. Paul McGrath may not go down in history as a great of world football, but he will always be a legend in Ireland, particularly for this amazing performance against then three time world champions Italy. The Republic had been drawn in a particularly tight group featuring Mexico and Norway as well as the Italians. It was such a close group that it remains the only time in World Cup history that all four teams in a group finished on the same amount of points. So for Ireland, every game mattered. None more so than their open fixture against this Italian team led by manager Arrigo Sacchi. Taking place in New Jersey, it was a toss up as to whether the Italian fan contingent would outnumber that of the Irish in Giants Stadium. Barely anyone expected Ireland to gain even a point against Italy, thanks mostly to the frontline of Roberto Baggio and Guiseppe Signori, who had bagged 45 goals between them that season in Serie A. McGrath's commanding performance made it possible for Ireland to not only leave New Jersey with a clean sheet, but a goal from Ray Houghton also gave the Irish a shock win. Houghton sailed a well-placed lob over goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca when the ball broke to him thirty yards from the Italian net, scoring the only goal of the game. Ireland's win was the only loss that Italy succumbed to in the tournament, barring their famous loss on penalties to Brazil in the final. Ireland went on to finished in the group with an identical record to Italy and both teams progressed to the next round, with Norway losing out in the group. In the Round of 16, Ireland lost 2-0 to Holland at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.