Football fans go through a strange transition during the summer from reviewing the previous season to hoping for the best of what lies ahead. While we take in the sunshine and some time off from work, the never-ending rumours swirl around us; in reality, all we are anticipating is the preseason game against Walsall.
Often, thankfully, we have a major international tournament to distract us. The Summer of 1994 saw the World Cup take place in the USA. A strange one to say the least as most people’s perceptions of America was a country that very much saw ‘soccer’ as a less important staple than their main sporting offerings. Major League Soccer was at the time just a celebrity footballer retirement zone. Moreover, England hadn’t made it to the Hollywood party after former Villa manager Graham Taylor led the Three Lions through a disastrous qualification campaign.
As a Villa fan all was not lost. Jack Charlton had led the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup and the squad contained four Villa players – all of whom were regulars for both Villa and their international side. Channeled through Andy Townsend, Ray Houghton, Paul McGrath, and Steve Staunton, for this writer following the Republic’s fortunes in America became an extension of following Villa.
Ireland’s campaign began against Italy at a sweltering Giants stadium – a repeat of the quarter final in Italia 90 where Italy knocked the Republic out. All four Villa stars started the game and played an integral part in what was ultimately a 1-0 win for the Republic. After 12 minutes our own Ray Houghton scored what would be the only goal – his tumbling celebration foreshadowing an equally important goal for Villa in September 1994 against Inter Milan. Charlton had his doubts about the 32-year old’s worth, but this was the kick start the Irish needed against a backdrop of huge Irish support in New Jersey.
Paul McGrath was two years Houghton’s senior but was central to an Irish rear-guard action that protected Houghton’s goal. Quite simply McGrath confirmed to the world what every Villa fan already knew and loved. Roy Keane wrote of McGrath’s ‘courage’ that day and how “he presented a final, insurmountable object when Italians got sight of their goal”. The Irish squad famously met the Pope in Italy during the 1990 tournament and his Holiness would surely have approved of Villa’s own ‘God’.
The Irish moved onto Florida to play Mexico in their next game and, again the four Villa players started the game. They struggled in the heat of Orlando however and could not follow up the famous Italy victory – slumping to a 2-1 defeat (although John Aldridge’s ‘consolation’ goal would prove to be more important than at first thought). In his account of the tournament ‘Andy’s Game’ Andy Townsend wrote extensively of the impact of the heat but also of the intense disappointment that the team couldn’t follow up the Italy result. As much as being a Villa fan lent me pride and resonance with the Italy result – the Mexico game similarly meant sympathy with our Villa boys in Aston melting in the heat of Orlando.
It wasn’t a surprise that the Villa contingent all started Ireland’s third game against Norway back in New Jersey. The game was dire – and having watched some highlights before writing this I can confirm it has aged even less well. Nevertheless a 0-0 draw was enough for the Republic to advance to the knockout stages. Again, a strong defensive performance was marshalled by Staunton and McGrath. Egil Olsen described McGrath as, quite simply “the reason we couldn’t score a goal”.
Ireland’s reward for finishing second in the group was a tie against Holland, back in the humidity of Florida. Again, it wasn’t a great game and Holland eased to a 2-0 win. From a selfish Villa related perspective, again all four of Townsend, Staunton, McGrath and Houghton started the game. At the death two of them combined for what would have been a sensational World Cup goal. McGrath controlled a high pass from Houghton by sweeping his leg high in the air and then sliding the ball into the Dutch goal. McGrath was deemed however to have collected the ball dangerously as he had also made contact with Frank Rijkaard’s head.
It’s fair to say that Ireland’s 1994 World Cup campaign petered out after the jubilation of Houghton’s winner against Italy. The tournament as a whole was rather a damp squib, but it says a lot for club connections that an interest in Ireland’s progress was sustained by the presence of those four Villa players. All four were great servants to the club and their country and as I have written on here before the links and resonance to Villa often transcends the obvious ways we support our Club. Plus a word to that Ireland away kit – a genuine classic.
A ‘Villa Summer’ indeed – filtered through Irish eyes. UTV.
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