Republic of Ireland v Estonia Match History
The Republic of Ireland take on Estonia over two legs on Friday and Tuesday in a Euro 2012 Qualification Playoff. GreenScene looks back at the two previous games between the sides.
11th October 2000 – Republic of Ireland 2-0 Estonia
Ireland’s first meeting with the Baltic nation was in the qualification campaign for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Group 2 saw Mick McCarthy’s side drawn against European giants Holland and Portugal with Estonia, Cyprus, and Andorra also coming out of the pot. Following superb away draws in Amsterdam and Lisbon, Ireland’s first home game was against Estonia, who had improved greatly in recent years under the tutelage of Icelandic boss Teitur Thordarson, gaining 11 points in Scotland’s group during Euro 2000 qualifying. However, Thordarson had stepped down and local-based Dutch coach Arno Pijpers took over ahead of World Cup qualification. Pijpers started his international career with an two unconvincing one goal wins over Andorra and a 3-1 loss to Portugal at home. Ireland were clear favourites ahead of the clash, and Mick McCarthy kept faith in the same starting eleven who gained points against Holland and Portugal. It was the first time an Irish manager named the same side in three consecutive games since World Cup Italia 90. Ireland threatened from the outset, with Estonian keeper Mart Poom called into action after just a minute to save a Robbie Keane free kick. After his magnificent performances in the opening two games, captain Roy Keane once again was the talisman in midfield, and wasn’t afraid to have a pop himself, repeatedly testing Poom from distance. On the wing, Kevin Kilbane put in a man of the match performance with his marauding runs, and every time he got the ball, Lansdowne roared in appreciation. Behind him, Ian Harte was also a threat, and after hitting the bar with an early free-kick, he found Niall Quinn with a long ball on 24 minutes, which was held up for Mark Kinsella who came in to score his first goal in a green jersey. Ireland went in at half-time 1-0 up, but it was a comfortable half, and were it not for Poom’s heroics, it could have been much more. Damien Duff came on for Jason McAteer at half-time, and his pace and skill meant that Ireland kept momentum after the break. The second took no time to come, Harte’s corner found Quinn once more, who flicked it on for Richard Dunne to power home from a narrow angle at the back post. Both forwards were unlucky not to score themselves, with Quinn going in search of the one goal that would move him past Frank Stapleton at the top of the Irish international scoring charts. But despite that, Ireland controlled the match from start to finish and stayed in contention for qualification, especially after the earlier shock result in Rotterdam where Portugal beat Holland 2-0.
Republic of Ireland: A. Kelly, Carr, Breen, Dunne, Harte, McAteer, Kinsella, Roy Keane, Kilbane, Robbie Keane, N. Quinn.
Subs: Holland, Foley, Staunton, Duff, Kiely, Finnan, Delap.
Estonia: Poom, Lamslau, Stepanov, Allas, Saviauk, Viikmae, Terekhov, Oper, Anniste, Reim, Zelinski.
Subs: Tohver, Haavistu, Jurisson, Ustritski, Kristal.
Referee: T Hauge (Norway).
6th June 2001 – Estonia 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Wins over group minnows Cyprus and Andorra in early 2001 as well as a Roy Keane-led 1-1 draw with Portugal in Dublin saw Mick McCarthy’s men keep up the qualification pace in the new year. Estonia were very much out of the running, especially after drawing 2-2 with Cyprus. Four days before they took on Ireland in Tallinn, they opened their brand new home ground, the Lilleküla stadium (now the A. Le Coq Arena where Ireland will play tomorrow night) with a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands. Ireland were missing both Keanes, which meant Damien Duff partnered Niall Quinn in attack and Matt Holland took over the midfield role. Gary Breen and Kenny Cunningham both missed out through injury, so Richard Dunne lined up beside temporary captain Steve Staunton in defence. The players called upon to replace the regulars did a fantastic job, with Richard Dunne side footing home after just eight minutes when Quinn and Harte linked up once again, this time Quinn laying off for Harte whose cross found Dunne unmarked. The early goal spurred Ireland on, with Damien Duff and Kevin Kilbane looking lively in attack. Estonia attempted to claw back into the game, with Jevgeni Novikov shooting from range, but just before the interval the visitors struck again to but the result beyond doubt. A blocked shot fell to Matt Holland, whose drive from 20 yards rocketed past Kaalma in the Estonian net. The second half was much the same, and Shay Given was rarely called into action, while Damien Duff caused trouble for the Estonian defence. Matt Holland commanded the midfield very well, and performed excellently filling in for Roy Keane. Ireland finished the evening top of the group, but both Holland and Portugal had a game in hand. However, that famous goal from Jason McAteer on September 1st at Lansdowne put an end to Holland’s qualifying hopes, and sealed Ireland’s place in the World Cup playoff with Iran.
Estonia: Martin Kaalma; Erko Saviauk, Andrei Stepanov, Raio Piiroja, Urmas Rooba, Martin Reim, Kert Haavistu, Jevgeni Novikov, Indrek Zelinski, Marko Kristal, Anders Oper.
Republic of Ireland: Shay Given; Stephen Carr, Ian Harte, Richard Dunne, Steve Staunton, Matt Holland, Gary Kelly, Mark Kinsella, Niall Quinn, Damien Duff, Kevin Kilbane.
Referee: Marian Mircea Salomir (Romania)
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They also played in 1924 as a friendly, when Ireland won 3-1 in France.
Ahh, the Irish Free State national team! There’s a bit of dispute over whether the game was a full international though as both sides fielded amateur teams. But well noted Mark.
And Trap names his starting “10″ for tomorrow. We only have three strikers available for this game. Let’s hope that’s all we’ll need.
Good timing RI, just put up a post about it!
A few points I’ve gleaned about the Estonian side over the last couple of weeks are:
- They score a lot of late goals – 7 of their 15 goals in qualifying came in the last 10 minutes of games.
- They have a bit of a knack for shooting from long range.
- Porous defence looks to be their main weak point – zero clean sheets in qualifying with a net goal difference of just +1.
- Their away form is better than their home form – all their best results in the group sequence were away games.
I’ve read all the cliches about not underestimating them and treating them with respect and why should we be the favourites..etc..etc.. In all fairness lads they’re not a very good team and if we don’t beat them then we’re obviously even more shite and might as well give up playing. Having said that they have been very lucky in this campaign and a kind of Perfect Storm has come together to get them where they are but hopefully the natural order of things will be restored in these two games.
Olé Olé Olé Olé Olé Olé
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I am drunk.
The same frustrating hallmarks of Trapattoni’s vision of Ireland remain but we are virtually through with a comprehensive and competent win so I can’t complain.
Ward, McGeady and Keane were the star men while Whelan was mostly dreadful.
My ratings
Given – 7
Ward – 8 (A couple of very bright moments; it is no coincidence that since replacing Kilbane, an Ireland team featuring Ward has yet to concede, he is our lucky charm)
Dunne – 7
St Ledger – 7 (1 or 2 dodgy moments)
Kelly – 6 (Didn’t get forward enough)
McGeady – 8 (Great assist, couple of great runs)
Whelan – 6 (Lucky to get 6, never shows for the ball, lax in possession)
Andrews – 7 (Unfortunate not to get 8, great header and assist for Keane)
Duff – 7
Keane -8 (At his predatory best)
Walters – 7 (Hit and miss, one good counter attack and good striking instincts for the goal)
Hunt – 7 (Very bright after coming on, won penalty)
Fahey – 6 (Cool head, should have came on earlier)
Cox – 5
Brilliant result and display by the Irish team. They restricted the Estonians to a couple of long range efforts and tore their defense apart almost at will. It really shows the gulf in class between ROI and NI who lost 4 -1 in Tallinn. Great chance now for Trap to blood a few of the younger players like Coleman & McCarthy in the home leg but I would be surprised if he made too many changes.
I would be very surprised to see many changes in Dublin. I’d say Walters may keep his place in the team on Tuesday with Doyle coming off the bench. Maybe John O’Shea will return.
Coleman and McCarthy should at least come off the bench when things are 110% wrapped up. Not giving McCarthy 20 minutes would be taking the piss and I’d like to see Coleman make a first competitive appearance in a no pressure game.
I hope the long wait for another friendly will be rewarded with call ups for Hoolahan, Meyler (if fit) and a few others.
There is no need for widespread changes but there are players (CM) that can improve our team and there are expendable players (McShane, Gibson, Keogh, Lawrence) that should/need to be phased out.
I was pretty bemused to see Walters get 9 and Keane get 7 in the Sunday Times.
Let’s see, Keane scores two, gets two players sent off and sets up a goal for Walters on a plate with a daisy cutter.
Great to see that people are overreacting about Walters a la Cox.
First it’s Doyle, then it’s Folan, then it’s Long, then it’s Cox, now it’s Walters.
Oh and Cox was supposedly singing the anthem according to someone on YBIG.
He’s as Irish as I am. Dedicated to the cause. Blah blah blah.
Stick Walters and Cox up front and enjoy the comedy show.
Keane has scored 53 goals for this country and has never missed a game for no reason, unlike Walters.
I think Walters had a good game against a dodgy side but all I’m saying is that Irish fans gullability disappoints me and also their begrudgery towards their own.
Robbie Keane and his namesake for that matter, deserve more f*cking respect from the YBIG, Foot crowd.
ratings arent that accurate realy…whelan was getting 6s/7s from most ratings when he was probli the worst player on the pitch(including the estonians)…walters did put in a decent shift but ye robbie had a serious game which is even more impressive considering hes not fully fit his overall play was great
Yeah. A 4-0 win doesn’t hide the fact that Whelan almost assisted a goal for them during one of the countless times he ceded possession. He played the ball forward once, twice at the very most and I totally disagree that himself and even Andrews contained Vassiljev. They totally stood off him and let the Estonians dictate play for about 30-45 minutes of the match.
As I said, great win but let’s not get carried away. The team still needs a bit of surgery and Whelan for one, has done nothing to nail down a place in the team.
whelans not actually fullfilling the duties hes being picked for.ie.1.he does not break up play iv seen a handfull of interceptions from him against weak oposion2.he doesn get stuck in i recall him twice going in 4 a 50-50 on friday and missed both ball and player alowing the player 2 break.3.his passing leaves alot 2 be desired on close observation he never seems 2 get his head up 2 pick out a pass and always seems 2 go for the short and easier option.id say trap knows how brutal this guy is but itd be serious hipocracy if he wer 2 drop him having defended his piss poor performances 4 so long.dosn take a genius 2 c the likes of fahey and dare i say it gibson are beter options when present in the squad.mccarthy seems the stand out replacement for him considering hes been converted into a holding midfielder at wigan
I was also shocked to see several ratings systems give Walters or Andrews better totals than Keano–2 goals, drew the penalty that got the first player sent off, and an assist.
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