Scanning the front pages today, you might notice that there’s significantly less coverage of Ireland beating New Zealand than there was when the rugby lads did the same 12 months ago.
Mick McCarthy’s men came away with a 3-1 win over the All Whites last night but if you’re hoping to fill your stocking with a DVD of the occasion, you best not hold your breath. While our rugby team’s 2016 win over New Zealand spawned a stage play and last November’s repeat achievement will be spoken about for years to come, a win for our reserve side over the Kiwi soccer team was never going to truly capture the imagination of the sporting public.
There are a few reasons for that but mainly, defeating New Zealand in a football friendly doesn’t exactly carry the same weight as beating the All Blacks on the rugby pitch. Deep down, most sports fans know that but it didn’t stop the predictable gags filling up people’s timelines after the final whistle at the Aviva last night.
https://twitter.com/emmetgrubb/status/1195123041388371974
https://twitter.com/Delssweeney/status/1195097767326232576
Looking forward to the documentary of this friendly win against New Zealand..
— Paul McKenna (@PaulMcKenna5) November 14, 2019
Looking forward to the ten-page newspaper spreads, behind-the-scenes documentaries, ghosted biographies and commemorative DVDs after this friendly victory over New Zealand #IRENZL #COYBIG
— Adrian Harte | Red Rite Hand (@FaithNoMorebook) November 14, 2019
Great to win a test match against New Zealand, get the DVD out lads @FAIreland
— Tommie Cahill (@TCite92) November 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/Foley1Brian/status/1195236785112190977
https://twitter.com/Tokes1974/status/1195105503195607046
They answered our call and beat New Zealand. Hopefully the DVD will be ready for Christmas #TeamOfUs #COYBIG
— Kez (@Kezziz) November 14, 2019
If @FAIreland beat New Zealand in a friendly does that mean we’re ranked No. 1 in the world?
— Eunan Diver (@EunanDiver) November 14, 2019
After last night’s not-so-epic victory, attention for Ireland’s footballers now turns to the more important business of defeating Denmark on Monday night and sealing qualification for Euro 2020. Much of our fanbase are still hurting from the crushing 5-1 loss to the Danes back in 2017 so not only could we book ourselves a Dublin-based party next summer, we could also lay to rest the ghosts of one of the most miserable nights in our footballing history.
Now that’s something that could dominate the front pages.
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