Who would win this ultimate duel?
It’s hard to admit it; these days there is a significant gap in quality between the Irish and English football teams. But this wasn’t always the case.
Now that we’re firmly in Euro 2016 mode, we’ve taken on the unenviable task of selecting our best Irish and English side over the last 30 years, and predicting who would then come out on top.
Before we begin, it should be noted that the cut-off point for inclusion is 1986 and above, so the likes of Johnny Giles and Bobby Charlton don’t qualify for inclusion.
Sorry Johnny!
Image via YouTube/RTÉ Sport
Also, the whole “but he never did it at a major tournament for his country” argument is void, as that would pretty much disqualify nearly everyone from this list. Instead, we’re going by the overall quality of the player.
Anyway, here we go, starting with the English team.
England (4-3-3) – Manager: Bobby Robson
Goalkeeper: David Seaman
Imperious in goal throughout the 1990s for club and country, David Seaman performed really well for England at both Euro ’96 and World Cup ’98.
Unfortunately, he’ll forever be remembered for that moment against Brazil at the World Cup in 2002, but on top form, there was no one better than the Arsenal legend.
Left-back: Ashley Cole
Quite simply; the best left-back in the world on his day during his prime, regardless of what you think of him.
Stuart Pearce may have a much more colourful and celebrated history with England, but Cole was the better footballer who had some titanic battles with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2004 and at the World Cup in 2006.
Right-back: Gary Neville
Mr. Consistent himself at full-back, who formed a lethal partnership with David Beckham on the right hand side for Manchester United and England.
Gary Neville has become universally admired in the world of football punditry and analysis since hanging up his boots, but it’s easy to forget that there was nobody better in his position throughout his career for England.
Although, he always has this to look back on…
https://youtu.be/KEuyfJGg7AA
Clip via SupraFast13
Centre-back: Tony Adams
The second Arsenal icon on this list, and the man who came so close to leading his country to glory at the European Championships at Wembley in 1996.
Read or watch any of Adams’ former Gunners or England teammates talk about their captain, and you’ll constantly hear words of effusive praise for this natural leader.
Centre-back: Rio Ferdinand
Just pipping John Terry and Sol Campbell on this exclusive list, Rio Ferdinand compliments Adams’ no-nonsense approach perfectly.
By mid-2002, Ferdinand had accumulated nearly £50 million in transfer fees, primarily down his incredible ability on the ball as a defender.
The former Manchester United player was a class apart and was first choice in many a big tournament for England.
Midfield: Steven Gerrard
Part of the much-maligned “Golden Generation” of Sven Goran Eriksson’s World Cup side in 2006, Steven Gerrard was supposed to finally lead his country to the ultimate prize in football after 40 years of heartache.
It wasn’t to be, but Gerrard remains England’s best central midfielder (unless you’re in the Frank Lampard camp) over the last decade, whose heroics need no explaining or justification.
He would make life for this Ireland XI very difficult indeed.
Clip via IGNACIO SALAS
Midfield: Paul Scholes
A standout footballer with technical prowess beyond his size and physique, Paul Scholes combined his incredible range of passing with thunderbast*rds of shots from close range and distance.
He retired from international football after Euro 2004, leaving the whole nation wanting more of what Scholes had to offer.
Midfield: Paul Gascoigne
There is an argument and widespread opinion that Paul Gascoigne is the most naturally gifted player that England has ever produced.
Of course, many a fan will fairly point their finger elsewhere in the direction of Bobby Charlton, Glenn Hoddle and Paul Scholes, but Gazza was a genuine world-beater who excelled at the two international tournaments he played in for his country.
Few players can boast such a claim.
Clip via GardenGoals
And still, the Newcastle legend is seen as a wasted talent.
Forward: Wayne Rooney
Yes, many people will be outraged that Wayne Rooney is anywhere near this list, with few players in history dividing opinion as much as the Manchester United captain.
All we’ll say is this; regardless of how you rate Rooney, he is England’s all time leading goalscorer.
That’s fair game to us.
Forward: Alan Shearer
You’d have put your mortgage, existent or otherwise, on Alan Shearer converting a goalscoring opportunity, such was his reliability and lethal tendency to make the most of any chance that presented itself.
Similar to Gazza, Shearer almost always did the business when it mattered and absolutely loved scoring goals, which would be bad news for our hypothetical Irish XI.
Forward: Gary Lineker
Many fans from the current generation probably best recognise Lineker from his (soon to be almost naked) presenting duties, but it’s easy to forget that Leicester City’s most famous supporter was a world-class striker back in his day.
Lineker was particularly prolific during Italia ’90, when England were a penalty shootout away from making the World Cup final.
The former Tottenham and Barcelona forward ended up with an incredibly impressive international career, accumulating 48 goals from 80 games.
Clip via flimper1
Not bad going from a man who is “Still flogging spuds”, as he says himself.
Subs: Peter Shilton, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Glenn Hoddle, Bryan Robson, David Beckham, John Barnes.
Ireland (4-2-3-1) – Manager: Jack Charlton
Goalkeeper: Shay Given
A solid and spectacular goalkeeper in equal measure, Shay Given became a crucial part of the Irish setup at the turn of the century, maintaining his place all the way up to Euro 2012.
Packie Bonner may have tended goal during more historic moments in Irish international football, but Given was the better all round ‘keeper.
Left-back: Steve Staunton
We had to fit Steve Staunton in here somewhere, whether it was in the centre or on the left hand side of the defence.
Winning over 100 caps for your country and performing in more than a century of games for Liverpool is no mean feat and cannot be ignored.
Ireland were always a better side with ‘Stan’ included.
After all, he’s the gaffer. The buck stops with him.
Right-back: Denis Irwin
Although he largely excelled at Manchester United in the left-back position, Denis Irwin could deliver a masterclass on either side, so we’re happily throwing him on the right of our Irish dream team.
The Cork man was one of the best full backs of his generation, whether it was marauding up the wing, striking a mean set piece, or delivering an important tackle; Irwin had it all.
Clip via outis2222
Centre-back: Paul McGrath
Irish football is not known for producing an awful lot of world-class talent, but one area that we’ve had a history of strength in is the centre-half position.
Out of the plethora of quality Irish central defenders over the years, one man that sticks out the most is Paul McGrath.
Strong, technically gifted, good in the air, a fine passer, and great on the big occasion. McGrath was class personified.
Clip via World Cup Football Brazil 2014
Centre-back: Richard Dunne
The choice of who to partner McGrath with was a tough one, with the likes of Mark Lawrenson, Dave O’Leary and Kevin Moran all under serious consideration.
However, we’ve gone for Richard Dunne.
A man who was a hero on the pitch on several occasions for Ireland over the years, most notably in this legendary performance away to Russia.
https://youtu.be/2SbegiQbmp8
Clip via Keepitonthedeck
Dunne’s no-nonsense style would nicely compliment his more skillful partner in crime, McGrath, and Rooney, Shearer and Lineker would have to be on top form to trump that formidable duo.
Midfield: Roy Keane
Captain fantastic himself.
One of the greatest and most celebrated Irish players of all time, whose Saipan affair will forever overshadow what he achieved on the pitch for Ireland.
Whatever side you lean on in the whole fiasco that dominated the news 14 years ago, can you imagine how far Ireland could have gone at the 2002 World Cup with the Manchester United skipper in town?
Clip via Chimpanzeethat
It doesn’t bare much more thought, just because of the heartbreak of it all.
Midfield: Ronnie Whelan
Ronnie Whelan was a very gifted and hard-working midfielder for a massively successful Liverpool side during the 1980s, in an overall Anfield career that spanned an impressive 15 years.
The Dublin native played over 50 times for Ireland, but his standout moment will always be this worldy of a volley against the USSR at Euro ’88.
Clip via Chimpanzeethat
Boom!
Central attacking midfield: Liam Brady
From one of the most successful and high-profiled players in Irish football history, to the most naturally gifted.
Liam Brady is the oldest member of this star-studded match-up, but he actually made his last appearance for Ireland as recently as 1990, which is mad, when you think about the renowned RTÉ panelist.
A stellar club career which took in a series of extremely impressive stints at major clubs like Arsenal, Juventus and Inter, there were few better footballers around in the left-footed maestro’s days.
Left attacking midfield: Damien Duff
Duffer was next to impossible to stop when he had the ball at his feet during his prime, and back-to-back Premier League winning medals with Chelsea was just reward for this extraordinary and dedicated Irish player.
Like Staunton, Duff finished his international career with a century of caps to his name and we were lucky have to him for so many matches.
The 2002 World Cup will forever stick out in our mind as a tournament that Duff took by the scruff of the neck, with his performance against Spain in the knockout stage a particular highlight.
https://youtu.be/Ivz8d1mS6Fo
Clip via killianM2
Right attacking midfield: Ray Houghton
The Scottish-born attacking midfielder is an adopted Irish legend for two very special reasons alone.
Ray Houghton scored the only goal of the game in Ireland’s famous 1-0 victory over Italy at USA ’94.
https://youtu.be/uXauYVy_dws
Clip via M
And that iconic goal was after “Ray Houghton got the ball and he stuck in the net” against England at the European Championships, six years previously.
… Some Irish singer went onto sing about that moment, we think.
https://youtu.be/5EPU65KCNug
Clip via 1916 Was Our Year Erin Go Bragh
Houghton only scored four other times for Ireland, but the former Liverpool player had a touch of class and predatory instinct in him that makes him a must for selection.
Striker: Robbie Keane
The Tallaght talisman was always going to lead this line.
Robbie Keane is Ireland’s top goalscorer in history who, as he approaches his 36th birthday, is still as hungry as ever to add to his historic haul.
You can tell that Keane genuinely loves playing for his country and we hope to see him score another beaut or two at Euro 2016.
We wouldn’t count against that happening.
Subs: Packie Bonner, Dave O’Leary, Mark Lawrenson, Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton, Niall Quinn, John Aldridge.
Our prediction: Ireland 2-1 England!
Despite a lot of early English pressure and a converted penalty by Alan Shearer after Richard Dunne is harshly adjudged to have fouled Gazza, Robbie Keane equalizes from a Damien Duff peach of a cross in the second half.
Then, with five minutes remaining, a speculative effort from distance sees Ray Houghton put the ball in the English net… again!
That’s our dream team selection. There are so many options out there though, so be sure to get in touch on our WhatsApp number 087-4001102, editorial@JOE.ie or hit us up on Facebook or Twitter.
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