Let’s be honest about it, it would have been one expensive trip.
It’s the hope that kills you.
Five minutes into the second leg of Ireland’s play-off against Denmark at the Aviva Stadium, Shane Duffy had put us in front and we were all excitedly anticipating our first World Cup in 16 years.
Come the end of the 90 minutes, a Christian Eriksen-inspired Denmark had put five past the Boys in Green and cruised to victory in a manner that nobody saw coming.
It’s hard to take any positives from such a deflating defeat, but social media was full of Irish fans at least pretending they were relieved that the result would save them making the trip east next summer.
In protest at Russia’s obvious interference in the US general election of 2016, Ireland feels it would be inappropriate to send our national team to next year’s World Cup. This is a principled and considered stance, which we have chosen to unveil at this exact time. #IRLDEN
— Jonathan Healy (@jonathanhealy) November 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/ericlalor/status/930542277008805888
Never wanted to go to Russia anyway, bloody god awful place.. thankfully Martin Oneill fully supports my view #IREDEN #Russia2018
— ronan walsh (@RonanWalshMedia) November 14, 2017
Never wanted to go to Russia anyway. And sure, Qatar in 2022? May as well give that one a miss too #Buildingfor2026
— Philip McGowan (@pipmcgowan) November 14, 2017
Never wanted to go to Russia anyway #IREvDEN
— Stephen Burke (@burke_s) November 14, 2017
i never wanted to go to russia with me fam anyway it’s all cool
— fion (@fionn_stan) November 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/FraMcShane/status/930542572216422402
Never wanted to go to Russia anyway #kip #IREDEN
— stephen davoren (@bailldogg) November 14, 2017
Never wanted to go to Russia anyway…. #IreDen pic.twitter.com/4zgq43NUhG
— Emma McCloughan (@emmasloan) November 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/marcphisto/status/930541989900312577
https://twitter.com/Ian__Murphy/status/930530475382362113
Easy to say now, but we’ll be green with envy when the Boys in Green are conspicuous by their absence at the biggest show in town in the summer of 2018.
Roll on Euro 2020.
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