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Ireland
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 The
Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland
in international soccer. In such events, the constituent nations
of the UK compete separately. The independent Republic of Ireland
has its own team. Before 1921, all of Ireland was part of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the team represented the
entire island.
Northern Ireland's best World Cup soccer performance was in their
first appearance in the competition, the 1958 World Cup, where they
reached the Quarter-finals after beating Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the
play-off. They were knocked out by France, losing 4-0.
Northern Ireland also qualified for the 1982 World Cup, reaching
the second round after beating Spain, the hosts 1-0. In the 1986
World Cup, they reached the first round. Billy Bingham was manager
for both of these tournaments. They have not qualified for any other
World Cups. The side have yet to participate in their first European
Championship soccer finals.
Northern Ireland were the last winners of the now defunct British
Home Championship held in 1984.
The Republic of Ireland national football team is the national
soccer team of the Republic of Ireland and is governed by the Football
Association of Ireland (FAI). They had not qualified for any international
tournaments until Euro 88 in Germany. That was followed by reaching
the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup. This was the only time
that the soccer team qualified for two consecutive tournaments.
The Irish also reached the second round in the 1994 and 2002 World
Cups.
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