Chapter 79
Collision Course
Following England having made it to the Quarter-finals thanks to a squeaky 1-0 victory over Ecuador two days ago (much to the dismay to anyone in the UK that wasn't English), next up to attempt to join the Three Lions into the last eight would be Scotland and Northern Ireland - both of whom would be playing on the same day and hoping to make it to with the Scots playing first in which would be taking on the Brazilians. Even though Scotland may had been going into this game as European champions, that didn't mean to say that they weren't getting any support from any bookmakers, on the contrary; the odds were all stack against them as pretty much everyone was expecting Brazil to crush the Scots under their feet and for Walter Smith with some even going as far that Scotland's victory had been nothing more than a mere fluke. Walter Smith had always hated it when the many pundits and bookmakers all made it clear that this was the way things were to go.
At the same time, the Scotland manager was still depending on what to do with his career as Scotland boss, he could have quite easily have walked off into the sunset following victory in Lisbon two years ago and that would have been his retirement there and with his contract up for renewal following the end of the World Cup in which he still hadn't signed; the heavy rumours that a return to Rangers or a job in England seemed to be as common as the Tartan Army often drinking a city's alcohol supply dry. Speaking of the latter however, the Tartan Army were already at work drinking the city of Dortmund dry while some others attempted to try and samba dance with Brazilian supporters...the less said the better it must be said.
As the Scotland team bus made its way through the streets of Dortmund heading towards the stadium, many Scottish and Brazilian fans could be seen mingling around having a good time, Smith had a feeling that while the Tartan Army might've looked like they were going into this game with blind confidence; deep down they must've know that trying to defeat Brazil was like pushing water up a hill and now it was down to the manager to do something about. Some hours later, they are in their dressing room getting ready to join their Brazilian counterparts in the tunnel with the blaring music and roar from the supporters creating quite a din even from where they are in the dressing room. Smith looks at the players with most sitting down and some with shaky legs or others like McFadden who is jogging on the spot raring to go and it is here the manager must give his final team talk to the players.
"Alright then lads, here we are," He begins. "I'm proud of your efforts for getting this far, however there are many out there who say that we are finished at this point as it's Brazil. Do they think we are that bad?"
He pauses impressively and looks at the sceptical expressions on the players faces before carrying on. "Yes, we are playing Brazil,
five times World Cup winners, some of the best-known players in the world and I haven't got to the point in which they are expected to beat us, but do you remember how bad things can be if you're the favourite? That means the game is theirs to lose and that we have a free hit..."
The players stare at him as if he is asking them to play a game of football on the Moon or Mars, though considering the ways Brazilians and Scots play and what kind of worlds both sets of players come from, it might've been just that. Smith sighs seeing that his message isn't quite getting to them. "Alright then, here's the plan...don't let them score, and if it is goalless after full time, who knows. I don't want to say park the bus but if all else fails...what else do we have?" He lets his words draw out for an impact and he doesn't have time to say anything to the players as a FIFA official then knocks on their door and tells them to come out. Time to have a samba with Brazil...
Scotland fans in Dortmund during the game with Brazil
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Despite the fears of yellow shirted Brazilain players ripping the Scottish defence apart in this game right from the off with a goal more or less a certainty within the first ten minutes, the game starts actually fairly very well for the Scots as they push back the Brazilians with surprising ease as it seemed that the usual stereotype in which the Scots always performed whenever they were up against a big team was being shown here and in the eighth minute, Darren Fletcher almost managed to get a shock lead for the Scots in which he attempted an ambitious volley from near the halfway line that Dida had to knock out for a corner kick to deny any goal for Scotland. Still, this did show the Brazilians that the Scots weren't going to lie down so easily for them, and that Brazil now had a game to play.
The Canarinho would respond in the sixteenth minute when Ronaldo breaks through the Scottish defence running past Gary Caldwell and Gary Naysmith before he fires a shot towards goal in which Craig Gordon tries to save it but fails, but thankfully for him and his fellow countrymen, the ball hits the bar and heads back towards the players in which Ian Murray has to clear it away before any yellow shirted player can get the ball. Interestingly, Ronaldo is one of a handful of players who was there from that 1998 encounter in Paris and if he looked at the Scottish team sheet, he would have noticed that his team are playing against an almost unrecognisable Scottish team. The game becomes quite an nervy end to end game with both fighting to find the opening goal and while by the time the game is into the thirtieth minute with there being no goals, it is the Brazilians who are looking frustrated that nothing is going right for them as Scotland, while not creating much chances, have been excellent at cancelling out chances Brazil might have the longer this goes on, it does makes things interesting.
Walter Smith has a small smile on his face with his arms crossed as he watches the annoyed expressions of the Brazilian players as if they realize that this game is not going to plan and perhaps their status as favourites for this game might've done something to harm their chances. Sure, the Brazilians may be one of, if not
the tournament favourites, containing famous players that any other nation could only dream of, but all of that brings problems that can harm players if the visual evidence suggests they may be living fat of their reputations. While Ronaldinho is fading, Ronaldo has bulked out; not his reputation but his girth, a shadow of the man in 1998 who had caused pain for Scotland. Dida is the latest in a long line of Brazilian goalkeepers who potter around the goalmouth, occasionally dropping things with a clang like an absent-minded school kid and finally, Cafu and Roberto Carlos have lost much of the zip that made them the world's most potent attacking full-back paring a decade ago. With all this in mind, maybe Scotland has a chance?
Ronaldinho trying all he can to help his team get something.
In the thirty-fourth minute, there is for a rare Scottish corner. Scotland once again nearly find themselves breaking the deadlock from a header by Darren Fletcher but like with his previous attempt, he only succeeds at hitting the crossbar which leads for a Brazilian goal kick. Much to the relief of the now worried Brazilian fans behind Dida's goals though it is the Tartan Army who are making all the noise as suddenly that blind confidence some had going into this game might be actually working for them. Scotland now start going in on the attack and it is now clear that Brazil have not thought this one through and it would be their own fault for disregarding the Scots and as Walter Smith looks over to Brazil's manager, Parrieira, Brazil is in need of a strong team talk to kick them into shape.
The first half now is into the added three minutes of injury time and looks set to remain goalless, but only then for Kaka to suddenly make a sprint with the ball thanks to a slip from Ian Murray and many yellow shirted Brazilian fans rise to their feet expecting a dramatic goal to sucker punch the Scots going into half time as Kaka fires a forty yard volley away from the box, but Craig Gordon becomes the hero for Scotland as he dives towards the ball and knocks it clear towards the edge for a Brazilian throw in. That great chance is gone and the throw in isn't much better as Scotland defend their box and before long, it is half time with no goals so far. From a Brazilian perspective, it has been a difficult and frustrating half as the avalanche of goals the Brazilian press predict hasn't happened and the jeering from their supporters shows how they share their displeasure. For the Scots, everything is going to plan and if they can keep Brazil out, all they need now is a goal and then...
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The Brazilian supporters, media and pundits all expect a
vastly improved performance from the players in the second half for the first half has for their standards for Brazil been a total and utter farce that some Brazilians would be embarrassed to look back on. Thankfully for them that happens as from the start of the second half as from the off, Scotland are stuck on the back foot and those little elements of Brazilian football are seen here and the only hope Scotland has is if they can hold off the waves of attack. Kaka tries to make up for his failure to score in the first half in the forty-ninth minute as he aims his shot trying to get through but panics and sends the ball over the bar and unleashes a groan from the Brazilian fans and ironic cheers from the Scots in various corners of the stadium.
Fletcher doing all he can to help his team during the second half
Scotland do though get a rare break forward in the fifty-ninth minute in which a mix up with the Brazilian players finds Fletcher racing through the gap and galloping down the centre of the field before he launches it up to McFadden and a loud cheer erupts from the Tartan Army thinking that this is the moment to finally break the deadlock, however he is cut down by Juan in what looks to be a vicious challenge and the roar from the supporters follows for action to be taken by the referee. To their amazement, the referee simply waves play on and before anyone knows it, Brazil are with the ball again and rushing back towards the Scottish half hoping to get that first goal and try and clear away that uncomfortable moment from their fans' memories.
McFadden is far from happy seeing that Juan was not given a card and that horrible feeling of bias referees only grows in the mind of the Scottish players that this will be one of those games in which it seems that no matter how hard they try the game will likely be rigged in favour of Brazil and given the controversy that had surrounded the 2002 World Cup over the referees then, it is a plausible possibility. Nothing else needs to be said for the second half other than Brazil keeping pressing Scotland into their own half and while there is the odd chance of Scotland getting a break away, most Scottish supporters can only watch the game through the gaps between their fingers who can't bear to watch this display. What on earth does Scotland have to do to stay alive in this game?
Both sides make a few changes to try and get something from the game but yet with the game getting into its final ten minutes which looks like extra time is needed, Brazil have started to drop their performance slightly and there suddenly is a sense of urgency among the Scots to actually make a go at it and the Tartan Army is only too happy to cheer them on and Kenny Miller tries to repay the favour in the eighty-third minute in which he manages to outwit Ricardino and Juan as he rushes to the left side of the Brazilian box before firing home a shot into the bottom left but it is Dida who manages to catch the ball without fuss before quickly drop kicking it up the field for his teammates to try something. Absolute agony for the Brazilian supporters who can't believe that this game is far from over.
Brazilian fans in some fan park watching with agony at their team's failure to break down the Scots
If that wasn't bad enough for the fans of Brazil, Scotland have now grown into the game and Brazil, while not quite in trouble yet, pretty much can't believe how after everything they have thrown at the Scots that they haven't
scored. It has been a performance that will not go down well in Brazil unless they can win it by any ways possible, but alas ninety minutes are up and then it is on to extra-time. Scotland have really dragged this game all the way and as Walter Smith heads over to his players to discuss plans for the next half hour, he looks over seeing the Brazilian players all getting a chewing out from their manager and while he can't understand what they are saying, it is clear that he is furious with the performance.
"See that?" He points out the scene to his players. "They've lost the will to play...we can win this now."
Hopefully he wasn't getting too ahead of himself...
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The first half of extra time is, to put it bluntly;
awful. Neither side seem willing to make a challenge or risk anything that could lead to the deadlock being broken at it has all the feeble passing and pressing of a Sunday league game though some might say that the game is so balance that neither side want to risk anything for the sake of it with both seemly wanting to take this penalties and the more this game crawls along, it starts to look a more likely outcome and there is really nothing else to say about the second half other than the booing that followed from when the whistle was blown for the fans to show how poor it had been. In contrast thankfully, the pace in the second half of extra-time picked up and there is one heart stopping moment in the one hundred and seventeenth minute in which Brazil managed to rip through the Scottish backline and Ronaldo hammers home the ball past Craig Gordon's hands and that looks to be it, but it is shown that the flag has gone up and while Brazil might complain about, the Scots won't care as they have dodged an almighty bullet.
Then not long later just two minutes and with penalties looming, Scotland win a free kick near the edge of the field and deep within the Brazilian's half. Paul Hartley throws in the ball at quite a length and there are flashbacks to Platt's goal against Belgium in 1990 in that moment as Fletcher, standing on the right side of the box and with just the right timing, swings his foot around to volley the ball into the roof of the net and the Scots are left stunned...they have gone 1-0 up at the very death of extra-time and Fletcher is piled on top of by his teammates and it is a goal that will no doubt earn him a free pint anyone in Glasgow that is for sure while any Brazilian there either on the pitch or in that stadium are left numb at just what has happened. Before they know, an utterly heartbroken Brazilian side loses heart to play and before they know it, the game is over, and the Scots are victorious with their first victory over the Brazilians since 1974.
The look of heartache from Brazil really says it all.
The looks of devastation of the faces of the Brazilian players and fans are there to be seen. Some of the players fall to their knees and many of their supporters have either their hands over their mouth in shock or have tears running down their faces. Never has a Brazilian team fallen at the last sixteen of a World Cup...that is until that moment in which now Brazil faces the task of getting on the first flight home; an unthinkable situation that no one dared thought possible. While it doesn't take long afterwards for the Brazilian fans to clear out of the stadium, the Tartan Army simply refuse to leave Dortmund as those in Germany and around Scotland celebrate well into the evening as their adventure in Germany carries on.
There had been many who thought that Brazil would be the favourites, but now with them out, it seems that this World Cup has opened up and anyone can win it and that is exactly the thoughts of Tartan Army as if that can't bring out confidence then surely what else can? The Brazilian fans and pundits all have much blame to throw around with some saying that Scotland's anti-football methods caused problems and ruined the game deliberately for them though honestly this could be seen as the team having sour grapes and honestly have no one to blame but themselves. For now, the Tartan Army would wait until they'd find out who would be in the Quarter finals with them...
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For most in Northern Ireland after being away from a major football tournament for so long, they would've been satisfied with playing three games in the group, having a good laugh, go on the town drinking around Germany then finally go home. However, with them being lucky to get an easy group as they did, Lawrie Sanchez's side suddenly found themselves in the knockout stage and it was clear that the team had punched above their own weight as the smallest nation in the last sixteen, far better than what anyone else would've expected so everything now was nothing more than a mere bonus and everything seemed to indicate that this would be the end of the road for Northern Ireland for standing in their way was Spain.
Some Northern Ireland fans in Hanover
While a larger and richer football nation with clubs that had more power than anything in Northern Ireland to compare with, they had underperformed a lot with the national side, and some were thinking that this team had to pull out the stops to win considering the last thing they ever won was a European Championship back in 1964. This Spain side did have talent having finished top of their group and winning all their group games and many of their hopeful supporters expected the minnows of Northern Ireland to be crushed, though some of their supporters were very well aware of previous encounters with that 1982 game being replayed a lot in the build-up for the match. Could lightning strike twice?
The scenes around the area of the Niedersachsenstadion in Hanover were of happy Northern Irish and Spanish fans mingling around in the dying embers of a sunset that afternoon and with the shock news that Scotland had knocked Brazil out of the World Cup earlier that day - it felt like anything could happen now in this World Cup. Among those mingling fans was one certain Irishman who was a legend among his fellow countrymen but who's appearance now at his age was nothing like the man who nearly singlehandedly help his country win something many years ago. Sir Pat Jennings. Ever since Northern Ireland's stunning victory in 1984 in which he had, quite literally, had a hand in more ways than one in taking Northern Ireland to the peak of Valhalla, Jennings had pretty much become Northern Ireland's most beloved goalkeeper (always pretty much a shoo-in for any fans ultimate starting XI Northern Irish side) and pretty was always certain of getting a free pint whenever he was near his fellow countrymen.
Of course, as good as it was for fans of a certain age to look back on with great fondness of the good times for the national team, especially as that victory came during a dark time in the history of Northern Ireland and the troubles that surrounded it, looking to the future was important and given the plucky sort of the team that was here today, a new generation could look up to and it actually meant more than just playing for your country in which for the Ulstermen was for good reason. The Northern Ireland of today was no longer the fractured religious divide that caused much pain and bombings that were often the first thing most thought of the country but now was one that was willing to look forward for a more positive future and no better was this than their team and their Green and White Army of supporters wanting to smash all myths of Northern Ireland to the world.
Northern Irish manger Lawrie Sanchez before the game with Spain
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Of course, Pat Jennings wasn't just there just to mingle with fans, he was there to watch the game in the flesh. He would sit among many of the fans up in the Gods and while he was no doubt that many famous people from Nothern Ireland were there in that stadium, however if one was to look around the ground and see the many banners and t-shirt that Northern Ireland fans had, there was only one person that they would be paying tribute for...George Best. Often stated to be the greatest playing ever to emerge from the Emerald Isle, the great player may had won much at club level yet hadn't won anything at international level even when he would drag his nation to World Cups; even Pat Jennings himself had managed to do one better than Best in this regard. George Best's death a year ago, thanks to his infamous high-flying life of drink reducing his life, was one that sent the country in mourning and the fact that his funeral would bridge the infamous religious divide in Northern Ireland really spoke volumes of what the man meant to many.
Jennings knew that Best would have loved to have been here today to see Northern Ireland back playing in a major tournament. Before long, the music blared out on the stadium's PA system as the two teams walked out to line up for the anthems. Taking a moment to admire the stadium, this wasn't the first time Jennings or Northern Ireland had played a tournament in Germany as he and his team had played here in 1974 though compared to their heroics in Mexico '70, they flopped badly and could only draw with Uruguay in this stadium which sealed their fate and Best, as their main player, would get an absolute torrid of abuse from fans and the media alike as his drinking and rising fame had made him a worse player in those four years past and many put the blame on him for their disappointing show; a vast contrast to now in which no one dares speak ill of the man.
While the stadium looked very different now compared to then, Hanover, that World Cup and that year in total didn't give him the best memories, so now he hoped the current Northern Ireland could help banish bad memories and create new and happier ones. After the anthems were done and the players were getting ready with Spain being the ones to kick the game off, Jennings had his eyes on one certain player who some were saying was the George Best for this generation and one who had helped the team get all the goals so far, David Healy. Coming from out of nowhere and playing his trade at Leeds United, he had been the driving force to help his country qualify, though with a little help thanks to some much-needed investment into the Northern Irish game, still many pinned hopes on him and right from the early parts of the game Jennings would say two words repeatedly..."C'mon Healy."
Early moments of the match
In the eighth minute of the game, David Villa would try to fire a volley on the left side of he fired from seventy yards out which looked almost set to be a goal but Northern Ireland keeper, Roy Carroll, would have to knock it clear over the bar with a one handed save which gave Spain a corner kick from the left. It would prove to lucky break from Spain as from the corner, Torres would header in a goal into the right side of the net and gave Spain in the early goal they wanted and the worst possible start for Northern Ireland, though so far on the early balance of play, Spain did deserve to take the lead, yet it was a sucker punch no one in green and white wanted. That being said, Jennings kept his eyes fixed on Healy and hoped he could bring some magic to get them out of this tight spot.
Spain though weren't wanting to let this slip and a barrage or red shirts were seen swarming around the Northern Ireland box like pack of angry wasps and while it might've been excellent for the Spanish fans there, the Northern Ireland fans who were famous for adding an atmosphere to games were left quiet and to make matters worse, David Healy who was seen as their main man had been singled out by the Spanish players and he so far he hadn't much to do and some were thinking that maybe playing on the World's highest stage for football was going to get the better of him.
Then in the sixteenth minute it got worse as a slack pass from Johnny Evans towards Steven Davis was snatched up by Xabi Alonso who ran on the break before side passing it towards Spanish captain, Raul, to run close to the right side of the penalty box before hammering it home into the bottom left and before anyone knew it, Spain were 2-0 up on Northern Ireland and now it looked as if the pundits and most neutral minded people were going to be right in their view of the Spanish spanking the Northern Irish out of this World Cup, at least something that was more likely what most expected rather than the shock result in which Scotland had inflicted on the Brazilians. Pat Jennings sank in his seat and sighed, surely at least they could get a goal, right?
Raul celebrates getting Spain's second goal
The old saying that football can be a funny game is perhaps overused a lot but at this point with Spain 2-0 up, one would've thought that they might've gone all out to score many goals as possible and utterly embarrass the underdogs and a third goal looked set to happen when Torres ran into the box and went to strike, but the ball would be saved by Roy Carroll and a cheer would go up for the Irish keeper from the Northern Irish supporters that for once he had made a save. By the time the twenty-ninth minute came around, Spain was still out in front yet not only had they not score anymore goals, they had let their foot off the gas and now slowly and surely, Northern Ireland were getting back into the game but nothing that would trouble the Spanish defence. Then again, it all seemed a little too good to be true...
Then in that very minute, Northern Ireland captain Aaron Hughes rallies and cries out for his teammates to press forward after Michael Duff is caught out by Torres who has to force the ball up to him and the captain now as to set an example by keeping the ball close and try and get it up far as possible and he then catches Kyle Lafferty in a small gap and decides to risk it by threading the ball up to him and for some strange reason, the Spanish back line looks static and Lafferty wastes no time in trying to make the most of it and quickly pulls of a cheeky back pass to Healy in which he collects it and he runs towards the Spanish penalty box with now the previously dejected Northern Ireland fans rising in their seats and cheering him on.
Then with a thunderous shot that threatens to tear a hole in anything the ball might hit, Healy's shot finds the ball rocketing pass the hands of a stunned Casillas he can do nothing about the ball as his hands miss it and can only watch the ball hit the netting and before anyone knows, Northern Ireland have a goal back. Up in the Gods, Pat Jennings is delighted as too are the many Northern Ireland fans who will feel that this trip out to Hanover hasn't been a wasted one and while there is still a long way to go, it does make the score line look a bit more respectable...
Northern Ireland and Spain clash in the last sixteen
Over on the bench, Sanchez looks over first to the Spanish bench and then towards the Spanish players on the field and he notices something that has only just arisen since that goal. Apprehension. If they could somehow get another goal within the closing moments of this game, then who knows if everyone might see the larger team lose their nerve? He is not only in thinking about this viewpoint as the Northern Ireland players' hopes have been lifted following that goal and begin pressing forward to find a second goal - something that would have seemed impossible when they were looking already out of it. Looking around, Jennings smiles as he hears the chants of 'Healy!' again and again. Oh yes, this young man would make George Best proud that's for sure.
That being said, they are almost shot down when in the thirty-sixth minute, Spain managed to break through with Villa trying to run forward and fires a shot into the left side of the net and Spain looked to have snuffed out he comeback, though to the relief of the team a goal behind, the flag is up for Villa being in an offside position and Carroll takes the goal kick quickly to keep the momentum with Northern Ireland. Some would argue that moment was a turning point as had it counted, Northern Ireland would've been dead and buried and that now would have been the time to try and find the next flight out of Germany. However, some controversy would follow in the forty-third minute up at the other end of the pitch.
Steven Davis would take a throw nearby the Spanish penalty box and threw the ball in that direction, however in the scramble of trying to get the ball, the ball itself would hit the hand of Pablo and a show of hands rise as well as a roar for action from the Northern Irish players and fans alike demand for the referee to award the Ulstermen a penalty. It is a clear handball and most speculate it and while replays on anyone watching on TV could see it, the one person who didn't was the Italian referee who waved for play on as Spain cleared the ball quickly. It was an unfortunate mistake by the referee, something that with VAR today would have surely counted for a spot kick, and the first half would end 2-1 to Spain, though not long later many of the Northern Irish players surrounded the referee to confront him on his mistake. All in all, it had been a brilliant game of goals and drama and it was anyone's guess as to what might happen in the second half...
Hughes runs to celebrate before he finds out Northern Ireland's goal is disallowed
When the players run back onto the field, Jennings is somewhat amused that all around most don't seem to know him as their attention is obviously on the game and he does seem tempted to stand up and say it's him but decides against thinking that he doesn't want to cause a scene or cause bad luck for the team as they attempt to claw back an equaliser. The second half however see's the Northern Ireland team going out there with new determination that all they need is another goal and then surely, they have gotten Spain grabbed by the neck and with the wary look on the Spanish players, that might just be enough to send them into panic mode.
Until the sixtieth minute, it is quite a 'see-saw' game with one side going forward before the other attempt to strike back and other than the odd booking, nothing really happens until that moment when Northern Ireland suddenly get their first corner of the game and Steven Davis is to take it, however he and some of the teammates have worked out a little trick to catch Spain off guard as at first he looks as when the whistle blows, it looks like he is going to walk away what seems to be a change or something and the Spanish players seem to relax, but then he suddenly fires low and the ball finds the feet of Lafferty and with a thumping shot under the arms of Casillas and to the utter shock of many, Northern Ireland have come back from the dead to level the game!
The roar that follows from the Northern Ireland fans around Pat Jennings really says it all and even he can't help but punch his fist in the air in delight. Everyone seems happy all except for the Spaniards who can't quite believe what has happened and now is gripping the team as not only have they blown their lead but now could lose the game if they are not careful and Healy nearly does this in the sixty-fifth minute in which the ball hits the corner post and heads wide, an unlucky miss for Healy but a big let off for Spain, though it is becoming clear that the momentum is swinging in favour of Northern Ireland.
Lafferty looks on during the match and before his goal
Spain do try to regain the lead in the seventy-second minute, but Torres' shot is fired way off course and into the Northern Ireland fans who cheer ironically at the miss and is one that Torres won't remember in a hurry and the game is becoming one of the great comebacks in World Cup history, after all, Northern Ireland have always been known as giant killers throughout their history. Then in the seventy-sixth minute, a small spat between Jonny Evans and Xavi follows after Xavi made a rather rough tackle to get the ball of Evans and two get into what can only be described as a school playground argument over it but ultimately see's Xavi get booked for his troubles though Evans is warned by the referee not to get any ideas.
As the game enters the final ten minutes, Spain looks fragile in terms of their spirt and performance and a killer third goal from the Irish this late on would see them all but collapse and if Northern Ireland don't take the chance, then they might not get this chance again. Finally in the fitting eighty-fourth minute, Davis nutmegs Ramos, much to the delight of the crowd, and threads the ball up to Healy in what is a unmarked area that has most of the Spanish team, other than Pablo nearby, up at the other end trying so hard to find the winning goal and Healy pulls of what might not be the best goal of the tournament but certainly the most cheekiest as he lobs the ball up over poor Casillas and into the bottom right of his net. Northern Ireland have regained the spirt of '82 and are in dreamland!
The scenes of joy that follow really say it all as Healy runs to a corner of ecstatic Northern Ireland fans all trying to run on to the field and celebrate with him but are all kept back by German police while all the Spanish players are left utterly heartbroken at their shock at their total and utterly calamitous downfall, many fans are left with their hands over their mouth or are crying silent tears. Had they underestimated Northern Ireland? Was it just bad luck or something else? Whatever the reason, Spain cannot respond being utterly devastated and Northern Ireland have pulled off perhaps the big shock of the tournament (or two in the same day along with the Scots) and they are in the Quarter Finals after an epic game.
Healy runs off to celebrate his second goal to give Northern Ireland the lead
While the Spanish fans all make a quick exit and express their displeasure at what has just happened, the Northern Ireland fans aren't going anywhere and Pat Jennings himself is swept up with many of his fellow countrymen who are going to milk this moment for as long as they like. Looking down at the players now walking over to applaud their supporters, Jennings smiles down at them and the cries of 'Healy!' from the supports tells just exactly who their hero is and that they hope will take them all the way now if he is going to have his own George Best moment.
It's hard to know long Jennings is there for before he leaves the stadium, there is a young girl of about nine years of age who looks up at Jennings who gives him a curious look as if she has seen him before from somewhere but only in that moment it dawns on her on who he is. "Are ye Pat Jennings?" She says in thick Belfast accent and pretty soon, many eyes turn towards him, and some are left stunned that they hadn't noticed he was there all along. He makes a quick getaway before others can stop him and all in all he is happy for the result and with a Quarter-final with the Scots lying in wait, anything can happen now. A collision course is now on the cards...
However, his thoughts turn to Healy and there will soon be a number of big clubs wanting to pen his name in now. That young man was certainly going places.
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And so here we are here again with a long-awaited chapter regarding Northern Ireland! So yeah, like the original but I have made several changes and clean ups, but the result remains the same in which our two British sides make it to the last eight and in which they now are about to face off each other. Anyway, the last eight fixtures as they stand:
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Germany vs Argentina
Italy vs Senegal
England vs Portugal
Scotland vs Northern Ireland
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So, there we are, who will be getting through this time? Hope you enjoyed this update and hope to see you in the next chapter...until then, catch you later!
Ironic you do this the week after WIF did the 2006 in South Africa video where France go out in the first round after being held to a draw by Togo.
