Eamonn

"Grandma, please bake me pliatsky (homemade pastries) and cookies..." The first call of a Ukrainian Defender who returned home today from Russian captivity to his family. They are both crying. I have tears in my eyes, too.

@DrummerBoy1903 That will be a proper World Cup. Each home Nation is football mad, time zones and ticket prices will be manageable.

Still absolutely gutted over the result in Prague, can only imagine what it's like for those that attended all the away games over last few years. Please God we make 🇪🇸🇵🇹🇲🇦 in 2030. It's a dream to see your country in a WC & no sport comes close to ⚽ for capturing the population

@tancredipalmeri Could be risky, Irelands playoff in that stadium in 2015 was shrouded in fog.

Football balcony for 500€: People living in the buildings around the stadium where Bosnia-Italy playoff will be played, are currently renting out the balcony from their home with stadium viewing for 500€

instagram.com/reel/DWb__l6iA… @MarcODriscoll_

@garrethmcdaid @KieranMcC_SS Zero stress ? Brought a portable tv to work with rabbits ears grainy picture and sound, no clue what was happening in Seville Our second goal eased tension, and even then craved the final whistle. The buildup was dominated by Irish fans stranded at a fog bound Dublin airport.

@KieranMcC_SS I remember last day of qualification for Italia 90 (a 24 team WC). Provided Hungary didn't beat Spain in Spain, we just needed a draw in Malta (we won anyway). It was low-key. Zero stress.

Gutting for Ireland to pass up a great opportunity to move one step closer to a World Cup. Deflating. There's a generation growing up who've never experienced the magic of Ireland at a World Cup - and they're missing out on those magic moments. I was young, but still remember Italia 90 (the highlights on tape after were a help!), and I remember going down the back garden and using our apple trees as goal posts, trying to emulate Kevin Sheedy's goal. And getting stickers for the World Cup 90 sticker album, and swapping them in school! Or fast forward to 2002, when Ireland took on Spain (morning time here) on the same Sunday that Cork and Kerry played in the lashing rain in Killarney. A long day, but a great day. Memories! I'm lucky to have memories of all three World Cups we've been in, but there's a generation who has no idea what that's like. That's why losing to Czechia is so disappointing. The wait goes on.

@Davependo @gcooney93 Rugby world cup quarter final v a football world cup qualifier for a qualifier, and football still peaks at 50k more.

@Eamonnspires @gcooney93 Its the same average tv numbers as the nz game in 23 lol

These are monstrous viewing numbers

This is football country.

@MiguelDelaney Sweden in a home one off playoff final, absolute pants in qualifying , even their "away"semi v Ukraine was in a neutral ground. That's what you call luck and poor planning from UEFA

Also (and this is genuinely a wider point not just about Ireland!) Given what the World Cup means, it seems ridiculous to have play-offs as one-offs where one team has a home advantage Have it at a neutral venue or go back to two legs x.com/MiguelDelaney/…

@Kieran_B_Sport Well said. We got our team back this campaign.Getting so close stings now, but as a group they will benefit and learn from it.

From the sheer devastation of Yerevan, to the Ronaldo red card, the greatest day of my life in Budapest and tonight going a few kicks of a ball away from one of the great nights. This has been an absolute rollercoaster of a campaign. Tell ya what, I'll never give up on this team

@Criss_Crossv2 @McDonnellDan If we hadn't conceded from the handball we still had a penalty shootout to contend with.

@McDonnellDan Correct me if I’m wrong but France we would have went straight through to the World Cup if we won right? Tonight is tempered a bit by the fact we still had a very tough game to come

Like picking between different forms of torture... This one a sickener because the opposition were so limited and...it was 2-0. France had anger and sense of injustice that got people through the aftermath. A terrible debate to be having tonight either way

@GallagherGarvan @JohnDugganSport Save from Parrott header ?... Hit post twice, keleher didn't have a save to make

@JohnDugganSport 2-0 up, conceded a stupid penalty and apart from Molumby hitting the post, we never looked like scoring again.

No words really. Went out on their shields. 🇮🇪⚽️

@davetwexford @CarlowWeather Green white and orange.... It's a sign 🦜 🦜 🦜

@CarlowWeather some morning bunclody co Wexford

@conorleeson @SpainGary @FAIreland Tilburg and Poznan the only 2 from that list I didn't make .My sons first away days with us started in Euro 2016. Pure magic in Lille. Watching from home tonight 🇮🇪

As an @FAIreland fan, I travelled to Poznan, Copenhagen, Seville, USA 94, Hannover, Tilburg, Brussels, Amsterdam, Bordeaux, etc, etc. Tomorrow, my 24 y.o. lad, Cian, flies to Prague via Hamburg for the game. Keeping the family support going gen after gen! 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

@stats_feed Forced " retraining" in Ireland up to late 70' in schools. " ciotog" was the expression in the Irish language meaning clumsy or awkward

Left-handedness varies more by country than you might expect. Share of left-handed people: 🇳🇱 Netherlands - 13.23% 🇺🇸 United States - 13.10% 🇨🇦 Canada - 12.80% 🇬🇧 United Kingdom - 12.24% 🇫🇷 France - 11.15% 🇩🇪 Germany - 9.83% 🇪🇸 Spain - 9.63% 🇮🇳 India - 5.20% 🇯🇵 Japan - 4.70% 🇨🇳 China - 3.50% Left-handedness is far more common in Western countries. In some Asian countries, the share is less than half. Why? Culture likely plays a big role. In many places, left-handedness was historically discouraged. Source: Leftyfretz

@1968Tv Live football was still a novelty back then. The grainy picture, the frequent apologies for loss of commentary that sounded like they were coming from space. This all added to the sense that the world was watching, the shared experience. Ireland will stop next Thursday in hope .

BBC World Cup Grandstand 1986 Sunday 29th June The final is over, Argentina have beaten West Germany and are crowned World Champions. Des Lynam says a final goodbye and leaves us with a great montage of the 1986 World Cup Finals. Great memories! Somehow, modern day World Cup finals are just not the same. #WorldCup

@IrelandFootball Not even close .

What moment gets your pick? 🤔🇮🇪 We have a fair idea which one it might be 😅

@HamiltonRTE @ItsTherePod We've been holding our breath since November, hoping for a minimum of danger here's, and absolutely none of " the dream has died "

We’re on in the morning with predictions @itstherepod and then, discussing the real thing #CZEIRL #COYBIG squad announcement at 1130

@DublinAirport @Lewi_Shaw19 Hopefully it will be in use again on Thursday week 🙏🏿

Only one colour scheme we could go with tonight 🇮🇪 ☘️

@cellah26bsky But not remotely surprising, Israel isn't a terrorist state for nothing.

Shocking