Ireland Away Shirt 1997/98

1997 – Under Mick McCarthy, Ireland fought hard in 1998 World Cup qualifying. The team, featuring Roy Keane, Denis Irwin, Steve Staunton, and Niall Quinn, finished level on points with Romania but second in their group, earning a playoff. In November, they faced Belgium: a 1–1 draw in Dublin was followed by a 2–1 defeat in Brussels, ending qualification hopes.

1998 – With no World Cup to contest, Ireland focused on friendlies and rebuilding. Emerging talents like Damien Duff and Robbie Keane began to feature, while McCarthy set his sights on Euro 2000. The disappointment of missing France ’98 lingered, but the squad’s future looked promising.