Hub (who is Irish) and I were discussing what would happen if Ireland won the World Cup. Don’t get me wrong, I know the chances of this happening are somewhere between nil and none.
It’s just funny to think what would happen.
I predict the country will run out of Guinness and have to get emergency imports from the UK. Also, all shops, businesses and government offices will close for a one-week period.
People will name their children after whomever scored the winning goal.
Well, I think I would dig up a few Irish great-grandparents to let me celebrate too.
:):)
drinking and fighting? 
There will be few children named Roy if such an event were to transpire.
But then again, an Irish win in the World Cup would portend the end of the world.
I don’t think Ireland’s winning the World Cup is any less likely than, say, France and Argentina getting knocked out in the first round.
Stranger things have happened
ruadh, you realize if Ireland get very far, even without winning, we’ll be over here gloating day and night.
We’ll make an emergency trip to Dublin, provided the Ryan Air pilots aren’t pissed out of their minds. 
Well, for one thing, all Dutchmen will spend the next four years boasting how they didn’t qualify for the world cup because they were knocked out by a formidable and obvious world champion!
You guys would boast about being knocked out?
Wow, the Dutch are a progressive people!
(sorry)
I really don’t follow association football until the world cup rolls around, but when it does I pull my Ireland Jersey out of the closet every time(ok so I wear it to clubs too:)). anyway I was wondering, What do you, the more learned football fans on the SDMB, think of Irelands chances against spain? Ireland has looked good in their last two matches, but I know next to nothing about the spainish team? Are they good(they must be at least decent, they moved on after all)? How do the teams match up against one another?
Spain have to be the favourites, I don’t really know anyone who fancies Ireland’s chances against them. In Raul and Morientes they have two of the deadliest strikers in the tournament; with Mendieta back on form they have one of the sharpest creative midfielders in the world.
OTOH, their defence hasn’t been stellar, and their keeper has looked a lot shakier than he usually does playing for Real Madrid. And Spain do have quite a history recently of getting off to a good start but then choking fairly early in these tournaments. So an Ireland victory isn’t completely outside the realm of possibility.
The only thing you can guarantee is people are going to be partying like mad here on Sunday no matter what.
We will send a fleet of pigs to fly to the moon to bring back cheese to celebrate with.
No way Ireland is going to beat the U.S. in the final.
Ireland 1 - US 2
I’ll give you the bit about our central defenders, Hierro and Nadal are a couple of years away from becoming relics. However, Puyol, Juanfran, Curro and Romero are all young and gifted wingbacks – Puyol, in particular, was Barca’s steadiest player this past season. Camacho also has the option of partnering Helguera with Hierro in the back – essentially the same central back line that won Real Madrid’s last two CLs.
As for Iker, nope, nope, not “shaky” at all. He’s been doing what he does best: reflex saves and stopping all the one on ones. Yes, he gets in a bit of trouble leaving his line, but we knew that. And so far, none of the goals we’ve taken can be blamed on him.
Having said that, I know of the Irish fighting spirit and our past mishaps in the knockout rounds. On paper and on the pitch so far, we’ve played some of the best footy in the WC – in fact, Raul is finally living up to his billing with the NT. Likely the best player of the first round. So I’d give us a slight edge going in.
Will it hold once the ball gets rolling? Hmmm…I’m going to go out on a limb and tell you…on Monday!
Viva España!
Actually Ireland and the US could meet in the 1/4 finals.
I think Brazil has a path grooved to the finals.
I disagreeBob