In Reply to: fai/irl v brazil posted by PAYE Pat on February 07, 2008 at 00:10:47:

I believe the performance of the players on the Irish soccer team is directly proportional to the unemployment rate. 1st off no one is migrating to the UK any more which means no young lads growing up who can play for ireland, so the pool of available talent is smaller. Its as if when things were bad economically, things were good socially the soccer team played their hearts out in the 80/90's as if to prove to the world Ireland is not a bad place. Now we have a lack luster support for a lack luster team, there doesn't seem to be any pride in being Irish any longer.