Image courtesy nytimes.com
| System ID: | jl-1bf955f7dae963d4c54cf89a67ebb345 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Welcome to the 'ridiculous' international football match nobody wanted to play |
| Link: | Original article on nytimes.com |
| Region: | IE |
| Topics: | players; northern; match; ridiculous; ireland; fans; play; football; going; dont; italy; game; wanted; welcome; international; wales; Dead rubber; FIFA World Cup; FIFA; Michael O'Neill (footballer); Penalty shoot-out (association football); RTÉ; Yma o Hyd; Sorba Thomas; Troy Parrott; Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau; Gennaro Gattuso; Exhibition game; Euro |
| Datetime: | 4/1/2026, 4:08:02 AM |
| Summary: | “Obviously if we were going to play Italy, it was going to be a massive occasion,” he said. Instead, the Northern Ireland game felt listless, and there was a peculiar atmosphere around the Cardiff City Stadium, with plenty of empty seats. “It is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard, it’s pointless,” former Northern Ireland international Chris Brunt told BBC Sportsound before the match. Wales probably don’t want to play it, Northern Ireland don’t want to play it. It’s not what we wanted to go and watch.”For Wales fans, Thursday night’s penalty shootout loss had prompted a dismally familiar sense of deja vu.... |
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