1988 - IRELAND 0-1 NETHERLANDS
Having qualified for their first ever major championships in Euro ’88 it looked as if Ireland were on their way through to the knock-out stages. After a famous victory over England and a draw with Russia, Jack Charlton’s men knew that a draw with the Dutch would be enough to see them through.
Ireland played well in the first half against a Dutch side containing true footballing greats such as Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, and even hit the post through Paul McGrath.
However, with just eight minutes to go, disaster struck as a mishit effort from Ronald Koeman bounced up off the ground and onto the head of Wim Kieft, taking it past Packie Bonner in the Irish goal and sending the Netherlands into the next round.
1990 - IRELAND 1-1 NETHERLANDS
Two years later at Italia ’90, the stakes were just as high for Ireland. After the ultimate group of death, where all four teams had drawn with each other over the first two series of games, Ireland faced the then-European Champions with progress to the knock-out stages still very much in the balance.
Jack Charlton’s men started slowly and went behind to a Ruud Gullit goal after ten minutes thanks to a cool finish from the dreadlocked Dutchman.
Ireland defended resolutely after that goal to keep themselves in the game and drew level with 20 minutes to go when a long ball from Bonner bounced and caused confusion in the Dutch penalty area. Goalkeeper Hans van Breukelen spilled a back-pass, Niall Quinn was on hand to hit the equaliser. The draw was enough for Ireland to go through.
1994 - NETHERLANDS 2-0 IRELAND
For the third time in six years, Ireland met the Netherlands at the finals of a major championship. This time it was the USA World Cup and things didn't go the way of Charlton’s men.
Played in the stifling heat of Orlando in the summer time, Ireland always looked a yard off the pace and were 2-0 down at half-time courtesy of a fine team goal finished off by Dennis Bergkamp and an uncharacteristic Packie Bonner howler.
As the second-half wore on, Ireland pressed their opponents further back but the closest they came to scoring was when Paul McGrath had the ball in the Dutch net, only to see his effort disallowed for dangerous play in the build-up.
1995 - IRELAND 0-2 NETHERLANDS
This was a tough one to take in several ways. Not only was it a play-off defeat that ruled Ireland out of Euro ’96 which was to take place in England but it was also the last stand of manager Jack Charlton.
A single match at a supposedly neutral venue, Liverpool’s home of Anfield was very much Lansdowne Road East for the evening but with injuries to crucial players like Roy Keane and Steve Staunton, Ireland were always up against it.
The Dutch were comfortable 2-0 winners on an evening when a 19-year-old Patrick Kluivert announced himself on the world stage, running the Irish defence ragged and scoring both goals. But for Ireland supporters, Big Jack’s farewell overshadowed even that as the green Kop said goodbye to their manager with rousing renditions of the Fields of Athenry and You’ll Never Walk Alone.
2001 - IRELAND 1-0 NETHERLANDS
An unforgettable afternoon at Lansdowne Road where Mick McCarthy’s team turned in one of the best performances from any Ireland side, and helped to book their place at the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan at the expense of the Dutch.
Current Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal brought his side to Dublin with big expectations but just 35 seconds in, Roy Keane set the tone with a thunderous tackle on Marc Overmars that shook the Netherlands superstar and saw Ireland visibly grow.
Ireland lived on their nerves at times and had to cope with a 58th-minute red card for Gary Kelly but 15 minutes after being reduced to 10 men, McCarthy’s men went in front.
Steve Finnan, who came off the bench to replace Kelly with Robbie Keane sacrificed, worked a yard of space for himself in the Dutch penalty area before lifting a cross towards the back post and the on-rushing Jason McAteer, who kept his composure to fire the ball past Edwin van der Sar.
2006 - IRELAND 0-4 NETHERLANDS
Next year will the be 10th year since Ireland and the Netherlands last met and it was a game which marked a low point for Ireland.
Under the stewardship of Steve Staunton, Ireland suffered their biggest home defeat in 40 years and although it was only a friendly, it was an indication of how far Ireland had fallen since the 2002 World Cup.
Ireland were hopelessly outclassed by Marco van Basten’s side as Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie all got on the scoresheet and while it was only the third game into the Staunton era, it was a foreshadow of what was to come, with qualification defeats to Germany and Cyrprus to immediately follow.
