A videograb of the handball by Thierry Henry which directly led to France's equalising goal in the 2010 World Cup qualifying play-off second legIreland’s play-off history features more pain than pleasure, with our record making for grim reading – played 11, won 3, lost 8. Here’s how the previous 10 play-offs played out. Stephen Kenny’s third game in charge of Ireland was a crunch play-off, secured a year previously under Mick McCarthy as a result of their Nations League results. Played behind closed doors and delayed by seven months due to Covid, Ireland had several big chances to win it in normal time but missed spot-kicks by Alan Browne and Matt Doherty proved critical in Bratislava.

Source: Irish Independent March 27, 2026 22:01 UTC