Ireland's Dismal Decade: Can 'The Boys in Green' Get Back on Track After Growing Tournament Drought?

The Boys in Green's Dismal Decade

The last decade has been a dismal one for the Republic of Ireland's football team. The Boys in Green have failed to qualify for any of the four major tournaments during that time – the World Cups of 2014, 2018 and 2022, and the European Championships of 2016 and 2020.

This is in stark contrast to the previous decade, when Ireland qualified for three major tournaments – the 2002 World Cup and the 2012 and 2016 Euros.

Reasons for the Decline

There are a number of reasons for Ireland's decline. One is the aging of the team. The likes of Robbie Keane, John O'Shea and Shay Given, who were all ключевыми players in the предыдущее decade, have retired.

Another reason is the lack of young talent coming through. There have been few players of note emerging from the underage ranks in recent years.

The third reason is the managerial merry-go-round. Ireland have had four different managers in the last decade – Giovanni Trapattoni, Martin O'Neill, Mick McCarthy and Stephen Kenny.

Can the Boys in Green Get Back on Track?

So, can the Boys in Green get back on track? It's a tough question to answer. There are some promising signs, such as the emergence of young players like Gavin Bazunu and Troy Parrott.

But there are also some challenges, such as the aging of the squad and the lack of consistency. Only time will tell if Ireland can end their tournament drought and get back to their former glories.

Conclusion

The last decade has been a tough one for Irish football fans. The Boys in Green have failed to qualify for any of the four major tournaments during that time.

There are a number of reasons for this decline, including the aging of the team, the lack of young talent coming through and the managerial merry-go-round.

It remains to be seen whether Ireland can get back on track. There are some promising signs, but there are also some challenges. Only time will tell if the Boys in Green can end their tournament drought and get back to their former glories.