The Apres Match team is set to host a 4 1/2hour soccer bonanza on Network 2 tonight beginning at 8.30p.m., looking back at the most memorable time in the Republic of Ireland's soccer history. Entitled Apres Italia '90 it incorporates six programmes that examine every facet of Ireland's involvement from a behind the scenes documentary on the team during the qualification process to stories involving fans and also footage of the 1990 World Cup.
The night will begin will begin with a special Apres Match programme in which "Bill O'Herlihy, John Giles, Eamon Dunphy, Frank Stapleton" and the three Joe Duffys recount their memories of the 1990 World Cup. A little over 10 years ago Ireland reached the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to Italy.
This night of sport, entertainment and nostalgia rekindles great memories, the personalities of that summer, mixing humour and "docudrama." The evening kicks off with an introduction at 8.30p.m then follows with:
Que Sera Sera (9.0-10.0p.m.)
A behind the scenes documentary following the Irish soccer team as they qualified for their first ever World Cup. Beginning and ending in Malta, the footage takes in the matches against Spain, Hungary, Northern Ireland plus visits to some of the top teams in England and Scotland.
The Tales of the Fans (10.0-10.30p.m.)
A programme charting the stories and legendary escapades of the "best supporters in the world," who scrimped and saved to travel during the qualification process, then travelled to the Finals only to find themselves digging deep into their pockets once again when Ireland made the last 16. When Ireland beat Romania, all roads led to Rome and that quarter-final clash with Italy.
Italia '90 (10.30-11.30p.m.).
This documents the progress of the Ireland team through Italia '90. While the football was not always pretty, the story behind the team that Jack built and the characters involved captures the imagination and emotion with a series of highlights and interviews.
Where were you when O'Leary scored? (11.45p.m.-12.15a.m.)
This half hour special includes interviews with a host of personalities from the Irish entertainment industry on how they reacted when Packie Bonner saved and Dave O'Leary scored. Expect Ardal O'Hanlon, Stephen Rea, Jason Byrne, Zig 'n Zag and Maire Ni Bhraonain among the interviewees.
Who put the ball in the Italian net? (12.30a.m.-1.0a.m.)
The night comes to a conclusion with highlights of the "revenge match" with Italy four years later in New York. Ray Houghton's cracking strike secured victory against an Italy side that went on to lose on penalties to Brazil in the final.
