European Nations Cup, Ireland was drawn against Czechoslovakia in the qualifying round. Ireland won the first leg 2–0 at Dalymount Park, with Cantwell getting the second goal. The return leg saw Ireland lose an early penalty, but they were still in with a chance of qualification until three goals in a twenty-minute spell in the second half saw them limp out.
The qualification for the 1964 European Championship saw Cantwell net four goals, including two against Iceland and a further two in a 3–2 victory over Austria. His second goal was a last-minute penalty that sealed a quarter-final place against Spain, which the team lost 7–1 on aggregate.
As with a lot of Ireland’s greatest players of that generation, while they tasted success with their clubs in England, a lack of success with Ireland was a sore point, and the 1966 World Cup in England was the closest that Cantwell and his compatriots came to qualifying. Ireland had been drawn with Spain and Syria, who later withdrew when they backed a protest by the African countries over their allocation of places in the finals, in group nine. The protest by the African countries was based on the FIFA rule that the winner of the African zone was required to play a play-off against the winner of the Asian or the Oceania zone for a place at the 1966 World Cup. Syria supported the African stance and promptly withdrew from the qualification campaign as a result. With Syria now out of the picture it was a straight fight between Ireland and Spain. Ireland won the home match in Dalymount with a 1–0 win courtesy of an own goal; however, they lost the second leg 4–1.
Cantwell was the most experienced Ireland man on the pitch in Spain, with thirty-one games under his belt – five players that day had less than ten caps, and there was a distinct lack of experience in the team. In fact, and bear in mind that this was a qualifier for the World Cup finals, Eric Barber, a striker, made his debut for Ireland that day: ‘I remember I was called into the squad for the match against Spain in Seville. I was with Shelbourne at the time and had received some good press coverage and was in good shape. We were flying over on the Monday, three days before the game. I woke up that morning and had the worst toothache and my jaw was swollen. We were leaving at 12.00 p.m., and I figured I had time to get into Mercer’s Hospital and have someone have a look at it. I told the doctor the situation and was given an injection to help the pain, but it made me pass out.
‘I only woke up at 12.10 p.m. I panicked and rushed out of the hospital to get a taxi to the airport. Little did I know that the team had held the plane back for me. I actually spoke to Noel first and not Johnny [Carey]. He asked me, “Did you not get the itinerary?” and I explained what had happened. I was petrified, and I don’t think he believed me. Even though Johnny was in charge, Noel was the captain and a real leader in the Ireland set-up.
‘I was on antibiotics over there, and they had a bad effect on me. I was not feeling the best, and, looking back, I don’t think I should have played, but I was eager to be involved. We lost 4–1, and I hardly had a touch. I think Johnny Carey should have maybe taken the decision not to play me, but I don’t think he had the heart to do it.
‘Both Noel and Charlie played in the match, and they took turns in the changing-room before the game to speak to us. Noel and Charlie were big men of the game and very influential players. Charlie was a 6-foot 3-inch centre-half, and he could head the ball almost to the halfway line. Noel was a tough man, a bit like Roy Keane, although maybe not as outspoken. He liked to do things his way, and he had very little time for the officials who were involved with the FAI at the time.’
Despite the defeat, it was not all doom and gloom. These days qualification for a major tournament often hinges on the difference between goals scored and goals
The qualification for the 1964 European Championship saw Cantwell net four goals, including two against Iceland and a further two in a 3–2 victory over Austria. His second goal was a last-minute penalty that sealed a quarter-final place against Spain, which the team lost 7–1 on aggregate.
As with a lot of Ireland’s greatest players of that generation, while they tasted success with their clubs in England, a lack of success with Ireland was a sore point, and the 1966 World Cup in England was the closest that Cantwell and his compatriots came to qualifying. Ireland had been drawn with Spain and Syria, who later withdrew when they backed a protest by the African countries over their allocation of places in the finals, in group nine. The protest by the African countries was based on the FIFA rule that the winner of the African zone was required to play a play-off against the winner of the Asian or the Oceania zone for a place at the 1966 World Cup. Syria supported the African stance and promptly withdrew from the qualification campaign as a result. With Syria now out of the picture it was a straight fight between Ireland and Spain. Ireland won the home match in Dalymount with a 1–0 win courtesy of an own goal; however, they lost the second leg 4–1.
Cantwell was the most experienced Ireland man on the pitch in Spain, with thirty-one games under his belt – five players that day had less than ten caps, and there was a distinct lack of experience in the team. In fact, and bear in mind that this was a qualifier for the World Cup finals, Eric Barber, a striker, made his debut for Ireland that day: ‘I remember I was called into the squad for the match against Spain in Seville. I was with Shelbourne at the time and had received some good press coverage and was in good shape. We were flying over on the Monday, three days before the game. I woke up that morning and had the worst toothache and my jaw was swollen. We were leaving at 12.00 p.m., and I figured I had time to get into Mercer’s Hospital and have someone have a look at it. I told the doctor the situation and was given an injection to help the pain, but it made me pass out.
‘I only woke up at 12.10 p.m. I panicked and rushed out of the hospital to get a taxi to the airport. Little did I know that the team had held the plane back for me. I actually spoke to Noel first and not Johnny [Carey]. He asked me, “Did you not get the itinerary?” and I explained what had happened. I was petrified, and I don’t think he believed me. Even though Johnny was in charge, Noel was the captain and a real leader in the Ireland set-up.
‘I was on antibiotics over there, and they had a bad effect on me. I was not feeling the best, and, looking back, I don’t think I should have played, but I was eager to be involved. We lost 4–1, and I hardly had a touch. I think Johnny Carey should have maybe taken the decision not to play me, but I don’t think he had the heart to do it.
‘Both Noel and Charlie played in the match, and they took turns in the changing-room before the game to speak to us. Noel and Charlie were big men of the game and very influential players. Charlie was a 6-foot 3-inch centre-half, and he could head the ball almost to the halfway line. Noel was a tough man, a bit like Roy Keane, although maybe not as outspoken. He liked to do things his way, and he had very little time for the officials who were involved with the FAI at the time.’
Despite the defeat, it was not all doom and gloom. These days qualification for a major tournament often hinges on the difference between goals scored and goals
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