Why Ireland Struggle for Goals
Published by Éire Metrics · Data-led analysis
Scoring goals has been a persistent challenge for the Republic of Ireland in competitive international football. While results alone can fluctuate, the underlying numbers point to a longer-term issue.
Across recent qualifying campaigns, Ireland average fewer than 1.2 goals per game. This places them well below the European median and highlights a reliance on low-margin outcomes.
When controlling for opposition strength, shot volume remains relatively stable — but shot quality drops significantly against higher-ranked teams.
This suggests the issue is not purely tactical, but structural: progression into high-value shooting areas remains limited.