Packie Bonner's infamous goalkeeping gaffe against for Ireland against Holland at the 1994 World Cup in USA has become a commentating – danger here-esque – cliché in Sweden.
Swedish newspapers have been comparing Igor Akinfeev's blunder in Russia's 1-1 draw with South Korea to the Donegal man's unfortunate mistake against the Dutch. Akinfeev appeared to have a shot from Lee Keunho well covered but the Russian let the ball slip through his fingers and into the back of the net to allow the Asian side to take the lead.
Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet likened the Russian's goalkeeping error to the mistake that sank Irish hearts in 1994. They explain how Bonner has become the basis of a hackneyed phrase for one Swedish commentator.
The mistake was kind of like when the Irish keeper dropped the ball against Holland at the 94 World Cup. Staffan Lindeborg was the (Swedish) commentator for both of these matches and back then he used the classic line: "But, Pat Bonner.. what are you doing?"
20 years later, the Swedes still remember a moment that Packie has surely spent the last two decades trying to bury. Here's hoping the former Celtic shotstopper isn't planning any trips to Scandanavia in the near future.
hat-tip: David Hannon
