▁association ▁football ▁friendly ▁match ▁was ▁played ▁in ▁L ans d ow ne ▁Road ▁in ▁Dublin , ▁Ireland , ▁on ▁ 3 ▁July ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁between ▁the ▁Brazil ▁national ▁team ▁and ▁a ▁team ▁bil led ▁as ▁" Sh am rock ▁Ro vers ▁XI ", ▁made ▁up ▁of ▁Republic ▁of ▁Ireland ▁and ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁international ▁players . ▁ ▁Brazil ▁won ▁the ▁match ▁ 4 – 3 ; ▁it ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁eight ▁years ▁that ▁any ▁team ▁scored ▁three ▁goals ▁against ▁them . ▁The ▁match ▁is ▁the ▁only ▁one ▁played ▁since ▁ 1 9 5 0 ▁by ▁a ▁team ▁representing ▁the ▁entire ▁island ▁of ▁Ireland , ▁although ▁the ▁name ▁" I reland " ▁was ▁changed ▁to ▁" Sh am rock ▁Ro vers ▁XI " ▁after ▁ob jections ▁from ▁the ▁Irish ▁Football ▁Association . ▁ ▁Background ▁The ▁match ▁was ▁played ▁at ▁the ▁height ▁of ▁The ▁Tr ou bles ▁in ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁as ▁a ▁gesture ▁of ▁friendship ▁and ▁solid ar ity . ▁Louis ▁Kil co y ne , ▁the ▁owner ▁of ▁the ▁domestic ▁Sh am rock ▁Ro vers ▁football ▁team , ▁persu aded ▁João ▁H avel ange ▁of ▁the ▁Brazil ian ▁FA ▁to ▁include ▁a ▁match ▁against ▁an ▁" I reland ▁XI " ▁on ▁the ▁it iner ary ▁for ▁their ▁nine - match ▁summer ▁tour ▁of ▁Europe , ▁reported ly ▁prom ising ▁him ▁the ▁Football ▁Association ▁of ▁Ireland ' s ▁( FA I ) ▁vote ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁election ▁for ▁President ▁of ▁FIFA . ▁ ▁Kil co y ne