IrishFootballOnline.com » The unofficial and Independent Irish Football website.

Prague defeat ends Irish qualification hopes

Wednesday 12th September 2007, 9:34 pm

Stephen Hunt was controversially sent off.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Ireland's European Championship hopes are all but over after a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Czech Republic in Prague tonight. Marek Jankulovski scored the only goal after fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, Greek referee Kyros Vassaras again saw something that wasn't there as he sent off Irish substitute Stephen Hunt just after the hour for a tackle that barely seemed worthy of a booking.

The same official sent off Andy O'Brien at Lansdowne Road against Israel - FIFA eventually decided that that incident had not merited a red card.

An early scare for Ireland saw Shay Given come out to smother the ball after Paul McShane held off Milan Baros as long as possible. Thomas Rosicky hit an air shot in a dangerous position before Libor Sionko dragged a shot past Given's upright in a bright start by the home side.

The lead goal came on fifteen minutes as Jaroslav Plasil combined with Jankulovski as the Irish defence chased shadows and AC Milan defender Jankulovski fired past Given.

The Czechs faded after taking the lead but some awful set-pieces dented Irish hopes of an equaliser and Sionko could well have put the game beyond Ireland before the mid-point of the first half.

An injury to John O'Shea eventually forced him off before half time and the introduction of Hunt definitely improved Ireland's shape and performance. A booking for McShane sees him miss the next game - against Germany. His partner in central defence Richard Dunne was again on top form and battled on to the end despite suffering a nasty cut to the face and then re-opening the patch-up job almost immediately.

Dunne got back to make a great block on Plasil as the Czechs broke quickly following another poor Irish set-piece. Hunt's introduction had created a number of openings for Ireland before the break but some poor decision making saw Steve Staunton's side again struggle to create although they could well have levelled seconds before the referee's whistle.

Kevin Doyle was played in on goal by Dunne and dragging a shot past the beaten Petr Cech, Doyle looked on in agony as his shot came back off the foot of the post.

Baros missed Given's goal after Ireland gave away the goal shortly after half-time. The Irish keeper then pushed a stinging shot from Rosicky behind as the Czechs again started better after the break.

Lee Carsley required treatment after an awkward collision following a foul by Baros pushing McShane into his Irish team-mate but returned almost immediately to anchor the Irish midfield.

The moment that suggested there was no way back came on 61 minutes as Hunt lunged into a tackle with Jan Polak and the Greek referee showed the Reading man a straight red card. Some unsavoury scenes followed as members of both benches engaged in something of a stand-off as Hunt eventually departed.

There would be more controversy before the end as Jankulovski appeared to be shown a second yellow card but wasn't shown a red by the controversial Greek referee.

Despite being a man down Ireland still had chances but no killer instinct in front of goal saw Ireland go home empty handed.

Doyle crossed for club-mate Shane Long but the former Cork City duo weren't on the same wavelength and Long's run came up short. Cech dropped the ball in the box under pressure from Dunne but McShane couldn't get enough force into his shot and David Rozehnal slid the ball away to safety.

Andy Keogh was thrown on for the closing ten or so minutes as Staunton went for it with four strikers on the pitch but it was too little too late in a doomed campaign that in reality ended in Cyprus.

Dunne has been the star of the Irish team in a sometimes disastrous campaign and got back to make another superb block to deny Baros as the striker threatened to get in one-on-one with Given.

Right at the death, McShane's shot was hammered behind by Radoslav Kovac although the Czech defender may not have had full control of the ball as he cleared for a corner.

As things now stand, Ireland trail the Czechs by six points with just three games to play. The Czechs can confirm their qualification by winning one of their remaining matches.

Czech Republic : Cech, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Kovac, Jankulovski, Sionko (Vlcek 74), Galasek (Sivok 46), Rosicky, Polak, Plasil, Baros (Jarolim 89).
Ireland : Given, O'Shea (Hunt 38), Kelly, Dunne, McShane, Carsley (Keogh 82), Kilbane, McGeady (Long 62), A Reid, Doyle, Keane.