Henry’s sweet and sour sauce

BRIAN Kerr may never have appeared on RTÉ’s The Restaurant, but he prepared a menu high on basic ingredients for last night’s diners in Dublin 4.

Poached pragmatism with a sensible sauce, cooked on high pressure and stirred by 36,000 commis chefs, we think. Sometimes the occasion is just too important to go dipping through the book of fabulous concoctions, and last night's Le Crunch was one such. But deep down, the Irish manager must always have feared the intervention of filthy, naked talent.

For all the fine talk in Clairefontaine and Malahide last week, neither Kerr nor Raymond Domenech would have rejected another stalemate in the Group of Draws. The difference, unpalatable though it is, was quality finishing. Sometimes, you need that extra ingredient.

Afterwards, the Irish manager headed down the tunnel without an acknowledgement to friend or foe. His mood won't have improved by learning that Switzerland managed to eke out three late points in Nicosia. They have considerable obstacles in their way to the finishing line a visit from France and to Dublin within four days but now both the French and Kobi Kuhn's men have eased three points clear of Ireland.

If Kerr presumed that France's least favoured fare was a high intensity confrontation, condensed into the middle 50 yards of the pitch, he was correct. After a bright opening, in which Shay Given was forced to palm away a curling Zidane free-kick, it wasn't until the 43rd minute that the Newcastle keeper was again perturbed Vieira's left-footed strike whirring past his left post. In between, Ireland's super support was served liberal helpings of focused, not frantic, toil and an occasional sight of goal.

Though Andy Reid hit the outside of a post, Ireland's best chance fell to Clinton Morrison, via Robbie Keane after 17 minutes. The Palace striker pushed his half volley the wrong side of Coupet's post. In truth, he should have scored. An hour later, Henry would show him the way.

Amid all the turmoil of Hell's Kitchen, Roy Keane was patrolling the ovens, adding some heat here, cooling a flame there. More's the pity that he'll miss the trip to Cyprus next month, a first-half booking making him ineligible for a fixture he has dominated once before. He won't be the only enforced absentee on October 8, when Ireland can only think of maximum points. Morrison, plus Andy Reid are also suspended.

Much like last October's scoreless draw at the Stade de France, the Republic enjoyed copious amounts of possession against a side dotted with 'artists'. Makelele and Vieira, Zidane and Henry all flitted impressively into the game in the first period, but none ever threatened to control it. Of course, the Arsenal striker doesn't control many games he tends to decide them.

Ireland even looked comfortable after an hour. Richard Dunne dispossessed Zidane, forcing the great man into a frustrated hack for which he was booked. Then from nothing well, some Wiltord scrapping Henry got his first sight of goal in the 67th minute. It was enough. Highbury's North Bank stand has seen dozens of right-footed curlers into the far corner. Last night, it was turn of the Havelock Square faithful, including the 3,000 travelling contingent.

Robbie Keane singed Coupet's hands, Kerr threw more basic ingredients into the brew in the form of Gary Doherty, but nothing.

And so, after eight draws in Group 4, a defining night with none at all from the three games.

Ireland's chances of automatic qualification have receded dramatically. Kerr needs a decisive result between Switzerland and France in Basel in October to prevent both reaching the magical 20 points. If Ireland win in Cyprus and at home to Switzerland, they can only accumulate 19 points.