An Irish victory by any other name

France 0 Ireland 0

Ireland’s quality football was denied the ultimate endorsement of a winning goal, but there were substantial compensations to cheer Irish spirits and confirm that qualification from an excruciatingly tight group is achievable.

Indeed Ireland’s five points from their three opening games represent an advance on the most optimistic of pre-tournament predictions. And the evidence of this marvellous, extravagant, sporting occasion was that it was France who had more reason to be thankful for a division of the points.

Most will suggest that the absence of goals robbed the game of an ingredient essential to its elevation to the level of a classic. That is a justifiable view, but debatable.

This contest was adorned with so many subtle and sophisticated personal duels, was so advanced in its tactical planning and application and was so enriched with superb individual performances that it offered exceptional entertainment.

The individual contributions of so many Irish players were so memorable that to elevate one above another was invidious. Yet the success of Kevin Kilbane was remarkable and demanding of special attention.

Kilbane’s special qualities have long been lauded in these columns. When a player is prepared to invest every ounce of energy within his frame for the good of the team in every match, then you cannot ask for more. A more honest and committed player has never been seen in Ireland’s green.

Kilbane chose this important stage to finally strike a peak of performance that stemmed from his success in marrying his many fine qualities to produce a coherent whole. Ireland benefited from his strength in the air, his tireless energy, his courage in the tackle, his preparedness to commit to every challenge and his stream of accurate passes and crosses.

Having dwelt so long on Kilbane’s spectacular Parisian experience, I am immediately obliged to rush to identify other significant factors in a team performance of unremitting excellence.

Goalkeeper Shay Given showed such calm assurance that he must have been an inspiration to a defence that was uniformly good, organised in impeccable style by the consistent Kenny Cunningham.

Roy Keane was at his dominating best in the important early stages of the match and while his contribution was less prominent in the second half he provided, as always, the core strength to facilitate such a good team display.

France worked extremely hard to limit Damien Duff’s influence and were obviously helped by the inside knowledge provided by his club-mate William Gallas. Duff would not be subdued, however, even though he was constantly double-teamed and regularly treble-teamed by the French. He is the artist supreme with the ball at his feet.

Space does not allow further elaboration on the individual contributions of Ireland’s players and, in a sense, it would be inappropriate.

For where this Irish team excelled, and where the work of managerBrian Kerr and his staff was most apparent, was in the fluid team-work and the acute tactical awareness of the players.

France, it goes without saying, have been wounded by too many retirements at the one time. The loss of Patrick Vieira and Ludovic Giuly were other constraints upon their manager’s game plan.

But Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord gave the Irish side problems and were only counteredby diligent attention to detail indefence.

Ireland played without fear and might well have won had John O’Shea a little luck from Andy Reid’s free and had Fabien Barthez not matched the excellent Given for the audacity of his defending. One save from Duff was breathtaking.

Ireland would surely have won the game, however, but for the loss of Clinton Morrison with a knee injury. Andy Reid is surely a player who will grow to become a major asset, but probably not at centre-forward. He played well as Morrison’s replacement, but the pity of it was that Morrison has never looked sharper than he was in his 40 minutes of action.

Ireland’s experiences will surely pay major dividends, not only in the level of individual performances but also in the form of increased confidence in the system.

Their accumulation of World Cup points is running slightly ahead of schedule, but it should not be forgotten that France are undergoing major transformation. This was not the French team that won the World Cup. It would be a mistake then, to exaggerate the significance of Ireland’s relative success.

It is right that we salute an exciting Irish performance and bask in the after-glow of so many positive influences, but anything less would have been a major disappointment given France’s current problems.

Ireland have earned a little advantage over their major rivals and raised our spirits and ambitions, but they must now build on the achievement.

FRANCE (4-4-2): Barthez; Gallas, Squillaci, Givet, Silvestre; Wiltord, Mavuba, Dacourt (Diarra 63), Pires; Cisse (Govou 82), Henry.

IRELAND (4-4-2): Given; Carr, O’Brien, Cunningham, O’Shea; Finnan, Roy Keane, Kilbane, Duff; Morrison (Reid 41), Robbie Keane.

Referee: A D Ibanez (Spain).