Ireland have everything and nothing to play for

ASKED earlier this week what he feared about the Irish team, Zinedine Zidane dipped into his little book of zen to find the reply: "Everything and nothing."

After the crushing disappointment of Wednesday night's 1-0 victory for France at Lansdowne Road, that cryptic phrase could usefully be employed to sum up both the decisive moment in the game and the situation in which the Republic of Ireland now find themselves in Group 4.

Everything and nothing. That's what Brian Kerr's men have to play for now. The French victory in Dublin, compounding the negative effect of those points dropped at home and away to Israel, could effectively rule out qualification. But victories over Cyprus and Switzerland, and the road to Germany reopens.