Ireland Czechs out of Euro 2008

GOING into the second half they were one goal down, a short time later they were one man down.

In fact, Ireland were in every conceivable sense on a downer last night when they were decisively Czech-mated in the Euro 2008 qualifier.

“It was just one of those things,” said Republic manager Steve Staunton, with his now characteristic and unconvincing post-match stoicism.

Struggling to remain upbeat, or to desperately hold onto his job, or both, he said: “We are in the building process... it’s coming along nicely.”

Continuing the building metaphor, Staunton better keep his hard hat on because after last night’s debacle some very heavy criticism is about to come crashing down on him.

Witnesses to last night’s defeat were thankful that the Czechs had not won by more than one goal.

John O’Shea went off on crutches, Stephen Hunt went off on a red card and the Irish supporters almost went off their game in the Axa Stadium as their exhausted 10-man team struggled hopelessly towards a better result.

Staunton’s dream of leading the Republic to next summer’s Euro 2008 finals is over.

It died when Marek Jankulovski’s first-half winner gave the Czechs an all but unassailable six-point lead over the Irish in group D. Jankulovski capped a first half of almost complete dominance.

Ireland were given renewed momentum by the introduction of Reading’s Stephen Hunt but when he was sent off for lunging on Jan Polak Ireland’s fate was effectively sealed.