Samba Boys switch on magic

AT THE Emirates last night, Ireland might have discovered that they hadn’t used up all their bad luck in Paris when Keith Andrews put through his own net right at the end of the first half but, ultimately, it was sheer class which told as Robinho crowned his return to England with a sumptuous second-half goal that had ‘Made in Brazil’ stamped all over it.

From Don Givens to Don Giovanni, 20 games had elapsed since the last time Ireland met Brazil, another moment of class from the same Robinho settling a moderately entertaining affair at Lansdowne Road. That meeting in February 2008 took place in the limbo period between the end of the Steve Staunton era and the commencement of the Italian job. Much has changed since then – why, even the venue itself has disappeared, hence this latest excursion to London – but, even for a much more stable Ireland, there was still a transitional quality about last night’s match coming, as it did, between the end of one campaign and the beginning of another.

And with seven months still to go to the start of the Euros, Ireland could be looking quite different by the time we get to the business end of that long slog.

Certainly, a tantalising glimpse of James McCarthy was one sign of things to come but, on what was his 103rd cap for his country – a record-breaking honour he shared with Shay Given – Kevin Kilbane suggested that the old boys will not go gently into that good night.

Sooner than he might have thought, Robinho was back in an English ground and, later than we might have expected, Robbie was back in an Irish shirt. And clearly raring to go too as, barely four minutes in, the Celtic man tricked his way into the Brazilian box and, though the shot was weak enough, obliged Julio Cesar to make the first save of the night.

Keane, coming deep to receive the ball, was centrally involved in all Ireland’s early attacking play as Brazil, uncharacteristically sloppy in the opening phase, were slow to settle into any kind of groove.

Just short of the quarter-hour mark, though, Kaka fired a warning shot not too far over Given’s bar but, despite the occasional fast-paced Brazilian breakout, it was Ireland, generally making good progress up the flanks, who soon had their second clear sight of goal, Cesar’s one-handed save denying a firm Kevin Doyle header from Damien Duff’s cross.

The quick flicks of Kaka, Brazil’s pivot, drew a couple of free-kicks in threatening areas and, in the heart of the defence, Paul McShane and Sean St Ledger had to contribute their share of blocks but, with the South Americans at that point trading more on physique than technique, Ireland were scarcely overawed approaching half-time.

But then, with just a minute to go to the break, Trapattoni’s players suddenly succumbed to a proper sucker-punch when, after Kaka had started the move, Maicon’s ball up the right found Robinho just offside as he made an angled run. But despite Irish appeals, the flag stayed down and then, to compound the sense of the fates stacked against them, Keith Andrews succeeded only in turning the Brazilian’s low driven ball across goal into his own net. It was harsh on a patched-up Irish defence which, up until that point, had restricted the yellow and blue to half-chances at best.

However, straight from the restart, Brazil upped the tempo and the pressure in the second half, finally bringing at least a touch of that familiar wow factor to the excited ex-pats in an Emirates crowd of 40,082.

But it was Ireland pressing the self-destruct button which almost gifted Brazil a second. Trapattoni had warned about the perils of a concentration lapse but that’s exactly what befell St Ledger who was caught in possession by Dani Alves with his first touch as a substitute. But though the Barcelona man was able to take the ball around Given, he couldn’t keep his shot inside the post. Then it was McShane who got off the hook, this time getting the benefit of an offside flag which ruled out a Robinho goal after the Hull man had been caught dawdling. Just minutes later, Robinho skied over from in front of goal, as Irish confidence appeared to collapse.

BUT, finally, on 77 minutes, Trapattoni’s now beleaguered men could do little more than look on in envy as Kaka, sub Grafite and Robinho combined to simply carve open the defence with a swaggering exchange of passes before the former Man City man, currently on loan to Santos, gave what had been a 22-pass move its crowning glory with a splendidly curved shot past Given.

After that it was champagne stuff all the way from Brazil with a tired Ireland just glad to get to the final whistle without incurring any further damage.

Subs for Brazil: Dani Alves (7) for Ramires (78) Luisao (6) for Lucio (82) Carlos Eduardo (6) for Maicon (83).

Subs for Ireland: D Gibson (6) for Whelan (58), A McGeady (6) for Duff (58), J McCarthy (7) for Lawrence (69), L Best (6) for Doyle (78).

Referee: Mike Dean (England).