Given: the one who got away

ON a night that was inevitably underscored by post-France feelings of what might have been, the sight of Shay Given exuding confidence in one goalmouth will have only reinforced the frustration among those Arsenal-supporting neutrals in the crowd that the keeper isn’t a more regular fixture at the Emirates Stadium.

Given’s performances over the last two years meant he, as much as any of Giovanni Trapattoni’s side, is entitled to harbour a lingering sense of injustice at the way the World Cup qualifying campaign ended in Paris.

Those international performances have been mirrored by his consistent excellence at club level and the keeper certainly deserved the chance to demonstrate his talents on the biggest stage.

Why then, Arsenal supporters are entitled to wonder, did Arsene Wenger prevaricate in making a firm move for the keeper before Given left Newcastle United for Manchester City 12 months ago?

Mark Hughes, then in charge at City, recognised the importance of a quality keeper as the bedrock of any team with pretensions of success.

Wenger, bafflingly for someone who studies every aspect of the game in such forensic detail, appears not to share that view.

Visitors to this corner of north London have grown used to seeing a succession of flaky number ones emerge from the home dressing room and provide an object lesson in how questionable keeping can spread panic throughout a defence.

By contrast, Given’s presence provides both club and country with the kind of security that allows defenders to get on with their principal duties without worrying about what is going on behind them.

The keeper’s coaxing and cajoling assisted Paul McShane and Sean St Ledger as the centre-backs worked impressively in tandem to limit the threat of the Adriano in the opening half.

For McShane in particular, this was an important first step in his efforts to erase the memory of his role as bystander to Thierry Henry’s sleight of hand and the Hull defender emerged with credit.

He was not alone among Ireland’s defenders, and a succession of determined blocks, tackles and interventions ensured that Given was rarely tested for the first hour.

Further forward, Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews worked tirelessly to cover the ground just in front of the back four that Kaka normally exploits to such devastating effect.

Adriano’s dipping free kick provided the keeper with his biggest challenge in the opening period before Andrews agonisingly diverted Robinho’s right wing cross into his own goal.

Yet while there was much to please Trapattoni during the first 60 minutes of the game, the Italian had cause to be concerned about the rash of individual errors that would have put the game beyond their reach had Brazil demonstrated more commitment to the art of finishing.

There was no shame in conceding a goal of such outstanding quality as Robinho’s 77th minute strike that came after the kind of passing move that symbolises Brazil at their very best. But Dunga’s team could have scored at least twice before then from much more routine chances.

Trapattoni must iron out those lapses in concentration from within a group of players that will remain largely unchanged when the Euro 2012 campaign begins in earnest.

The late introduction of James McCarthy offered a glimpse of the future but it seems clear that it will be the familiar faces who remain the key figures in Ireland’s bid to go one step further in the next round of qualifiers. Given, at 33, is the oldest of those players although age is unlikely to dim his talents for years to come. Hughes could see that – why couldn’t Wenger?