Ireland deny Germany play-off place

Germany 2 Ireland 2

The Republic of Ireland denied Germany a place in the third-place play-off at the Toulon Festival as their own miserable campaign ended with a first point.

The sense that Ireland have performed well beneath themselves here persists, and a draw was a disappointment for Don Givens’ team who had led twice but disintegrated after Jim Goodwin’s 67th-minute dismissal.

Germany had to win the match to take second place in Group B, and now Japan will progress to play England in Friday’s play-off for third place.

Ireland went ahead in the 39th minute when Manchester United centre-back John O’Shea headed in a Thomas Butler corner.

The pair had only arrived in France on Sunday, at the end of the Premiership season, but were influential for the first half.

Ireland recovered from a Christian Tiffert leveller to regain their advantage through Andy Reid, only to be pegged back again by Benjamin Auer.

Germany had hoped to be in a position whereby the final was still their target, but Italy’s defeat of Japan in the afternoon match meant second place was all they could hope for.

Ireland had the first clear chance when Reid and Graham Barrett combined cleverly.

Barrett stole the ball from Maik Franz, and played a smart one-two with Reid before prodding his shot straight at Christopher Heimeroth who got down well to block.

Germany were awarded an indirect free-kick 10 yards from goal after O’Shea obstructed Jemaine Jones, but Tiffert’s shot was deflected to safety.

Ireland’s opening goal owed a deal to Butler’s expert delivery as his corner picked out O’Shea to bullet the ball at goal and over the line before Germany could reach it and attempt to clear.

The second half was just three minutes old when Tiffert turned in the rebound after Auer’s shot was saved.

Christope Preuss sent a 25-yard effort fizzing over the bar four minutes later.

But Ireland, whose defeat by South Africa infuriated coach Givens, moved back in front in the 49th minute.

Mike Keane’s back-heel released Keith Foy down the left and his cross was met by Reid with a header.

The dismissal of Goodwin brought the game back to life.

He was given his marching orders after swinging an arm in the penalty area as the pair waited for a free-kick.

Two minutes later, Ireland committed their second foolish error when Liam Miller hand-balled a right-wing cross from Tiffert and the penalty was instantly awarded.

Substitute Auer lashed the ball low into the left corner to level the match up for a second time and the closing 10 minutes saw Ireland struggle to hold off the German pressure.

But they survived to earn a point with a performance which, after defeats by Japan, Italy and South Africa, was a marked improvement.