Stalemate for Ireland and Greece

Ireland and Greece drew 0-0 in their friendly international in Athens.

There were chances at both ends within the first five minutes as Don Givens' makeshift side - with Richard Dunne, Colin Healy and Stephen McPhail being asked to play out of position - made a bright start.

The Greeks won the first corner on the left after four minutes which was driven in low to the near post by Sotirios Kyrgiakos. It fell kindly for Greek skipper Nikos Dabizas on the six-yard line but his shot was blocked by Gary Doherty.

The Irish broke forward and McPhail sent in a good cross for Eircom League striker Glen Crowe, making his senior debut, who hit his volley at the goalkeeper.

There was almost an embarrassing moment for Shay Given after six minutes. John O'Shea rolled a tame back-pass towards him but the ball hit a divot and bobbled up just as the keeper was about to clear. Fortunately for Ireland it ran just past the post and behind for another corner.

Ireland's unfamiliar-looking team remained composed and came close to scoring on two occasions.

After seven minutes Doherty nodded down in the box for Lee Carsley but he missed his shot. The ball was retrieved by Crowe who did well to hit a shot on the turn, which crept just past the post.

Then after 11 minutes McPhail curled in a corner from the right and Colin Healy sent a glancing header narrowly beyond the far post.

Given did well after 38 minutes to deal with Greece's best chance of the half, when he dived to his left to hold on to Vassilios Tsartas' drive from 20 yards which had taken a deflection off O'Shea.

The Greeks made seven changes at the break, including the goalkeeper, with Dabizas among those to depart.

Given came to the rescue on the hour as he dived at the feet of Burnley striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos on the left edge of his six-yard box. He then stood his ground to hold on to a powerful downward header from Ioannis Goumas from a free-kick.

The Greeks threw a few more men forward and after 70 minutes former Leicester midfielder Theo Zagorakis saw his low drive from 20 yards deflected just wide.

Ireland had a slight scare after 78 minutes when McPhail suffered a whack on the head. He was able to continue after treatment, but picked up the game's only yellow card after 81 minutes, presumably for saying something to Italian referee Alfredo Trentalange.

There was one more let-off for Ireland close to the end as Ioannis Amanatidis screwed a shot wide but both sides appeared happy enough as the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards.