Given looks forward

Shay Given is demanding another four-point haul when his Republic of Ireland team-mates tackle the next World Cup qualifying double-header in a month’s time.

Manager Brian Kerr had insisted on four points from the opening two group four matches, and thanks to Newcastle goalkeeper Given, his wish was granted.

Given’s two performances against Cyprus at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and Switzerland in Basle last night were in stark contrast to one another.

Against the Cypriots, Given was able to sit back and watch, making just one save in a comfortable 3-0 victory as Kerr’s side made the perfect start to the campaign.

But against the Swiss, after Clinton Morrison had given Ireland an eighth minute lead, the 28-year-old produced a five-minute display of world-class goalkeeping as he made three outstanding saves.

There was little Given could do, though, about the eventual 17th-minute equaliser from Hakan Yakin as his defence again let him down, but he effectively had the last word in the 70th minute with a full-stretch stop to deny the same player from 25 yards.

It was stirring stuff and gave Kerr the four points he craved, and Ireland the platform on which they can now build towards Germany 2006.

But Ireland have to push on and Given believes they have to at least equal their feat of the last week against France in Paris on October 9 and then at home to the Faroe Islands five days later.

He said: “I was busier than I was on Saturday, but we knew it was going to be a tougher game and Switzerland showed they are a really good team by causing us problems.

“We made a good start, but then we seemed to take our foot off the pedal and I had to make some good saves, all in quick succession as well.

“They really came at us and opened us up on a few occasions and gladly enough I was in the right position at the right time and kept them out.

“I was concerned at the way they carved us open a little too easily in the first half, but then we tightened up in the second, and we have to be happy with a point away from home.

“With four points from two games I’d like to think we’re in better shape to qualify for the World Cup finals after starting with two defeats in the European Championships.

“But we have to maintain this and four points from the next two games will again be a minimum requirement. Anything else will be a bonus.”

France would appear to be a team in transition following the appointment of new coach Raymond Domenech, and in the wake of the retirement of the influential Zinedine Zidane.

It has hardly been an impressive start for France as a goalless home draw with Israel was followed by yesterday’s below-par 2-0 win over the Faroes in which Patrick Vieira was dismissed and is now subsequently suspended for the game with Ireland.

It would appear Ireland have the perfect opportunity to catch France while they are still relatively cold, with Given adding: “We fancy our chances of at least another point.

“We’re definitely not going there to make up the numbers because we’ve a good squad of players, so we’re going to get a good, positive result, and there’s no reason why we can’t.

“It won’t be easy and we know that, but we can definitely get something from the game because they’ve not played well so far, and they’ve also Vieira out which is a plus for us.”