Republic gain point against struggling French

France 0 Republic of Ireland 0

It is hoped the Republic of Ireland do not live to regret the chance they had to add to the woes of a France team once on top of the world, but now struggling to raise their game above the ordinary.

Ireland are still without a win in Paris since a friendly victory in 1937, a statistic that should have been erased on a cool Parisian evening at the Stade de France.

Although this was a well-earned point en route to the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006, there will almost certainly be the feeling it should have been all three.

When the anthems were played before kick-off, and with an apparent record travelling support of more than 30,000 Irish fans, the noise generated by both sets of supporters was ear-splitting.

Inside 70 seconds Ireland created the first opportunity when Roy Keane provided a defence-splitting ball into the path of Clinton Morrison.

But the delivery had marginally too much weight on it as France captain Fabien Barthez collected off the toes of the Birmingham striker.

Thierry Henry’s first significant contribution was to curl in a left-wing free-kick too close to Shay Given in the 10th minute, allowing the Newcastle goalkeeper to comfortably collect.

After a Kevin Kilbane drive had ricocheted off Sebastien Squillaci for a corner which came to nothing, Highbury team-mates Robert Pires and Henry soon combined – but again the ball was too heavy as Given claimed.

There was consternation moments later, though, when Stephen Carr’s flick header back to Given was aimlessly directed – forcing the 28-year-old to hastily parry the ball away for a corner as Henry ran in.

France began to impose themselves, pushing the Irish further back before Finnan broke the spell with a 20-yard drive into the waiting arms of former Manchester United goalkeeper Barthez.

Ireland then created the game’s best chance to date when Damien Duff played a short free-kick on the right wing into Finnan for a piercing cross which Morrison glanced wide from 12 yards.

There were Irish claims for a penalty moments later when Kevin Kilbane went to ground inside the area – and although his dive was apparent, it failed to earn a caution from Spanish referee Arturo Dauden Ibanez.

There was retribution of a different kind for Everton midfielder Kilbane, though, because he was caught in the face by the knee of Mikael Silvestre as he fell.

The match evened itself out again just after the half-hour mark, with both sides looking for a breakthrough – prompting Chelsea’s William Gallas to fire in an angled drive which clearly stung the fingers of Given who claimed only at the second attempt.

As Morrison struggled with an injury to his left knee, France then almost carved Ireland open in the 37th minute as Pires played a one-two on the edge of the area with Henry before driving in a 15-yard shot the Ireland goalkeeper superbly tipped away.

Morrison, with two goals in his last two internationals, limped off a minute later to be replaced by Andy Reid – the right-winger asked to take up a forward role in behind Robbie Keane.

France escaped just over three minutes into the second half when Barthez spilled a 22-yard drive from Andy Reid after Kilbane had won the ball in midfield.

With Robbie Keane bearing down on Barthez, the Marseille goalkeeper just managed to claim the ball otherwise it would have been an open goal for the Tottenham striker.

Dacourt then tried his luck from 25 yards soon after, but Given was firmly behind the ball as the second half opened with seemingly greater purpose from both sides sensing a win was there for the taking.

Henry was finally beginning to bare his teeth and twice embarked on surging runs in a bid to break down the Irish, the second of which almost bore fruit.

An eventual lay off to Wiltord and then Gallas produced a cross into the area for Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse to drill in a half-volley that Ireland skipper Kenny Cunningham blocked.

A long-distance attempt from Henry was then smothered by Given before former Leeds midfielder Dacourt hobbled to the sidelines for treatment to his right knee.

The hopes of the Irish were raised in the 62nd minute, but Barthez proved his agility by tipping away a controlled half-volley from Duff after the Chelsea winger had latched onto a punched clearance from the goalkeeper to an inswinging Reid corner.

In the 64th minute Dacourt limped off for good, replaced by Lens midfielder Alou Diarra but it was a pressng Ireland who created the game’s next opportunity four minutes later.

Stephen Carr’s cross into the six-yard box was perfect for Robbie Keane, but he failed to gain enough purchase on the header as Barthez gratefully clutched the ball on the line.

Ireland were sensing victory and should have broke the deadlock within seconds, but O’Shea somehow sidefooted a curling left-wing free-kick from Reid wide of the right-hand post when it appeared easier to hit the target.

France, though, were far from finished and in the 77th minute a lofted ball behind the Ireland defence found Henry, and although the angle was awkward, his shot was hardly true as Given nudged the ball wide.

Controversy soon followed when Barthez elbowed Andy O’Brien in the penalty area, the Newcastle defender responding with a flick of his hand which sparked a melee, but no cautions from referee Ibanez.

World Cup Group Four Qualifier results

Cyprus 2 Faroe Islands 2

France 0 Rep of Ireland 0

Israel 2 Switzerland 2