Sides level after quiet first half

Republic of Ireland 0 Czech Republic 0

Goalkeepers Shay Given and Petr Cech ensured the Republic of Ireland and the Czech Republic went in level at the break with a series of important saves.

Aston Villa’s Given produced a vital near-post block to deny Jiri Stajner a third-minute opener and then turned away Jan Rezek’s dipping effort in the dying seconds of the first half.

However, Chelsea keeper Cech, who had kept out Shane Long’s first-minute header, blocked a Robbie Keane effort with his legs 14 minutes later in a tight encounter.

Ireland started on the front foot and might have been ahead with less than a minute on the clock.

Right-back John O’Shea’s long ball reached Aiden McGeady on the left and he tricked his way past full-back Theodor Gebreselassie before crossing to the back post for Long to head firmly towards goal, but straight at Czech skipper Cech.

However, the visitors, who like the Republic have qualified for the Euro 2012 finals, threatened two minutes later when Jiri Stajner exchanged passes with Baros before firing in a shot which Shay Given had to block at his near post.

The Aston Villa keeper suffered a sixth-minute scare when he dwelt on a Keith Andrews back-pass and saw it charged down by Jan Rezek, although Given got to the rebound just before Stajner could capitalise on his error.

Keane was seeing little of the ball in the Francesco Totti role in which Trapattoni had asked him to play, but he found himself in on goal with 15 minutes gone after expertly controlling Keith Andrews’ raking pass.

Cech came to meet the LA Galaxy man as the red shirts closed, and the keeper manager to block Keane’s shot with his legs.

O’Shea went close to the opening goal five minutes later when he met McGeady’s inswinging free-kick with a glancing header, but saw his effort drift just wide of the post.

The Czechs were moving the ball comfortably with their three-man midfield prospering, particularly in the absence of Glenn Whelan as he received treatment on the sidelines for a cut to his mouth.

Jaroslav Plasil and Petr Jiracek were increasingly influential as the visitors retained possession with ease, although Given remained largely untroubled with defender Tomas Sivok going closest with a 27th-minute header which flew high over the bar.

Whelan returned but Ireland were having to defend deep and in numbers as their opponents pinned them back for long periods – without picking holes in the home defence.

Andrews needed treatment after being caught by Jiracek seven minutes before the break, but he too was able to continue.

But the West Brom midfielder showed few ill-effects as he launched himself into a robust challenge seconds after his return and very nearly toe-poked the ball through to Keane with the visitors’ defence stretched.

Long landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Sivok, but suffered no lasting damage.

Andrews had a sight of goal himself after Keane took a 44th-minute free-kick quickly, but his long-range drive was blocked by Michael Kadlec.

However, Given had to get down well at the other end to palm away Rezek’s dipping effort after he had cut in from the left seconds later.