Match Number: 795 Date: 13-October-2007 Location: Dublin Competition: Euro 2008 Qualifying IRELAND: Given Finnan, Dunne, Kelly, O'Brien Reid, Carsley, Keogh (80. McGeady), Kilbane (90. Murphy) Keane, Doyle (70. Long) GERMANY: Lehmann A. Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Jansen Fritz, Frings, Schweinsteiger (18. Rolfes), Trochowski (90. Castro) Gomez (64. Podolski), Kuranyi Scoring: 0:1 Klose (5.) 0:2 Klose (60.) Referee: Hansson (Sweden) Yellow cards: Carsley, Dunne - Lehmann, Frings, A. Friedrich Attendance: 67,495A massive crowd in Dublin's Croke Park saw the DFB squad pushed to the limit. They only needed a point to secure their qualification to the 2008 Euro tournament. Meanwhile, the Irish absoutley needed to win to maintain their chances for qualification. As a result, the Irish attacked ferociously and fought hard for every ball. The Germans seemed to be taken aback, and were pushed back on the defensive from the start. Most attempts at counterattack were somewhat feeble, although Podolski had a couple of clear chances to steal the points after he came on. The Irish tested Jens Lehmann, and for once the Arsenal GK let his skills (rather than his mouth) do the talking. Tottenham's Robbie Keane had the huge chance in the 49th minute, as the DFB offisde trap fell asleep, and he was all by himself. However he hurried his attempt over the end-line. This was a pretty good inidcation that the Irish would never score, even though they put some even more desperate pressure towards the end.
All-in-all, hardly a decent performance by Germany, but they got what they came for, along with a pint of Guiness...