Ireland - Germany 0:0 (0:0)



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: 67,495

A 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...


Abseits Guide to German Soccer