The Irish Republic has lost 1-0 to a battling French side in their European Zone Group 4 clash in Dublin last night. This is the first match that the Republic have lost in the group stages of qualifying, and were unlucky to lose to a French side that, for long periods of the match, they dominated.

The game started at a frenetic pace, with the obvious intent of both teams to try and gain an early advantage. The match started, and continued throughout, as an end-to-end contest. Neither team had lost a match so far in Group 4 of the European qualifying zone, and it very much seemed that in this match at least, something had to give.

In the 8th minute Arsenal’s Thierry Henry was brought down outside the penalty area, with Zinedine Zidanes resulting free-kick forcing a brilliant save from Irelands keeper Shay Given.

The Irish had a free-kick ricochet off the post in the 14th minute from an almost identical position at the other end of the pitch. The French keeper was left stranded as the free-kick rebounded off the post and out to touch.

In the 16th minute Spur's striker Robbie Keane, from a lovely one-two with Clinton Morrison, came crashing down in the penalty area hoping for a penalty, but all pleas were waved away by the referee. Minutes later the Irish were again attacking the French goal with Morrison trying a nifty chip over the keeper, shooting just wide.

In one of the more positive Irish attack's in the first-half, Damien Duff made a long run down the wing, crossing the ball towards Morrisson, who left it for fellow striker Robbie Keane to play, but he mis-kicked the ball into touch, a bad miss from the experienced striker. For France, Sylvain Wiltord came close in the 24th minute, with a shot wide, after breaking through the Irish defence.

The 35th minute saw yet another Irish free-kick, played by Duff, with a short pass, only for the shot to be straight at the wall, and, as so many other chances from both sides, wasted.

Stephen Carr, and Kenny Cunningham were playing exceptionally well for the Republic, holding the determined trio of Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Zinedine Zidane at bay, and countering for the home side brilliantly.

The tackles were flying in left, right, and centre, and it wasnt long before the referee brought out his book. French full-back Willy Sagnol committed an awful tackle on Damien Duff, and received one of the early yellow cards. In doing so he misses the next qualifying match against Switzerland in October.

Minutes before half-time, Patrick Viera had a fantastic shot go flying wide from about 40 metres, with the Irish defence being caught out for the first time. The game went into the half-time break even at 0-0.

The second half started off exactly as the first had finished. Damien Duff had a shot deflected, that took the power off it, and it was easily saved by the French goalie Coupet. It was a very physical encounter, and with so many tackles flying in, the referee started letting the play go for advantage more and more to try and keep the momentum of the game, but with the cards still being flourished from time to time.

Neither team seemed to be having the incisive last pass, until, in the 8th minute of the second-half Thierry Henry broke the deadlock, scoring with a lovely shot that curled round Irish no.1 Shay Given, leaving the keeper stranded. 1-0 to France.

The Home team kept their heads up, and continued pressing down the wings, but, no matter what they tried, the Irish just could not find a way through the staunch French defence to finish off some lovely passing play, for what would have been a well earned equalizer, and have now lost their first game in Group 4.

The battle for a play-off spot is still well and truly on for the Irish, who, with the results going their way in the group, could still see themselves with a place in the finals.

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