Sport
  /
 
Live - Republic of Ireland v Germany

Live - Republic of Ireland v Germany

Live - Republic of Ireland v Germany

IT Fri, Oct 12
 

Sort by:

  • Latest first
  • Oldest first
  • This event has now ended
  • 18:32
    Guten abend und herzlich willkommen.

    Oops, sorry about that. Good evening and welcome to The Irish Times’ live coverage of the key Group C World Cup qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Germany at the Aviva Stadium.

    My name is Emmet Riordan and I’ll be with you for the next 3 hours or so to bring you all the action for what is a daunting task for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side as they take on the number two side in the world.

    It’s certainly not been the best of weeks for the veteran manager, losing senior key players, culminating in skipper and record international goalscorer Robbie Keane to injury.

    It all means a much-changed Ireland starting XI and possibly a change in approach from Trap, who has slavishly depended on 4-4-2, with some exceptions, during his tenure as boss.

    It looks like he will play 5 in midfield tonight, with Stoke City striker Jon Walters getting the nod ahead of the in-form Shane Long for the lone frontman role.

    Here’s the full line-up

    Westwood; Coleman, O’Shea (Capt), O’Dea, Ward; Andrews, McCarthy, Fahey, McGeady, Cox; Walters.

    We’ll bring you the German line-up once it has been announced but there’s still over an hour until the match kicks-off so there’s plenty of time to catch up on the previews from this morning’s paper.

    Emmet Malone believes it will be a tough night for Trap’s young side in his match preview.

    Our soccer analyst Brian Kerr says he retains his “eternal optimism” but says the manager will have had to be very clear with his midfielders about how he wants them to play. Read his column here.

    Gavin Cummiskey spent some time with the Germans ahead of the game and his report of their build-up can be read here.

    And if you’re looking for a little something to take your mind off football, well Frank McNally decided that nationalmannschaft is the kind of word we could use here in Ireland. Read all about it in his Irishman’s Diary.


  • 18:38
    There are two other matches in Group C being played at the moment and an upset was on the cards in Tórshavn for a while after the Faroe Islands took a 1-0 lead at home to Sweden when Rogvi Baldvinsson opened the scoring after 57 minutes.

    But goals from sub Alex Kacaniklic and talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic have put the Swedes 2-1 up heading in to the final 10 minutes.
  • 18:40
    Kazakhstan are holding Austria to a 0-0 draw at the moment in Almaty.
  • 18:44
    A couple of World Cup qualifiers are completed, with Russia claiming a key 1-0 victory at home to Portugal in Group F thanks to a sixth-minute strike from Alexander Kerzhakov. 
  • 18:45
    It makes it 3 from 3 for Fabio Capello's side and they are now 3 points clear of Portugal.
  • 18:48

    The German line-up is in and they have gone with Reus in place of Podolski. It means Germany will have plenty of pace out wide, with Thomas Muller on the other wing. Miroslav Klose leads the line on his own.

    Germany: Neuer; Boateng, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Schmelzer; Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Müller, Özil, Reus; Klose.

     

  • 18:53
    Marcel Schmelzer has been named at left back, so it will be interesting to see if Aiden McGeady targets the 24-year-old Borussia Dortmund player.  
  • 18:55
    Klose makes his 125th appearance for Germany. He has scored an amazing 64 international goals, or one every 175 minutes. Hopefully he's at the start of that sequence tonight.  
  • 19:07
    Didi Hamann is on the sideline for RTÉ talking about trouble in the German camp, with talk of a rift between the Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund players in the aftermath of the European Championships.
  • 19:12
    Sweden have beaten the Faroe Islands 2-1, while Kazakhstan have drawn 0-0 at home to Austria, a result that will certainly help Ireland. 
  • 19:13
    So Sweden join Germany on 6 points from 2 games, with Ireland in third on 3 points after the win away to Kazakhstan.
  • 19:16
    Of course under the new rules, Ireland have named 11 players on the bench, including youngsters Robbie Brady and Conor Clifford. Germany have named 7 players on their bench, inclusing Podolski.  
  • 19:21
    Bill O'Herlihy says it's the biggest night for Irish football in years, obviously having had successful treatment for the trauma of the summer's European Championships. 
  • 19:23
  • 19:24
    So with just 20 minutes to kick-off we'd like to hear your predictions for tonight's match. You can can use the question or comment thing-a-me at the bottom of the blog. 
  • 19:24
  • 19:24
    Eamon Dunphy is up for a row and is challenging Liam Brady at every turn. Could be an interesting night.
  • 19:27
    The panel are pointing out the flaws in Mertesacker's defending, and there are one ot two.
  • 19:29
  • 19:38
    Liam Brady reckons Ireland have an outside chance of a draw, but the rest of the panel are not too confident.
  • 19:41
    Paul McGrath in the crowd tonight, looking fit enough to line out.
  • 19:42
  • 19:42
    Captains are doing their Fair Play bit for Fifa. There'll be no diving then I take it.  
  • 19:42
  • 19:43
    Interesting take on the German national anthem, as it's played by a pipe band from Mayo.
  • 19:43
    It's the Clew Bay Pipe Band to be precise and they were spot on.
  • 19:44
    Guest Just wondered, is anyone else having trouble with the RTE player (flickering pinwheel, staccato images etc.)?
  • 19:48

    Now a minute's applause for James Nolan, the young Republic of Ireland supporter who lost his life in Poland during the European Championships.

  • 19:48
    And we are about to get going here.
  • 19:48
    Ireland to kick-off
  • 19:49
  • 19:49
    Walters clattered and a free to Ireland.
  • 19:49
  • 19:50

    And Ireland are looking for a corner after Ward's cross hit Boateng. Ref gives kick out. 

  • 19:51

    Cox is on the left, with Fahey looking like he will shadow the dangerous Ozil. 

  • 19:52
    Walters does well from Westwood's kick out and wins ball but Andrews's shot is poor.
  • 19:54
    McGeady and Walters combine well but nothing comes of the move.
  • 19:55
    Coleman is caught in possession well up the pitch and Germany attack down the left.
  • 19:55
    And Ward gives away the corner, Germany's first.
  • 19:56
    Mertesacker fouls Walters, who is putting himself about a bit here in the opening minutes.
  • 19:57
    Fahey's free-kick evades everybody and runs out for a goal-kick.
  • 19:59
    Walters just offside as Ireland break quickly from defence. A very open game at the moment.
  • 20:00
    Walters wins yet another ball and he's certainly justifying his selection so far. Need to do more with the ball he is winning though.
  • 20:01
    Supporting wide players need to get closer to Walters and run off his breaking ball.
  • 20:02

    McGeady will relish running at Schmelzer also, so the right-hand side looks promising for Ireland.

  • 20:04
    Ireland falling a bit deep here and letting Ozil start to pick his passes.
  • 20:05
    Walters is running around like a 3-year-old after eating a jumbo bag of skittles, certainly looks like Long will get a run after an hour if he keeps up this intensity.
  • 20:07
    Coleman's positioning is not what it should be and Reus is getting a lot of room on the left-wing at present.
  • 20:08
    Guest The gap between your live blog & the RTE stream is now about 2 & a half mins. At first I thought you had a disappointing sort of superpower allowing you to see the very very near future.
  • 20:09
    Germany really getting their passing game going here and the pressure is all on the home side.
  • 20:10
    Neuer plays sweeper and heads clear from the advancing Walters.
  • 20:11
    This will be a very long night for Ireland if they keep this line so deep. Ronnie Whelan believes it might be a plan, but it's a risky one.
  • 20:12
    Ireland move the line up and Germany pass it in behind them. Their movement in the middle of the park is very good.
  • 20:14
    If Ireland are playing a counter-attacking game, they need to move up the field with greater pace and determination.
  • 20:15
    Cox gives the ball away far too easy after good work again from Walters.
  • 20:16
    Ward blocks a long-range effort from Khedira and the resulting corner is cleared.
  • 20:18
    Badstuber waltzing around in the Ireland half and Germany swiching the ball around from side to side. Haven't found the killer pass yet.
  • 20:18
  • 20:18

    Reus is booked for diving after challenge from John O'Shea.

  • 20:19
    And it was a penalty after O'Shea pulled the midfielder down. Gracie Nicola Rizzola, the Italian referee.
  • 20:20
    John wow, close one
  • 20:20
    And Reus gets his own back as he opens the scoring in the 32nd minute.
  • 20:21
    Aiden McGeady let Schmelzer in behind him and ball breaks to Reus who finishes well past Westwood.
  • 20:22
    john soft goal
  • 20:24
    Eoin Hey, would you mind lengthening the gap between your reports & the RTE stream. (Another minute would do it.) Was thinking of placing a few bets...
  • 20:24
    Don't worry Eoin, I'll slow down in the second half.
  • 20:26
    The Mac Attack One pound on the lads getting anything out if this would, unfortunately get you a few hundred...
  • 20:27
    We saw a bit of Reus at the Euros and he looks a cracking young player, causing all sorts of problems for Ireland.
  • 20:27
    Germany have had 98 per cent possession in the last 5 minutes. Phew!
  • 20:28
    GOAL - And it's Reus again after a flowing counter-attack. Great finish with his left-foot.
  • 20:29
    He had far too much time there to get his shot away.
  • 20:30
    It's the 23-year-old's 5th goal in just his 12th international. The Borussia Dortmund player looks like being a real star in the making.  
  • 20:31
    Rosser Maybe we shouldn't turn up for the away game & therefore only lose 3 nil
  • 20:34
    After a promising start, this match has been all about German class against a very limited Ireland side. Reus has been their star with two goals, and he looks like he will get a hat-trick if he remains on the pitch in the second half. Trap has some work to do in the dressingroom at half-time to turn this game around.   
  • 20:40
    Eoin Don't worry folks, Shane Long'll have plenty of time to turn it around when he's introduced in the 79th minute.
  • 20:41
    Rosser Guess we should start looking at young German footballer's family trees for any old Irish link. They're blessed with talent.
  • 20:42
    Eamon Dunphy believes Cox is lost on the left wing and you can't argue with that. Maybe Trap wil throw on Robbie Brady as he's got nothing to lose.
  • 20:43
    All doom and gloom in the studio and in fairness it's hard to blame them.
  • 20:44
    Shane Long should also come on sooner rather than later. Walters has run his legs to stumps but lost effectiveness as the half wore on. The midfield trio of McCarthy, Fahey and Andrews have been chasing shadows against Khedira and Ozil in the middle of the park and Reus has been allowed the freedom of the Aviva.
  • 20:45
    David Coleman not doing himself any favours? Reus doing a lot of damage down his side.
  • 20:46
    I agree David, he could bring Kelly on at right back and move Coleman in to right midfield, with McGeady switching over to the left to take over from Cox. 
  • 20:47
    Didi Hamann says there will be no let-up from the Germans and that his side will score some more goals.
  • 20:49
    Brady would being on Wilson and Clark on and give them some experience and that the game is a write-off. Good Lord.
  • 20:50
    Germany look set for a change as Toni Kroos strips off to replace Khedira.
  • 20:50
    No changes from Ireland.
  • 20:53
    Reus's free-kick just evades Klose at the post as the German fans find their voice.
  • 20:54
    And the Irish reply with a chorus of 'Come on you Boys in Green'
  • 20:55
    positivethinking I am here with 6 German's at work in German. Come on Ireland make my day with a GOAL!!!
  • 20:56
    Corner to Ireland as Walters forces Badstuber to head behind for a corner.
  • 20:56
    And Shane Long is on to replace Keith Fahey.
  • 20:57
    Free-kick for Ireland and getting some momentum here.
  • 20:58
    Mcgeady's free-kick is headed goalwards by Walters but Neuer gathers easily.
  • 20:58
    We're back to 4-4-2.
  • 20:59
    PENALTY FOR GERMANY - Darren O'Dea fouls Klose
  • 20:59
    And Ozil to take.
  • 21:00
    GOAL - Ozil lets Westwood move and slots home with his left foot. Really silly challenge from O'Dea for the penalty and any hope of a point is gone.
  • 21:02
    No yellow card for O'Dea and he stays on the pitch after a booking at the start of the second half.
  • 21:02
    Eoin If only we had defenders who started regularly at a higher professional level - wait, hang on...
  • 21:03
    We started the game thinking Schmelzer might be vulnerable at left-back. Boe he's dancing down the left wing.
  • 21:03
    GOAL - Klose slots home Germany's fourth and this is a massacre
  • 21:04
    Westwood tried to come out and challenge the striker but he slots the ball home from a tight angle.
  • 21:04
    His 65th goal and he's now just 3 goals behind Gerd Muller's German record.
  • 21:05
    David Grim stuff. Even grimmer than those Grimm brothers from Hanau, Germany. The myth that Trapp has made us hard to beat must now be completely dispensed with. The next question is: If he doesnt give us that, then what does he give us?
  • 21:05
    They are attacking at will now and Ronnie Whelan believes it could be 6 or 7 here.
  • 21:06
    Desperate last-ditch tackle from O'Dea to deny Muller.
  • 21:06
    Guest Ugggh, what a joke!!
  • 21:07
    GOAL - AND THAT'S 5 as sub Kroos slams a beauty of a volley home with his left. 
  • 21:08
    We could be watching the end of the Trapattoni era here, very hard to see where this team is going now.
  • 21:12
    And Reus leaves the field to be replaced by Podolski. Two goals and his boy band quiff isn't even ruffled. Ridiculous carry on.
  • 21:14

    Andy Keogh comes on for Aiden McGeady

  • 21:15
    The game is gone into a lull now and that's lucky for Ireland.
  • 21:16
    This reminds me of the defeat to Denmark back in the 80s in the old Lansdowne Road. Outclassed all over the pitch.
  • 21:17
    André Schürrle of Bayer Leverkusen replaces Klose.
  • 21:18
    This is Ireland's heaviest ever home defeat.
  • 21:20
    Andrews has a pot-shot from outside the box but he skews it well wide. Sums up the night.
  • 21:21
    Ireland leaked 5 goals against Spain back in 1931 at Dalymount Park.
  • 21:21
    "Where do we go from here," says a forlorn Ronnie Whelan.
  • 21:23
    Yellow card for Long as he clips the heels of Kroos.
  • 21:23
    Robbie Brady is warming up here, so we might have one bright note. What a game to make your compeitive debut in though.
  • 21:24

    Gareth Bale has equalised for Wales from the penalty spot against Wales in Cardiff. 1-1

  • 21:25
    10 minutes to go at the Aviva and it's a morgue-like atmosphere I'm afraid.
  • 21:26
    Intensity has gone out of the German play and you can't blame them. They have a big game at home to Sweden on Tuesday.
  • 21:27
    Ireland head to the Faroes and a game that will seem a whole lot tougher after this performance.
  • 21:28
    GOAL - So much for saving themselves as Kroos fires home a screamer.
  • 21:28
    And Brady replaces Cox.
  • 21:29
    Now offically the worst ever performance at home for Ireland. 
  • 21:30
    It's like a game of attackers versus defenders in the school yard here. Soul destroying for the supporters.
  • 21:32
    We lost a competitive tie 6-0 away to Austria and lost 7-0 in Brazil in a friendly.  
  • 21:32
    There's a bell ringing in the crowd, is it toiling for Trapattoni?
  • 21:34
    Ronnie Whelan has given Jon Walters the man of the match. Unless he has to give it to an Irish player, that is ridiculous.  
  • 21:35
    "Atrocious" and "not acceptable" says Whelan as the crowd depart Aviva early.
  • 21:36
    Players have to take a lot of the blame too, bar Walters valiant efforts, nobody has shown anything here.
  • 21:37
    Keogh forces Neuer into a cracking save in injury time.
  • 21:37
    GOAL- Consolation of consolations as Keogh heads home a fine corner from Robbie Brady.
  • 21:39
    And it's probably saved a chorus of boos as the crowd at least get a goal and it's not the worst home defeat. Whelan describes it as the worst performance he's ever witness from an Ireland team.
  • 21:39
    German team go down to the Havelock Square end to salute their fans.
  • 21:41
    "Horrible" and "abysmal" says Dunphy. "This isn't Ireland, this isn't us." he adds.
  • 21:44

    There's not much more we can add to that, so good night and let's hope we wake up in the morning and realise it was all a bad dream.