Facing, in Brazil, one of the most formidable sides in the world with a full-time manager conducting affairs is tough enough. To do it without one presents a near-impossible task. Still, Ireland made a decent fist of it at Croke Park, staying competitive throughout their friendly match and losing only to a second-half goal from Robinho, the Real Madrid striker.
Ireland continue their tortuous search for a successor to Steve Staunton, who was dismissed in October, when their three-man selection panel meet Billy Davies, the former Derby County manager, in England tomorrow.
Giovanni Trapattoni seems to have ruled himself out. “I’ve seen and heard all this talk but that is all it is, talk and rumours,” the Red Bull Salzburg and former Italy coach, said. “No one has contacted me directly, nothing is concrete. My contract \ runs out in June so, until then, nothing will happen.”
Don Givens, the Ireland Under-21 manager, caretaker senior manager and selection panel chairman, could be excused for feeling confused. Wearing his caretaker hat, he said: “The new manager will inherit a good squad of lads. They are a joy to work with, he will be quite happy to see what we’ve got. It was a decent performance, given the quality of the opposition. We contained them for long periods and gave them problems.”
Wearing his hat as chairman of the selection panel, whose work he had said on Sunday should be concluded “within ten days”, he was less expansive. “I said that I would not speak about the process until the end of the week,” he said.
Advertisement
Little happened for a long time, apart from Liam Miller prompting a few gasps with his impression of a Brazilian when he skipped past three players on a mazy run. Robinho later showed Miller how to do it properly with a series of stepovers that had the vociferous Brazil fans in raptures.
Damien Duff, on his return to the side after 11 months out, sparkled in patches but failed to produce an end product. Kevin Doyle, for Ireland, headed over from a cross by Kevin Kilbane and Luís Fabiano, for Brazil, forced a fine save from Shay Given.
It was a marked improvement on the first period but Brazil always held the edge, with Robinho confirming the class divide in the 67th minute when guiding a low shot past Given. At least the new Ireland manager — whoever he is, whenever he is appointed — appears to have a good platform on which to start.
Ireland (4-4-2): S Given – S Kelly, R Dunne, J O’Shea, K Kilbane – D Duff, L Carsley, L Miller (sub: D Potter, 46min), A McGeady – K Doyle (sub: S Hunt, 72), R Keane. Substitutes not used: J Murphy, K Foley, S Long, P McShane, A Bruce, D Murphy, G Whelan. Booked: Kelly
Brazil (4-1-3-2): Julio C?sar – Leonardo Moura, Luisão, Alex, Richarlyson – Gilberto Silva – Diego (sub: Anderson, 78), Julio Baptista, Josu? (sub: Lucas Leiva, 83) – LuÍs Fabiano (sub: Rafinha, 85), Robinho. Substitutes not used: Rafael Sobis, Bobô, Renan, Breno, Naldo, Marcelo, Hernanes, Thiago Neves.
Advertisement
Referee: R Rogalla (Switzerland).