GIVEN: No Joy as the R.Ireland Crash Out
By Matthew Jones
October 12 2003
Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given could not help the Republic of Ireland, as they crashed out of the Euro 2004 qualifiers loosing 2-0 to Switzerland in Basel.
Switzerland won 2-1 in Dublin a year ago in what was Mick McCarthy's final game charge and it looked like the Republic of Ireland would need a miracle if they still wanted to make it to Portugal.
It was Brian Kerr who took charge of the Republic back in February, and as his team went unbeaten in nice matches, threatened to pull off a micacle which would silence the critics.
A victory over the group leaders would have guaranteed at least a play-off place for Kerr's side, but instead they crashed to a first defeat under Kerr's management.
Kerr said: "We weren't good enough. I knew it was going to be a difficult task but the early goal made it a huge task."
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