Four years ago, Thierry Henry's genius separated Ireland and France. It was an indication of the decline of the French side that last night at Croke Park, they needed a deflection from a Nicolas Anelka shot to beat Ireland. But the result, as Giovanni Trapattoni would acknowledge, is just the same.

Ireland have an unlikely shot at salvation in Paris on Wednesday night but they will need to hope that this French side is even more casual than they were last night. They will also need a creative spark.

At times, Ireland believed. They played with the heart Trapattoni has rediscovered and there were glimpses of brilliance from Damien Duff. Kevin Doyle was immense as were the defenders and Liam Lawrence and Robbie Keane. But it was not enough.

We have become so accustomed to Trap's ways that his decision not to name his full side 24 hours before kick-off on Friday caused anxiety. Usually, Trapattoni casually breezes through his side the day before the game. But his hesitation in choosing between Liam Lawrence and Aiden McGeady had to be analysed. Was he worried? Were there problems in the camp?

An hour before kick-off, Lawrence, as expected, was in the side and McGeady, as Trapattoni had suggested, would be used later.

The problems appeared to be in the French camp with the stories percolating down about a fight between Thierry Henry and Raymond Domenech in the team hotel yesterday morning. But Henry was in the side and that was enough to cause concern.

Duff was the man who made an early block and caused the crowd to roar but France then began to keep the ball.

Ireland under Trapattoni will always let the opposition have the ball, but the retreat suggested that the team at least wouldn't be trying to win it or lose it in one night.

Ireland were looking for free-kicks in dangerous areas and became frustrated when the referee wouldn't give them. They were grateful to his linesman in the 11th minute when Andre-Pierre Gignac chased on to a ball Richard Dunne had let bounce over his head. Gignac swept the ball elegantly over Shay Given into the Irish net but the flag had gone up for offside.

France's key men appeared relaxed, catatonically so at times, even if the two Diarras in midfield were sloppy and from one loose ball Ireland broke and Doyle drove in a cross which took a deflection before Hugo Lloris gathered and the home crowd hailed it as if it was a chance.

Anelka prowled on the right, earning another French corner as he drifted around the Irish defence. It was a reminder that, after 20 minutes, Ireland hadn't won a corner or had a set-piece to test France.

They would need to spend time in France's half to do that and the long balls Ireland used weren't a battering ram but a boomerang. After 25 minutes, one free-kick kept going forward. Doyle, running his legs into stumps, beat Alou Diarra in the air and William Gallas was the wrong side of Keane who couldn't control the ball as Lloris ran out. The ball fell to Lawrence who seemed certain to score but Patrice Evra did well to get around and put him off. Lawrence screamed for a corner.

Ireland took confidence from it and broke again in the 31st minute. Keane found Doyle on the left but the opportunity seemed to be lost as there were no options in the box. But Doyle picked out Keith Andrews, he took a touch but curled his shot just wide.

Andrews' next contribution was more alarming when he tried to clear a French attack but ran back into trouble in his own box, colliding with Richard Dunne who was going the other way. The ball broke to Henry but his snap-shot went harmlessly wide.

France finally had to defend a corner in the 41st minute but that too couldn't survive the weight of expectation and it drifted over all the big men in the box and was collected by Duff on the far wing and petered out.

Ireland were happy with things petering out, especially, apart from the occasional intervention from Anelka, France's big players had faded away as the first half ended.

Keane was wrongly flagged for offside as the French played a risky offside trap, but no Irish fan thought it was as risky as the sight of Kevin Kilbane trying to outrun Anelka. He managed it which was perhaps another sign of growing Irish confidence.

Duff then turned the clock back with a swivel which had Sagna wondering what day as well as what year it was. Duff's cross deflected for a corner and this time Dunne won a header which ended up at the feet of John O'Shea who scuffed his shot. Keane tried a bicycle kick and the scramble saw the ball fly wide but Keane, once more, was flagged offside.

France rose reluctantly into life with Lassana Diarra and Anelka firing long-range shots, but Ireland's industry was set by the effort of Lawrence, Doyle and the entire back four.

Just after the hour, France clicked, exchanging passes on the edge of the box but Gignac was unlucky to be given offside as Given tipped his header over.

Liam Brady had hoped for a strong official and when Evra chased a flick-on, the ref was not strong but favoured Ireland. Given rushed out as the ball flew past. Evra threw himself into the 'keeper but there was also contact. The phrase "I've seen them given" only hints at the history of Irish teams in these moments.

Minutes later, it didn't seem to matter. Doyle, Ireland's best player, had been replaced by Leon Best and Ireland hadn't settled when Lassa Diarra came forward. He fed Yoann Gourcuff who flicked the ball to Anelka. He took another speculative shot but the gamble worked. The ball deflected off Sean St Ledger, clipped off the post and beat Given.

Ireland began to chase the game even if Trapattoni might have preferred if they didn't. He took Duff off even though Lawrence looked shattered and McGeady was asked to create something.

Before that could happen, Ireland needed some calm. Instead, they found themselves in another mess when Kilbane left a back-pass short and Given had to block an Henry chance. The ball flew to Gignac who, with an empty net and the chance to secure qualification, sliced it embarrassingly wide. It was an indication of this French side's limitations but Ireland had to contend with their own.

There was one final chance when Best broke, found Keane but his flick was a tired one and even though it eventually reached Glenn Whelan, Lloris was out to smother the ball. Now they require the remarkable.

Sunday Independent