Result: Republic of Ireland 0 Switzerland 0
90 mins: Given pumps it forward, but the full-time whistle blows, and Ireland are out. Switzerland go on to the play-offs behind group winners France, who are 4-0 up on Cyprus. Ireland gave it their all - no complaints about the spirit of the performance tonight, but Ireland just didn't create enough clear-cut chances against a well-organised and determined Swiss side, for whom Senderos was a rock in defence.
90 mins: Into the final minute and Cabanas smashes the free-kick into the stands. Seconds to go now.
90 mins: Ninety seconds to go as Given aims another long clearance, but it comes back and Cunningham fouls Wicky.
90 mins: There will be a minimum of two minutes of injury time.
90 mins: Into the last minute and Carr hits the ball long towards Doherty, but he's penalised for backing into Muller.
89 mins: The corner is well flicked on and there's chaos in the Swiss defence, but eventually they get a free-kick and survive another iffy moment.
88 mins: Streller clears the corner with Zuberbuhler floundering.
88 mins: Wicky does well to head behind for a corner under pressure from Elliott and Doherty.
87 mins: Last throw of the dice for Ireland as Gary Doherty replaces Morrison.
87 mins: Reid finds Carr, but his cross is cleared. Streller looks to start a break but Dunne stops him in his tracks, a clear foul.
86 mins: One half of the ground think Barnetta has given Switzerland the lead after a quick break, but it's into the side netting. That sort of break is inevitable now as Ireland pour forward.
85 mins: Reid goes close from a tight angle, forcing Zuberbuhler to make the save.
84 mins: O'Shea flicks it on, and it's desperate defending from the Swiss.
84 mins: Reid skips past Magnin who scythes him down. Should have been a booking, but it's a promising free-kick for Ireland.
82 mins: Magnin is down injured, looks like a rib injury. The crowd aren't happy, but I think Stephen Reid did just catch him there.
81 mins: Shay Given the hero again for Ireland. Frei finds himself clean through on goal, but Given spreads himself and makes a world-class save. Seconds later, Morrison is inches away from getting on the end of Stephen Reid's cross.
80 mins: Ireland make a second substitution - Reid for Reid; Stephen for Andy.
79 mins: Magnin does brilliantly down the left, and whips in a fantastic cross. Frei is flying in at the far post and is inches away from giving the Swiss the lead.
78 mins: Degen goes down under no pressure as the corner comes in. The ref buys it and gives a Switzerland free-kick.
78 mins: Kilbane is able to force a corner. Big chance for the Irish.
77 mins: Magnin shoots, but it's tame and straight at Given who makes a comfortable save. Given immediately releases Kilbane who is hacked down by Magnin.
76 mins: Cunningham fouls Streller thirty yards from goal, and the Swiss will take their time over this.
76 mins: Lovely ball from Carr finds Elliott on the right, but Elliott is penalised for tugging back Megnin.
75 mins: O'Shea heads the ball on. Elliott is sniffing around, but the bounce is awkward for him and he can't get the ball under control.
74 mins: Switzerland look to be clear through Wicky, but the ref pulls play back for an earlier handball by Frei.
73 mins: Barnetta crosses low across the face of the Irish goal, but Carr clears with Wicky lurking dangerously.
72 mins: Harte wastes a free-kick when there was the chance to put pressure on the Swiss defence.
71 mins: Reid crosses from the right looking for O'Shea in space, but he completely misses his header. He could probably have controlled that ball, he was in so much space. Only twenty minutes left for Ireland to save their World Cup campaign. One goal would do it.
70 mins: Ironic cheers from the crowd as Morrison wins a free-kick off Senderos.
69 mins: The free-kick is just too high for Kilbane and goes out for a goal-kick.
69 mins: Dunne and Streller clash. Ref Merk just tries to calm things down.
68 mins: Stephen Elliott is coming on, replacing Keane. Kerr hoping fresh legs can make the difference.
67 mins: Wicky finds Frei, but Frei couldn't quite take it in his stride. The game is getting stretched now.
66 mins: It looks like Saturday's goalscorer Stephen Elliott is about to come on.
65 mins: Dunne hits a long free-kick. O'Shea arrives at the back post after a misjudgement by Senderos, but, stretching, O'Shea can't keep his shot down.
64 mins: Good low cross from Barnetta looking for Streller who can't control his shot. The big lad Streller has certainly made a difference though.
63 mins: Barnetta tries to play in Streller, who falls theatrically in the area. Referee Merk is unimpressed.
62 mins: Degen crosses from the right, and this time Dunne nods back to the keeper under pressure from Streller.
61 mins: Keane digs out a cross but Vogel does well to nod it back to Zuberbuhler.
60 mins: Driving run from Kilbane down the left, but his cross is headed clear by Muller. Ireland are well on top just at the moment.
59 mins: Harte's corner is well-directed. Kilbane wins the header, but it's straight at the keeper.
58 mins: Good burst from Dunne, unfairly ended by Wicky. Wicky is booked and will now miss the first leg of a play-off if the Swiss make it.
58 mins: The Swiss are definitely playing a lot more direct football since Streller joined Frei up front.
57 mins: Good run from Degen. He tries to play in Frei, but Dunne makes the interception despite losing his footing.
56 mins: Streller wins a flick-on, and Cabanas sweetly strikes a volley but Carr makes the block.
55 mins: Looks like two upfront for Switzerland, with Streller joining Frei.
55 mins: Morrison holds the ball up brilliantly. He finds Reid who slips the ball in for Keane but the ball just runs away from him for a goal-kick.
54 mins: Holland crosses from the right, but again Senderos is on hand to clear.
53 mins: Marco Streller replaces Vonlanthen for Switzerland.
53 mins: Carr's cross is met by a spectacular overhead kick by Keane, but he gets no control on the ball and it sails high over the bar.
52 mins: Senderos wins another free-kick, this time from Keane after it looked like the Spurs man won the ball. Switzerland then take an eternity over the kick, much to the crowd's obvious and vocal displeasure.
51 mins: Senderos grabs Morrison as the ball comes in, but astonishingly it's Morrison who is penalised. Morrison is getting very irked now.
50 mins: Good link-up between Harte and Kilbane. Harte's cross goes to the back post when all the Irish players were attacking the front stick. Shame.
49 mins: Reid finds space for a cross, but Senderos makes the clearance.
49 mins: Morrison is penalised for handball much to his obvious annoyance.
48 mins: At the moment a Swiss win would see them top the group, but that could change if France continue to score freely against Cyprus. Will the Swiss go for the win or settle for a draw?
47 mins: O'Shea wins the header from a lovely Harte ball in, but it sails over the bar.
46 mins: O'Shea wins a free-kick. Harte will look to swing this in.
46 mins: Ireland get the second half underway.
45 mins: Merk blows the half-time whistle. Ireland are very much in this game, but at the moment it's Switzerland who are heading for the play-offs. Indeed, the Swiss had the best chance of the first half, Frei spurning the sort of opportunity he normally takes with such aplomb, placing a free header from six yards just the right side of Shay Given's post as far as the Irish are concerned. Harte had Ireland's best chacne, heading wide from Reid's corner.
45 mins: It's 3-0 to France now and that means Ireland are certainly not going to win the group, and means Israel look sure to miss out despite being unbeaten. But any win would see Kerr's boys in the play-offs at the expense of the Swiss.
45 mins: Reid picks out Keane, but the ball takes Keane wide. He tries to find Holland, but Vogel nips in to snuff out the chance. One minute of injury time to be played.
45 mins: Kilbane's cross is easily claimed by Zuberbuhler.
43 mins: Morrison is again penalised for backing into Senderos. Morrison is getting increasingly frustrated with the referee.
42 mins: Reid's cross is blocked by Wicky. Dunne plays the ball back in where Kilbane heads down to Kerane, but Senderos closes him down quickly to smother the chance. The ball just wouldn't come down quickly enough for Keane.
41 mins: Vonlanthen looks to find Barnetta who had beaten the Irish offside trap, but the ball just runs through to Given.
40 mins: Good ball from Barnetta to Cabanas, but Vonlanthen is just offside.
39 mins: Keane does brilliantly to win the ball in two challenges, but Holland's pass is too far ahead of Kilbane and goes out of play for a throw.
37 mins: Cunningham's strong header almost plays in Kilbane down the left, but the touchline just arrives too fast. Switzerland Throw.
36 mins: Carr looks for Keane. It clears him and falls to Kilbane, whose cross is headed clear. Ireland are quick to win the ball back through Carr, but nothing comes of the chance.
35 mins: Morrison battles away down the right to win a throw. Carr's cross is headed clear by Muller.
34 mins: Wiltord has added a second for France. Ireland still need a win to secure a play-off spot though. As it stands, Ireland are fourth.
33 mins: The lively Degen looks to release Frei, but this time he is offside.
32 mins: Harte drives the ball into the box and Senderos just prevents the ball from reaching Morrison.
32 mins: France lead against Cyprus through Zinedine Zidane. As things stand, France would go therough and Switzerland would be in the play-offs.
31 mins: Let-off for Ireland. Barnetta finds Degen, whose cross finds the head of Frei, unmarked and six yards out. But the striker heads wide when it was surely easier to score.
30 mins: Good work from Morrison, nipping in between Senderos and Muller. He finds Kilbane, who crosses just behind Reid.
30 mins: Barnetta's free-kick is poor, straight into the arms of Given.
29 mins: Carr is penalised for a foul on Magnin. Reid's complaining again and would be well advised to keep his mouth shut.
28 mins: Good passing move from the Swiss eventually fizzles out with an overhit cross from Wicky.
26 mins: Scary moment for Reid. Having already been booked he lunges in studs up on Vogel and could easily have got a second yellow card. Just a free-kick though.
25 mins: Zuberbuhler's bad kick goes straight to Robbie Keane, but the Spurs striker is quickly surrounded by defenders and the chance is gone.
24 mins: Degen tries to get a cross in from the right, but O'Shea is strong and holds him off, eventually winning an Irish free-kick.
24 mins: Keane tries to break clear but is penalised for handball. Reid must have said something to the referee as he's also now been booked.
23 mins: Vonlanthen beats Dunne to a ball down the left and is fouled by the centre-back. Dunne earns the first booking of the evening.
22 mins: Carr looks for Keane, forcing the Swiss keeper to come and head clear outside his box.
21 mins: Good run from Harte down the left. His cross clears the box and falls to Reid, but his cross is a poor one.
21 mins: Tenacious defending from Robbie Keane of all people earns a goal-kick.
20 mins: Barnetta almost releases Frei, but Carr clears. The ball falls to Cabanas whose shot is blocked by Holland. Corner.
19 mins: Reid crosses from the right, but Zuberbuhler makes a good catch.
19 mins: Morrison is fouled by Muller on the halfway line, to the delight of the Irish crowd who felt he should have had a penalty decision moments earlier.
18 mins: The ref blows for a foul in the box as Reid takes the corner.
17 mins: Keane's cross is deflected behind for a corner. Good spell for Ireland, and the crowd are getting right behind them.
16 mins: Morrison, who has just come back on the field, tries to run onto O'Shea's long ball. He goes to ground among huge roars for a penalty. German ref Markus Merk has none of it. Senderos is lucky to get the benefit of the doubt there.
15 mins: The game continues with Ireland temporarily down to 10 men.
14 mins: A long delay as Morrison is helped from the field. He's clutching his shoulder as well now, and this doesn't look good for the Irish.
13 mins: Keane flicks the ball on towards Morison who is offside and gets a boot on the wrist from Senderos for good measure. He looks in a bit of pain here.
13 mins: Reid crosses in from the right, but Kilbane is penalised by the German referee for holding down Degen.
12 mins: Switzerland again look long, trying to release Vonlanthen but he's run just offside.
11 mins: Cabanas wastes the free-kick, hitting it straight out for a goal-kick.
10 mins: Wicky cuts in from the left and is caught by Reid. Another free-kick to Switzerland who are coming in to the game more and more.
9 mins: Harsh free-kick given against Morrison for backing in to Senderos.
9 mins: Magnin sweeps the free-kick in low and Dunne clears for a throw.
8 mins: Cabanas finds Degen with a beautiful long, crossfield ball and Kilbane trips Degen. Lucky not to pick up a booking there.
7 mins: Vonlanthen embarks on a mazy run, but Carr wins the ball and passes calmly back to Given.
6 mins: Carr loses the ball to Frei in a dangerous area, but Dunne is on hand to bail out the right-back.
5 mins: Magnin looks long for Vonlanthen, but it's easy for Given, the Irish keeper who is on a run of four consecutive clean sheets for club and country.
4 mins: Harte swings in a free-kick from the left looking for Kilbane, but the ball is just too high and Kilbane is unable to direct his header back across goal.
3 mins: Reid penalised for a foul on Magnin. Ireland have come out firing here, as Brian Kerr promised they would. Remember, Ireland must win tonight, while a draw should net Switzerland a play-off.
2 mins: Great chance from the corner for Ian Harte. Reid's corner found Harte unmarked eight yards out, but Harte heads wide.
1 mins: Blistering start from Ireland. Robbie Keane bursts into the area, where he goes down and appeals for a penalty. The ball breaks to Andy Reid who forces a corner.
1 mins: Switzerland get this crucial World Cup qualifier under way.
Pre-match: Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr chooses to gamble with his side's World
Cup hopes - and his own future - on the line.
Kerr switches John O'Shea from left-back to central midfield, with the
Manchester United star starting for the first time for Ireland in that position
and in a game they need to win to guarantee themselves a play-off place.
In an all-new pairing at the heart of the midfield, O'Shea is joined by Matt
Holland, who impressed with his steadying influence in the 1-0 win over
Cyprus on Saturday after coming on as a half-time substitute.
Andy Reid, after serving a one-match suspension in Cyprus, is recalled to the
right wing, with Kevin Kilbane on the left in the absence of the injured Damien
Duff.
With O'Shea moved up, Ian Harte comes in at left-back, with the last of four
changes being Clinton Morrison starting ahead of Stephen Elliott in attack after
also completing a one-match ban.
In contrast, Switzerland are unchanged following their 1-1 draw against
France at the weekend.
Teams:
Rep of Ireland: Given, Carr, Dunne, Cunningham, Harte,
Andy Reid, O'Shea, Holland, Kilbane, Morrison, Robbie Keane.
Subs:
O'Brien, Steven Reid, Finnan, Kavanagh, Kenny, Elliott, Doherty.
Switzerland: Zuberbuhler, Degen, Senderos, Muller, Magnin,
Vogel, Barnetta, Wicky, Cabanas, Vonlanthen, Frei.
Subs:
Streller, Huggel, Spycher, Coltorti, Smiljanic, Behrami, Gygax.
Referee: Markus Merk (Otterbach)
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook