A cruel end for Ireland's Kevin Kilbane

By James Dart, Sportinglife.com

You live by the penalty and die by the penalty.

For what had proved to be the Republic of Ireland's last-gasp salvation in normal time against Spain also proved to be the source of their ultimate, heartbreaking downfall.

It has been a true rollercoaster of a finals campaign for Mick McCarthy's team and crashing out of the World Cup in the cruellest way possible is just the final biggest twist of them all.

What began in scandal with the Roy Keane affair ended in glorious failure at the last-16 stage of the biggest tournament in world football.

Just to reach these finals was a monumental achievement from McCarthy and his charges, booking their spot in the Far East at the expense of world footballing superpower Holland.

And then to overcome the loss of their talismanic captain Keane by progressing from a tough group that included both Germany and Cameroon. Well, it was simply a supreme effort from the Irish.

Their colour and passion at these finals will be sorely missed. Only the two co-hosts have been able to rival them in these departments.

Again in Suwon on Sunday night, their loyal supporters packed the stadium, vastly outnumbering those from Spain, one of the tournament favourites.

And they were rewarded by yet another performance of true grit, of real emotion and persistence.

One that saw them shrug off the early blow of conceding a goal to Fernando Morientes and surge back into the game.

They won a penalty through the industrious Damien Duff. Regular taker Ian Harte would surely square matters moments later.

But he didn't. It has been a disappointing finals for the Leeds man, who was unable to score from the spot as his club manager David O'Leary had done at this stage of the World Cup in 1990.

Irish fans were Harte-broken.

Yet they still powered forward in their brave search for a goal, much as they had done in the group game with Germany.

Robbie Keane was the hero that day, getting on the end of a Niall Quinn knockdown to bag a last-gasp equaliser and create one of the moments of the finals.

And the same duo again came up trumps in Suwon.

Fernando Hierro decided to try and swap shirts with Quinn just moments before the final whistle inside the Spanish area, and Swedish referee Anders Frisk bravely - and correctly - pointed to the spot.

A nation held its breath and Keane his nerve, taking over the responsibility from the substituted Harte to place the ball into the corner of the net and send the game into golden goal extra time.

Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho, happy to bring off both Morientes and Raul to rest their legs as the clock ran down, was suddenly without his two star strikers for the next 30 minutes.

Irish tails were up and during a thrilling, if not always fluent, extra-time period, it was McCarthy's men who looked the more likely to score.

But before they knew it, the full-time whistle had arrived, heralding the start of the cruellest of tie breaks.

What followed was heartbreaking for the Irish. They didn't deserve to lose in this manner.

But fate - and Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas - conspired against them as Matt Holland, David Connolly and Kevin Kilbane all missed their 12-yard cues.

Nerves hit the Spaniards too, but as Gaizka Mendieta scuffed their decisive fifth penalty barely inches past the legs of Shay Given and into the net, the glory was theirs.

Just like that, the Republic were out. Spain lived to fight another day.

As will the Irish, you can count on that.

So raise your glass of Guinness, or whatever, to McCarthy and his brave boys. They deserve it.

***

We had earlier been treated to the first golden goal of these finals as Senegal dramatically overcame Sweden to become only the second African team in history to reach the last eight.

When FIFA first introduced the controversial concept of golden goals, this is how they would have wanted to see it used.

Level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, both sides immediately threw caution to the wind inside Oita's Big Eye Stadium in search of that decisive golden goal that would take them into the quarter-finals.

Firstly, El Hadji Diouf, proving why Liverpool look to have made a shrewd move in acquiring his services, came close with a left-footed effort, before Henrik Larsson and Anders Svensson combined to come close at the other end.

But then came a moment of sheer agony for the Swedes, as Svensson's delightful skill found him space in the penalty area, only to see his shot rebound off the top of the post.

Only inches from glory, but every one of them was made all the more painful minutes later when Henri Camara popped up to fire home and send the Senegalese wild with joy.

It was a golden goal, only the second to be scored in World Cup history, and one that gave Sweden no chance to hit back.

They are likely to add to the surprisingly-high number of FIFA officials that are growing increasingly critical of the concept.

But perhaps the way in which it was used to thrilling effect in Oita could yet extend its lifespan.

***

FIFA's catchingly-titled Technical Study Group are clearly having their judgement clouded by the sheer excitement of the finals.

As the panel who adjudicate over the identity of goalscorers in this tournament, they have now made two massive bloopers.

Firstly, they credited Brazilian striker Ronaldo with his team's first goal in the win over Costa Rica, despite replays clearly showing defender Luis Marin getting the decisive touch.

And now Rio Ferdinand has been awarded England's opening goal in their cruise against Denmark, despite hapless 'keeper Thomas Sorensen fumbling his header - that wasn't even travelling goalwards - into his own net.

"Own goals still exist but when in doubt we like to think positive and if it is 50-50 then we will go with the attacking player," says FIFA director of communications Keith Cooper.

Although it was good for Ferdinand to collect his first international goal, it wasn't even close as to deciding who scored.

And Cooper's explanation as to Ronaldo's 'goal' was even more baffling: "Ronaldo claimed it in the dressing room after the match quite vociferously."

So, what if goalkeeper Marcos said he wanted to have it after the game? Would the TSG award it to him?

I don't think so, but then again, FIFA never allow Ronaldo to take liberties in the World Cup finals, would they.

***

This issue also has massive ramifications in the betting industry, especially as this is becoming an event which is seeing more money wagered on it than any other in history.

Almost all, to their credit, have paid out on both Ferdinand and Michael Owen as the first goalscorer against Denmark, but further controversy arises in the golden boot market.

At the moment, Miroslav Klose tops the scoring charts. He was a 150/1 shot at the start of the finals, but is now as short as 5/2.

But any astute punter who bagged that opening massive price on the German will be less than happy to see Ronaldo just one goal adrift in the standings after his dubious strike.

They could be denied because FIFA want to encourage positive play and I don't think that the cash-strapped organisation will be compensating any unlucky punters should Klose miss out to Ronaldo.

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