He is usually the first to tee off in the 72-strong field and the crowd did not have to wait long to see him make progress. The world No 1 hit the flag on the 180-yard 12th, his third, and made the nine-footer. Quite why he changed to 4-5-1 was unfathomable, even if he defended the decision by saying that he was making use of the personnel available But that excuse wore thin.. Indeed, Italy could have been four or five goals ahead in that opening half and it was a distinct warning to Scotland, their next opponents.But, as well as they played, they were undoubtedly aided by Kerr's tactics. Maybe we should have been more compact."Given also admitted that Ireland had to "weather the storm" and had endured a "learning curve".
"But they [Italy] showed in that first half-hour what a good team they are and we also left ourselves a little bit open. It's definitely something we have to look." Such sloppiness is chipping away at confidence.Shay Given agreed and, although he rightly pointed out that the two Keanes, Roy and Robbie, were sorely missed, he also suggested that an ill-judged change in formation had also not worked "I think it took us time to get used to it," Given said. Then Ireland won on their way to the last World Cup although, interestingly, their then manager Mick McCarthy declined an invitation to play Italy in the run-up.His successor Brian Kerr embraced this fixture - indeed he declared he had personally arranged it with Italy's coach Marcello Lippi - but came in for some fearful criticism yesterday over his tactics. His hold on the job is slipping and it appears increasingly unlikely that Kerr, who saw a 17-match unbeaten run at Lansdowne Road end, will survive should Ireland fail to qualify.The deficiencies are clear "We need to tighten up We're giving away easy goals," Duff said "In the Israel game here it was exactly the same. Damien Duff, Ireland's talisman, and never one to shirk an honest response, was clear. "It's going to take a special performance," he said when asked about beating the French. "I'd be lying if I said otherwise." Duff went on to say that Ireland "have it in us" to produce such a display and already the memories of the compelling victory against the Netherlands four years ago are being recalled.
Certainly, as a rehearsal for next month's vital World Cup qualifier against a re-born France the 2-1 defeat did little to instil belief. We did not make that many changes today."We have to take the result on the chin as a squad rather than criticising anybody who came on.". There was so much doubt in the wake of the Republic of Ireland's comprehensive dismantling by Italy that it begged the question as to why Wednesday's friendly fixture was agreed in the first place. We know that we have fantastic quality in the team and in the squad and nobody wants to set those sorts of records. The fortunate thing about it is that it was a friendly and it was a kick up the arse for us in the extent [that] in two or three weeks' time we have two massive games to play It is not about the back-up players.