Ireland won their final qualifier at the Aviva Stadium, but apart from the contributions of a couple of players and a belter of a goal from the visitors, there wasn’t a whole lot for the sparse crowd to get excited about. Here’s how we thought the Irish players fared.
David Forde 6
Considering his brilliant performance in adversity against Germany, Forde deserved the breather afforded to him by the shot-shy Kazakhs this evening. Nobody in the world would have stopped the Kazakhstan goal and he will have been delighted to see their only other effort of note skip wide midway through the second half.
Seamus Coleman 6
Looked his usual lively self down the right flank in an attacking sense, but he won’t want to see his contribution to the Kazakhstan goal again, as he was at fault with a dramatic airshot immediately before Shomko’s strike.
Richard Dunne 6
One of a number of defenders that didn’t cover themselves in glory for Kazakhstan’s goal and there were a couple of occasions in the first half when the Irish defence looked distinctly dodgy in the face of precious little pressure. Not quite back to his commanding best but getting close to it and still our best centre-half by a distance.
John O’Shea 7
As George Hamilton said, what’s rare is wonderful and just like his timely goal for Manchester United at Anfield a few years back, O’Shea wasn’t found wanting when opportunity presented itself from a yard out. Apart from that, he had damn all to do at the back all evening, a welcome development in light of some difficult outings in a green jersey of late.
Marc Wilson 6
Much more at home at left back than he was in midfield against Cologne and seems far more at ease at least trying to play the ball to feet rather than the long balls from that position we were accustomed to seeing under the previous manager. A pretty uneventful night overall.
Darron Gibson 5
The Everton midfielder had been solid if not spectacular before his night was ended prematurely with a nasty looking knee injury half an hour in. As a result, we still haven’t seen what he can do since his return but hopefully it won’t be long until he’s back in a green jersey because there’s a starting central midfield spot there for the taking.
James McCarthy 7
A few nice touches here and there and a slightly better than decent performance overall but we know from seeing him at club level and away to Sweden earlier in the campaign that McCarthy has the ability to dominate a game in central midfield. There will be far more important games on which to judge him than a virtual dead rubber like tonight.
Andy Reid 8
Well, it was great to see him back and it would have been even better had he played more of the game a little deeper than up alongside Robbie Keane for most of the first half. Looked the most dangerous player in possession and delivered a number of dangerous balls, including those that led to the first two Irish goals. Should be happy with his night’s work.
Kevin Doyle 4
As was the case in Germany, Doyle looked a little lost while played out of position out wide, as was in evidence when he let his man inside for a chance that nearly led to a Kazakhstan goal in the second half. Looked like he might get in for a goal from crosses to the back stick on a few occasions but that was about it from an attacking point of view.
Anthony Stokes 6
Like Doyle, he didn’t look particularly comfortable in a wide position and every time he got into a threatening position, he cut in on his right foot and missed the chance to deliver a dangerous first-time ball that a left winger would have. Still offered more than Doyle on the other wing and showed great persistence to back-heel the ball to Aiden McGeady in the build-up to Ireland’s third goal.
Robbie Keane 6
Another game and another goal for the Irish captain, whose insatiable scent for goals at this level was evident in his absolute disgust when Shomko (seemingly deliberately) put the ball into his own net before Keane could grab his second of the night. Not involved much besides but that, unfortunately for Robbie, is generally the case these days.
Subs
Glenn Whelan 5
Having come on for Gibson, Whelan was barely noticeable in a game that will soon be forgotten about and if Gibson’s injury isn’t too serious, he’s likely to have to settle for a place on the bench in the future.
Aiden McGeady 7
Very, very bright after being introduced for the last 20 minutes or so although he was helped by the fact that there was finally a winger playing in his natural position and that the Kazakh defence didn’t look particularly bothered at that stage. Still showed signs of his infuriating ability to beat a man and then fluff the subsequent chance but reminded everyone that he is probably still the most natural option out wide in the current squad.
Wes Hoolahan
Not on long enough to be rated
Manager – 5
Ireland’s desire to pass the ball and play a more attractive style than has previously been in evidence was quite obvious, but for the second time in a week, King’s formation was more than a little baffling. Playing Doyle and Stokes out wide clearly didn’t work and while playing Andy Reid was the right thing to do, he was a bit too advanced, especially in the first half.
King’s passion for Irish football is obvious and he coped with the job as adequately as one would expect for the final two qualifiers, but much like Don Givens and other caretakers before him, his contribution will quickly be forgotten when the new man takes up the reins.
