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Missing several key players, Ireland were totally outplayed in a 5-2 defeat in the capital Nicosia. Cyprus had been hammered 6-1 by Slovakia in their previous match. Manager Steve Staunton
received fierce criticism from former Irish teammates after the match. “You wonder if they work with the back four when they’re together,” said Ronnie Whelan. “You could have taken five lads
off the street, put them across and they probably would have defended better.” Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the 2008 European Championships seem all but over with the Czech Republic
already nine points clear at the top of the table. The top two nations qualify for the finals in Switzerland and Austria from the seven-team group. Staunton watched the match from the stands
as he served his one-match ban after being sent off in the first qualifier, a 1-0 loss to Germany. He saw his team get off to the perfect start with Stephen Ireland marking his first
competitive start with an eighth-minute goal. But the hosts drew level within two minutes and then took the lead before Richard Dunne equalised. A poor defensive display from Ireland in the
second half then helped Cyprus score three goals without reply, making the game Ireland’s most embarrassing defeat. Advertisement The bookies believe Staunton is now odds-on not to last the
rest of the qualification campaign. But the manager remained defiant: “I’m not walking away. This job is not beyond me. I have full faith in myself and in the younger players.” Nevertheless
he admitted he was “embarrassed” by the performance, which he called “the worst I have seen by an Ireland side”. His team are now only ahead of Wales and San Marino on goal difference in
group D. President Mary McAleese was at the game and said the result “was very sad for the fans”. Ireland’s next match is against the Czech Republic on Wednesday night in Dublin.
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