Ireland-France: Leg 2

France won the first leg in Ireland 1-0, putting the Irish squad in grave danger of missing the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. They now travel to Saint-Denis to see if they can rally the troops in what many would consider a minor miracle.

Starting Line-ups:

France:

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris

Defenders: Williams Gallas, Sebastien Squillaci, Patrice Evra, Bacary Sagna

Midfielders: Alou Diarra, Yoan Gourcuff, Lassana Diarra

Strikers: Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka, Andre Pierre Gignac

Ireland:

Goalkeeper: Shay Given

Defenders: John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St. Ledger

Midfielders: Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Liam Lawrence, Damien Duff, Kevin Kilbane

Strikers: Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle


The Irish have come out of the gates strong. Maintaining a solid pressure on the French side of the field. France seems to have come out on their heels, not prepared for the pressure from Ireland.

The French side is able to run an excellent counter attack after nearly 10 minutes of pressure from the Irish. Yoann Courguff and Andre Pierre Gignac led a break that ends with a Thierry Henry shot being denied by a diving Sean St. Ledger. An excellent chance it was for the French after a rough start thus far.

In the 23rd minute the Irish are still pressuring. Liam Lawrence is able to get a ball across the box, when he should have instead put it on goal. The French are able to get out of another tight spot inside their own penalty box.

Hugo Lloris is impressive early as he denies another shot, this time by striker Robbie Keane. The Irish pressure is persistent, don't be surprised if they put one in the back of the net soon.

IRELAND SCORES!!!! Robbie Keane, the always consistent Irish striker, knocks one in the back of the net after a nice exchange on the sideline and a pretty cutback assist from Kevin Kilbane of Fulham. It is a well deserved goal for the Irish. They have more passion and intensity early in this game, while the French seem as if the win will only come naturally.

France seems to be a little shocked by the early pace and early goal by the Irish side. However, the goal has put a burst in their step. Nicolas Anelka is able to find the ball close to the net but his strike goes wide in the 39th minute for France.

The Irish are back on the offensive with a free kick just before halftime. From 30 yards away, Glenn Whelan rips one that is deflected at the last second for a corner.

It is halftime in France, and the Irish have stunned their opponents early on. The aggregate score sits at 1-1. If either side can come out fast and strong, and find the back of the net early in the second half, all the pressure will be placed on the opposing side. Prepare yourselves for a heck of a second half between two squads fighting for the same dream.

Giovanna Trappatoni will stress to his side the importance of coming out with the same intensity in the first five or ten minutes of the half. It could be the difference in the game.

John O' Shea wastes another chance for Ireland off a free kick from Liam Lawrence. O'Shea received the free kick at the back post but unfortunately struck his volley over the crossbar once again bailing out the French side who seem to be losing a grasp again early on in the second half.

In the 54th minute, Nicolas Anelka takes a rip from far out and the strike is held easily by the Irish keeper Shay Given.

Ireland's Damien Duff is denied by Lloris. Duff was able to get through the French defense but could not beat the keeper one on one. If Ireland continues to miss out on these chances, it could come back to bite them.

Glenn Whelan, who has had a major impact on this game, is replaced by Darron Gibson in the 63rd minute for Ireland.

John O' Shea who has had a fair amount of chances, but failed to convert, is taken out of the game and replaced by Paul McShane in the 67th minute. The Irish are hoping fresh legs will give them a boost late in the game.

What a dramatic showing by both teams. They are in a dead draw right now and anything can happen. It seems that one of these teams should be able to find the back of the net and opportunity after opportunity amasses for both sides. If not, we will be head to Penalty Kicks.

The French side is making a push now. Substitute Paul McShane throws his body in front of a powerful volley by Gourcuff of France, possibly saving the go ahead goal. France seems to have woken up a little.

Robbie Keane breaks through the French defense again, but is denied by Lloris after maybe taking a touch too many. Lloris has had a superb game in what has been a constant onslaught by the Irish.

In the 75th minute, Ireland's Paul McShane receives a yellow card.

A lull in the action here: In the two other games, Portugal is on the verge of clinching their world cup berth and Slovenia is about to shock the Russians again.

Frances' Sebastien Squillaci is yellow-carded in the 79th minute.

85th minute in France. Closing in on Overtime and a possible shootout.

France's Yoann Gourcuff is replaced in the 88th minute by Florent Malouda.

Late in the game, the Irish are looking for the winning goal as Robbie Keane has another opportunity, this time a strike from 25 yards out that cleared the crossbar.

The whistle has blown to end the second half in France. Two fifteen minute overtime periods could determine which of these teams heads to South Africa next summer. Remember, it is not golden goal, and if no one scores, it will go into a shootout.

Even in overtime, however, if the Irish are to score, the French will have to put two in the back of the net because of the aggregate away goal rule.

Both teams seem to be backing off slightly, afraid of making a disastrous mistake. Its almost as if they are accepting penalty kicks. We will see if either side makes a push.

FRANCE GOAL!!!!!! Only two minutes left in the first period of overtime and the French have scored a very important goal, putting immense pressure on Ireland in the last 15 minutes. Thierry Henry looks like his old self and he assists William Gallas who heads the ball in from about 6 yards out.

The second period of overtime is underway and France is just 15 minutes away from making it to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Irish get a couple of early corner kicks but are unable, like most of the game, to put the ball in the back of the net.

A couple of chances late from both sides on crosses into the box both picked up by the keepers.

France is just minutes away now.

Ireland gives it one last shot in the final minute of overtime as Aiden McGeady crosses the ball for it to be saved yet again by Hugo Lloris.

The game is over. Surely the French crowd is going crazy. The Irish put on a great effort today only to come away disappointed. It was a dominating performance in regulation by the Irish but Les Bleus was able to come up with the clutch, World Cup saving goal, in overtime.

Countless missed opportunities will keep the Ireland faithful up at night for weeks. Robbie Keane was superb in creating the chances today but he just could not find the net as often as he is capable.

The star of the game is unquestionably Hugo Lloris. If he performs in net at such a level in the World Cup it would not be surprising to see the French make a deep run once again in South Africa.