FT: Rep of Ireland 1 Germany 6

It's all over and it's a devasting, dominating performance from Germany that leaves the Republic of Ireland flat and desperately disappointed. Thanks for your company at the Dublin Arena and I'll see you all soon.

Some late consolation for the hosts as Keogh meets the header after Schweinsteiger's error. Neuer is denied a clean sheet and at least the Republic are on target.


Kroos nearly finds his hat-trick but Westwood collects his drive from the edge of the area. Moments later, Neuer makes his first real save of the match to deny Keogh - in the Republic's only real chance of the game.

Agony for the Republic's fans to hear, there's two minutes added time to beplayed.

Kroos nearly finds the net with an outrageous effort from the left that may have been intended as a cross.

Walters continues to battle but the skillful midfield of Germany retain possession despite the striker's best hussling. He's been a brighter spark for the hosts tonight.

Andrews fires the free-kick straight into the wall - and that just about sums up the Republic's night.

Badstuber is penalised for a lunge on Brady and picks up a yellow card for his trouble.

Schurrle shows more fight than Brady down the right and ends up dispossessing the substitute far too easily.

It's masterful from Germany, and one of the best goals you'll see in this qualifying campaign. A sensational sequence of passes, upwards of 20, ends with a stunning strike from Kroos on the edge of the area. 6-0 and a simply devastating result for the Republic to take.


Brady comes on for the Republic with Cox the man taken off

Schweinsteiger can't control Ozil's pass and the balls to Westwood. He launches the ball up long but Mertesacker continues to impose his dominance over Walters.

Schmelzer battles fantastically against Coleman to win his side a throw-in, which ends up with the Germans attacking through Ozil, before Boateng's shot is well held by Westwood.

Yellow card for Long, whos frustrations clearly boiled over as he slides in recklessly on Badstuber.

It's all quite awkward now as Germany continue to boss possession with the Republic players and fans surely hanging on for the final whistle here.

As some fans make their way to the exits, Schurrle looks for Podolski but again the offside flag saves the Republic.

Podolski finds Boateng and eventually the ball finds its way back to him where Schweinsteiger is caught offside trying to retrieve his shot.

Germany's final change sees Klose's night end and Schurrle's begin.

Keogh has space on the right but inexplicably plays the ball straight into Badstuber's path when Walters was still making his run into the box.

Good possession from the hosts, as their no doubt shell-shocked players do well to hold the ball up for a bit.

McGeady's game is over as Keogh replaces him.

Boateng makes a great run behind Ward and he's picked out by Ozil. Klose wins a corner as a result but the visitors' delivery from Muller is poor.

Germany make another change as Podolski comes on in place of Reus.

Reus is marginally out of position to make contact with Muller's ball. Had he connected that would have almost certainly been his hat-trick.

O'Shea stays strong to force Reus out wide and concede a corner. Germany play it short as they probe for an opening.

Giovani Trapattoni looks a man devoid of any ideas now on the touchline, and the blood could be baying for the Italian after tonight's result - which could certainly become much worse before the evening is over.

What a goal. Westwood stood no chance as O'Dea heads the ball into Kroos's path before a rifled shot from 20 yards lands in the bottom corner. 5-0 and it's damage limitation for the Republic now.


O'Dea times his tackle far better this time on Klose, as Germany control play in the Republic's final third.

Top defending from Coleman. Reus skips past Westwood this time but a brilliant sliding tackle denies the forward grabbing his hat-trick.

Germany persist with their onslaught and the Republic are simply hanging on here. They end up with breaking with McGeady though but his ball to Cox ends up with Neuer.

That massacre could indeed be unfolding as Muller plays in Klose, who takes the ball around Westwood before converting with incredible precision from a tough angle.


Boateng takes a tasty challenge from Cox, one that in the 60's may have been greated with a hearty cheer. Today though, it's a free-kick.

The Republic have it all to do now, and as they knock the ball around in midfield, you sense it could turn into quite a long night.

Ozil stutters in his run up and sends Westwood the wrong way to give Germany an emphatic lead.


Penalty to Germany! O'Dea slides in on Klose carelessly and this could be game over if the visitors convert.

Schmelzer handles McGeady's cross and the hosts have a free-kick roughly 30-yards out. Long makes contact from McGeady's delivery but he can only prod the ball into the arms of Neuer.

The Republic make a change as Fahey is taken off with Long his replacement.

The hosts have the bit between their teeth now as Ward's ball forces Badstuber into heading behind and conceding a corner.

Cox is played in well by Ward and after firing into the near Neuer parries awkwardly before scrambling to clear. Good chance in the end for the Republic

Fahey regains possession for the Republic as the hosts look to knock the ball round before Schmelzer intercepts McCarthy's pass to Cox.

Germany come close to a third as Reus' free-kick takes a touch with Klose unfortunate not to connect at the far post.

Badstuber reads McCarthy's ball well to control under the threat of Cox. Moments later, O'Dea is booked for a challenge on Muller.

Germany get the second half started.

There's a chance for Germany at the break. Khedira has been taken off and Kroos takes his place.

Marco Reus' terrific first half brace has put Germany in the commanding seat at the break. Germany look good value but can the Republic produce a memorable comeback? Send your e-mails to jack.woodfield@bskyb.com

HALF TIME. Republic of Ireland 0 Germany 2.

Walters is ajudged to have tugged Mertesacker's shirt and the Germans win a free-kick. The Stoke striker is really struggling to penetrate the visitors' effort despite his outstanding work-rate.

Klose shows great endeavour to tackle O'Dea and in the end he's unlucky to come off on the losing side of a throw-in decision.

Ward plays long for Walters but the ball carries too much pace and ends up being a comfortable claim for Neuer.

Brilliant goal from the Germans. Fahey had originally found Coleman but the right-back couldn't beat Schmelzer. Germany then looked to counter, with Reus firing precisely past Westwood after Klose's through ball. 2-0 and it's all to do for the Republic.


Muller cuts in from the right side as the Republic open up somewhat. He aims for the top right corner but ends up slicing his shot horribly wide.

The Republic are struggling to find a foot hold in the game now. Germany are completely dominant and even as Fahey looks to break, Boateng shows brilliant anticipation to block him off.

The visitors show lovely control in possession, with Cox unfortunate to intercept one pass but play in Klose, whose shot cannons off O'Shea.

Germany probe in hunt of a second, with Schweinsteiger coming close to playing in Klose before Ward brillianly slides in to intercept.

A slice of justice for the winger. Schweinsteiger's initial ball into Schmelzer is fantastic, but the boll rolls into Reus' path and his clinical finish puts Germany ahead.


Reus, now earning a wave of boos, unfairly, from the home crowd, gets involved down the right but again their play is forced back brilliantly by the Republic.

Reus is booked for a dive and the German players are furious. Replays show there was a clear tug from O'Shea and the visitors have a right to be disgruntled.

Muller goes over the top in his bid to find Klose but O'Shea marshalls him well and is no doubt relieved to see the ball swing out of play.

Muller, at the heart of all Germany's progress, plays back to Schweinsteiger, but the organised Republic are doing a solid job in restricting space for the visitors.

O'Shea makes a towering clearance but Schmelzer regains the ball as Germany resume their seemingly never ending attack.

Khedira goes from glory and a superb sliding challenge from Ward takes the sting off the ball and deflects it wide.

Cox is struggling to get into the game just now. He finds some space but is immediately cut out by Boateng who makes the tackle.

Walters can't find the run of Cox, and Mertesacker again reads the Republic's attempted link-up well before stepping in.

Khedira, quite sloppily, brings an end to another promising passage of play with an extremely pacey ball to the back post that results in a goal-kick.

Great decision from Neuer who sprints out of the traps to head away McCarthy's long ball up to Walters. Terrific goalkeeping from arguably the best in the world in his position.

Germany are making a camp in the Republic's half, patiently pressing trying to find the time to strike but the hosts are holding their shape well as they await that push into the box.

Klose rescues the ball for Reus after impressive work from Muller. The winger looks to knock the ball back into the box but stabs it wide and ends up giving the Republic a moment of reprieve.

Khedira charges forward before playing in Muller. His ball in finds only the head of O'Dea before O'Shea clears under pressure from Klose. Germany are looking extremely strong right now.

Boateng does enough as Walters hussled in into making what was an adequate clearance in the end from McGeady's long ball upfield.

In the same attack, Germany come close. Ozil finds Reus whose delivery is met by Muller but the forward can only head over from just outside the six-yard box.

Germany attack down the left patiently, before Khedira looks for Klose at the far post with O'Shea heading away well.

McGeady makes immediate amends by tracking back to win back possession for the Republic and draw a foul from Schmelzer.

Mertesacker takes a tumble under McGeady, and the referee blows the whistle with the decision perhaps a tad harsh against the Ireland man.

Walters' lovely knock down sets away McGeady but solid defending from Schmelzer ends the move.

Walters picks the ball up from McCarthy but the Stoke striker sets off too early and the linesman raises his flag.

Ozil breaks down the left amidst a promising German attack. Muller takes over but O'Shea dominates the cross and clears away.

Klose heads for the near post but he is well blocked off by the Republic defender and can only head wide.

A slightly nervy moment after for Ward, as he awkwardly hacks away Ozil's delivery to concede a corner.

Schweinsteiger intercepts from McCarthy and Ward is strong to deny Muller's cross coming in from the right.

A battle of head tennis lands in Andrews' path, who lays the ball into Walters. The striker can't find his partner though and Mertesacker takes control.

Andrews takes a touch to shoot but completely gets his effort wrong as he blasts the ball into the stand behind goal.

McCarthy takes a tumble under Klose and the hosts win a free-kick after a nice spell from the Germans.

The Republic attack from the off with intent and are wrongly denied a corner after Ward's cross deflects behind off Boateng.

The Republic get the game underway!

Conor Walsh writes: "As an Irish supporter in Boston, once again the team selection is a real shocker. It's hard to understand how the excellent Marc Wilson and the talented Ciaran Clark are sitting on the bench while goal leaking Stephen Ward and Canadian based Darren O Dea are in the starting XI. No offence to those boys, we know they will do their best. At least Kevin Kilbane has not been recalled. We can be thankful for that."

We're seconds away from kick-off now as the final pre-match events take place.

The players are out and it's time for the National anthems.

Analysing that team news further, Seamus Coleman is handed his first competitive start as a much-changed Republic of Ireland attempt to halt Germany's charge towards World Cup qualification. The Everton youngster lines up at right-back as skipper-for-the-night John O'Shea joins Darren O'Dea in the middle, with Keith Fahey and James McCarthy drafted into midfield and Simon Cox and Jon Walters given the task of putting the German defence under pressure. Joachim Low, who is without skipper Philipp Lahm through suspension and Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan and Lars Bender through injury, drafts in Jerome Boateng, Per Mertesacker and Bastian Schweinsteiger as he makes three changes to the side which beat Austria last time out, and that means only a seat on the bench for Lukas Podolski.

The referee for tonight's showdown is the one and only Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).

Germany: Neuer, Boateng, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Schmelzer, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Muller, Reus, Klose. Subs: Zieler, Howedes, Westermann, Schurrle, Podolski, Kroos, Ter Stegen.

Rep of Ireland: Westwood, Coleman, O'Shea, O'Dea, Ward, McGeady, McCarthy, Andrews, Fahey, Cox, Walters. Subs: Forde, McShane, Long, Meyler, Kelly, Wilson, Clark, Keogh, Brady, Clifford, Randolph.

Here are the teams.

Good evening and welcome to the Dublin Arena for the World Cup qualifying Group C clash between the Republic of Ireland and Germany. The Republic produced late heroics to win last time out against Kazakhstan and Giovani Trapattoni's side will hopeful of kicking off their home campaign in similar style. Send your e-mails tonight to jack.woodfield@bskyb.com and I'll publish the best ones.


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