Familiar failings plague Irish and it's win or bust in Prague

In the final minutes in Bratislava last night, Ireland's Richard Dunne lunged in to block a shot by Marek Mintal after Shay Given had been stranded trying to cover up the shortcomings of Ireland's defence. It was the moment when things appeared to have changed. Dunne cleared the ball and it appeared Steve Staunton's team would hold on to their 2-1 lead and go to Prague on Wednesday with a real chance of qualifying.

But you always get one more chance with this Irish team and, in injury time, the Slovakia full-back Marek Cech burst into the box and hit a low shot past Given for an equaliser. It was a fitting end to a chaotic game.

Ireland, as they so often have been under Staunton, were predictably anarchic. Stephen Ireland put them ahead but they then proceeded to retreat and give away the ball, allowing Slovakia to equalise in the first half. Kevin Doyle scored a stunning goal early in the second and Ireland looked ready to end their 20-year record without an away win against significant opposition. But Cech's equaliser means they must try again on Wednesday night against a Czech Republic team who will be missing Jan Koller, booked in his team's 3-0 win in San Marino last night.

But if the Czechs are weakened, Ireland appear seriously demoralised. In his eve-of-match press conference, Steve Staunton spoke of the 'feelgood factor' surrounding the Irish team. It is not a sensation many would claim to experience when Staunton speaks, but he has always intended his side to be an expressive and adventurous contrast to his public demeanour.

The injured Damien Duff flew in to Bratislava on Friday night to back his team-mates: his support would have been far more welcome had he been able to play.

Staunton talked about changing the mindset of the Irish team, but there was no discernible difference. Ireland were wasteful in possession and gave the ball away too easily.

They began with promise. In the seventh minute, Robbie Keane came deep and played the ball out wide to Kilbane, whose low cross beat the first defender. Keane shaped to shoot but let the ball run by him with a cocky dummy. Ireland glided in to flick the ball high into the net from six yards.

The Republic needed to retain their spirit of adventure but they also needed to keep the ball. Sloppy passing from Kevin Doyle, Lee Carsley and Aiden McGeady encouraged the Slovaks to attack which, it was clear, was what they did best.

Ireland were relying on their key men, Dunne and Given but an equaliser was coming. From a Sapara corner, Carsley and Dunne were stranded as Jan Durica flicked it on and Maros Klimpl headed in at the far post.

The glad, confident opening was now a distant memory as Irish players collided and argued. The seven minutes between the Slovakia goal and the interval appeared to expose every weakness in this side. But they stayed level and in the second half took the lead with a sublime goal. Doyle turned on the ball 30 yards out and hit a curling shot which flew past Stefan Senecky. It was his first goal of the season.

Instead of pressing for a third goal, Ireland immediately retreated and Given again had to make the saves his country have come to rely on. Staunton appeared to end the debate over the eligibility of Derry-born Darron Gibson (who therefore could play for either Irish team) when he sent him on for McGeady, despite warnings last week from Northern Ireland's manager Nigel Worthington that Ireland could be docked points by Fifa if they selected the Manchester United midfielder.

But Ireland are always capable of dropping points on the pitch. When Cech equalised, Staunton's side trudged off as they had been defeated. It is a familiar feeling for an Irish side.

Goals by Tomas Rosicky, Marek Jankulovski and Jan Koller steered the Czech Republic to an easy 3-0 victory away to 10-man San Marino. Rosicky provided the opener in the 32nd minute when Marek Kulic's weak shot was only parried by goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini and the Arsenal midfielder headed into an open goal. San Marino's Alessandro Della Valle was shown a second yellow card in the 63rd minute, giving the Czechs even more room to operate. Jankulovski blasted home a low drive from a free kick in the 75th minute before Koller headed home his fifty-first international goal in extra time.

Sweden drew 0-0 at home to Denmark to remain top of Group F. Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, of Aston Villa, was outstanding, making good saves to deny Johan Elmander, Christian Wilhelmsson and Kennedy Bakircioglu.