Steve Staunton's first competitive game in charge of the Republic of Ireland, away to Germany is probably the most difficult game in the group. Expectations are not too high give the recent humiliating defeat to Holland. Once again, Shay Give was the star of the show and easily the Man of the Match. Staunton, in showing his frustration at some of the refereeing decisions, kicked a water bottle, and was sent off. The return to Stuttgart rekindled memories of '88, but the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, the reconstructed Necker Stadion, lost some of its mystical appeal on a night in September.

Ireland started as underdogs, losing to Holland 4:0 as Germany beat Sweden 3:0 in recent friendless. Germany had also finished third in the recent 2006 World Cup finals. Notwithstanding this advantage, Germany also had some of its own problems as new German coach Joachim Loew was without key defenders Per Mertesacker, Christoph Metzelder, Robert Huth and Jens Nowotny due to injury. Arne Friedrich managed to shake off a tummy bug and take his place in defence.

Ireland had a bright start and after a minute and a half Finnan, dashing from left back, curled a cross into the box where Keane headed narrowly wide.

Ireland started brightly and took the game to Germany and battled in the centre of the park. After six minutes Podolski bursts into the Irish box but was denied by Dunne. Schneider produced a great touch to push the ball into the path of Klose, but he got caught up on the ball and the danger was cleared.

The Irish started brightly and looked to be a completely different one to the side that capitulated to the Dutch. The Irish fans got behind the Boy's in Green and the atmosphere was like that of a home game! After about eight minutes O'Shea passed the ball through to Doyle who almost gets goalside of his marker. Germany's clearance is poor and falls straight to Duff, his cross into the box is in vain as there are no green jerseys awaiting the ball .A minute later Doyle cannot reach a long ball from Carr and Germany have the ball. Then Lahm thwarts Duff on the left.

11 mins: Great chance for Germany. Ballack prods a ball through to Podolski who gets the slightest of touches - it causes carnage in the Irish box and the ball is eventually hacked wide for a corner.

13 mins: Corner to Ireland now. Duff curls in the set-piece, and it falls to Robbie Keane whose shot is blocked. Half-chance for Ireland though.

30 mins: The Republic have been let off the hook there, those were two great chances for Germany.  31 mins: Podolski shoots narrowly wide. That was close - a matter of inches and a German goal looks likely soon unless Ireland can stop this constant pressure. 32 mins: Carr passes back to Given in an attempt to take the sting out of the German attacks.  33 mins: Robbie Keane heads over from an awkward angle following a Duff corner. 34 mins: Frings blasts well wide from 30 yards. We know what he's capable of but that was a tad ambitious.

35 mins: The Republic have, for the time being, stopped the flow of constant German pressure. They will be looking to get to half-time now with no change in the scoreline. Unless of course they nick one themselves. 36 mins: Ballack beats Finnan in the air on the touchline. 37 mins: Ballack then fouls Dunne, free-kick to Ireland. 38 mins: Reid with a long throw into the Germany box, O'Shea gets a flick-on but Lehmann gathers comfortably. 39 mins: Lahm makes good headway down the German right, and he gets his his cross in from the byline. O'Brien stands firm and heads clear.

40 mins: Finnan looks for Doyle with a long ball but his pass is wayward. 41 mins: Duff is fouled by Frings after showing trickery. Free-kick 35 yards from the German goal. 42 mins: Reid's delivery is headed goalwards by O'Shea. His initial header is blocked but Ireland get another chance as Duff shoots. His shot is also blocked and Germany clear their lines. 43 mins: Reid shows good strength in midfield and picks the run of Keane with a good pass.44 mins: O'Shea intercepts a Ballack pass and plays a simple ball to Duff. Good work from the Manchester United man - he has been excellent so far in this first half.45 mins: Half-time. No stoppage time at the end of the first half, and Steve Staunton will be happy with the scoreline. His side have performed well, with just a 10-minute spell about half an hour into the game when they looked a little shaky. A solid performance though, and all to play for second half.

24 mins: Ballack tries his luck from 25 yards. It deflects wide for another corner.

23 mins: Schweinsteiger's delivery is headed away by Dunne.

22 mins: Klose wins a corner for Germany.

21 mins: Schweinsteiger produces a nice turn on the left. He combines well with Ballck but the attack soon breaks down due to firm pressing from the Irish.

20 mins: Robbie Keane almost gets clear in the Germany box but Lehmann is alert to mop up the danger.

19 mins: The Republic have started really well here in Stuttgart. They have had most of the ball and have looked dangerous in the German half.

18 mins: Jens Lehmann hits a long ball into the Irish half.

17 mins: Lahm gets forward from right full-back for the Germans and his cross is a good one. Andy O'Brien does well to head clear.

16 mins: Another corner to Ireland. Again Duff takes charge, but this time his delivery is easily headed clear by Ballack.

15 mins: Duff's corner is again not dealt with immediately by the German defence, but the Irish don't react either and the ball is eventually cleared out of danger.

14 mins: Ireland are pressing and they have another corner.

90 mins: Full-time, and Germany win 1-0 in Stuttgart. Shay Given was in imperious form, but he could do nothing about Podolski's deflected free-kick. Germany deserved this on the night, as the Republic were committed, but lacked creativity in the final third.

90 mins: Alan O'Brien plays it short to Finnan, and his delivery is headed over by Dunne. What a chance at the death for the Republic.

90 mins: Alan O'Brien wins a corner for Ireland. Shay Given is up for it.

90 mins: Klose tackles back and sets Germany on the counter-attack.

90 mins: Schweinsteiger with a thunderbolt of a free-kick from the angle - it hits the post and goes behind to Irish relief.

90 mins: Frings is fouled by Dunne, who receives a yellow card, on the edge of the Irish box. Free-kick to Germany in a dangerous area.

89 mins: Schweinsteiger shoots narrowly wide from 20 yards.

88 mins: Andy O'Brien fouls Klose inside the Republic half.

87 mins: Frings spreads the play for Marcell Jansen, who crosses straight at Given.

86 mins: Alan O'Brien shows real pace on the left, but is adjudged to have fouled Frings.

85 mins: Five minutes for Ireland to forge an equaliser from somewhere. They haven't created an awful lot second half, but they have a pair of fresh legs on both wings now.

84 mins: Elliott is penalised for a foul on Lahm.

83 mins: Tim Borowski replaces Schneider for Germany.

82 mins: Alan O'Brien comes on for Kevin Kilbane as Staunton makes another change.

81 mins: Lehmann clears for Germany.

80 mins: Reid's second free-kick is easily dealt with by Germany.

79 mins: Ireland win another free-kick on their left. Reid's set piece is blocked by Schneider, illegally, and the German midfielder is cautioned for not retreating 10 yards.

78 mins: Doyle is replaced by Stephen Elliott.

77 mins: Reid's free-kick causes some worry but Ballack clears at the second bounce.

76 mins: Keane is fouled on the Irish left.

75 mins: Podolski is replaced by Oliver Neuville. The departing striker gets warm applause from the German crowd following his goal.

74 mins: Steve Staunton's not a happy manager - he's thrown his identity tag away on the way to the grandstand.

73 mins: Keane tussles with Manuel Friedrich in the Germany box. Friedrich gets the free-kick, Keane claims a penalty, and Staunton kicks a bottle in frustration and gets sent to the stand.

72 mins: Richard Dunne heads narrowly wide from a deep Reid free-kick - that was a chance for the big centre-half.

71 mins: Ballack shows great control on his chest but then plays a poor through ball which finds only Shay Given.

70 mins: O'Brien is fouled by Podolski.

69 mins: Klose beats O'Brien in the air and scrapes the bar with a towering header. So close to 2-0.

68 mins: Schweinsteiger strides forward for Germany and he spreads the play to Schneider, who cuts inside and forces Given into another save.

67 mins: Doyle heads tamely wide under pressure from two German defenders.

66 mins: Midway through the second half, and Ireland need to step up a gear if they are to get anything out of this game. Germany are in control at the moment and look more likely than Ireland around the penalty box.

65 mins: Duff fights for the ball on the edge of the Germany box but is eventually outnumbered.

64 mins: Lahm with a porr touch and he gifts a throw to the Republic.

63 mins: Frings with a long ball towards Klose. Ballack is down injured now - he was caught by O'Shea.

61 mins: Head tennis in the Irish box as they fail to clear the ball. Schweinsteiger is down injured and there is a temporary stoppage in play.

60 mins: Carr chips a ball forward towards Keane but Germany intercept the pass.

59 mins: Ireland clear and quickly break through Duff. He is fouled by Klose who is shown the yellow card. Every cynical German challenge has been on Duff tonight - they are struggling to keep him under tabs.

58 mins: Schweinsteiger shoots from 30 yards, Germany are full of confidence now. The shot doesn't trouble Given, but Germany eventually win another corner.

57 mins: GOAL! PODOLSKI. Podolski scores by virtue of a heavily deflected free-kick from 20 yards. 1-0 to the Germans, and it has looked increasingly likely.

56 mins: Steven Reid is cautioned for a late foul on Frings.

55 mins: Schneider is pulling the strings for Germany as they attempt to stamp their authority on the game.

54 mins: O'Brien out-muscles Podolski, who looks lively this second period.

53 mins: The corner comes to nothing, but Germany continue to press.

53 mins: What a stop from Given to deny Klose, that was point blank. Corner to Germany now.

52 mins: Lehmann plucks the corner out of the air with authority.

51 mins: Reid surprises Lehmann with the free-kick and it hits the German stopper and flies behind for a corner. The Arsenal goalie knew nothing about that.

50 mins: Schweinsteiger is now cautioned for a cynical foul on Damien Duff.

49 mins: Schweinsteiger's delivery is cleared by the Irish defence.

48 mins: Lahm with a good run from the right, and he lays it to Schweinsteiger who has a shot deflected wide. Corner to Germany.

47 mins: Kevin Doyle gets away from Frings and tries to play in Keane, but the Reading striker is outnumbered by German shirts and loses possession.

46 mins: Germany get the second half underway in Stuttgart.

Gratefully, Spanish referee Cantalejo correctly waved away appeals for handball against Stephen Carr in the 13th minute.