Back to Basel, and memories of October 2003 when Ireland crashed out of the Euro 2004 qualifiers with one of their worst performances in years. Switzerland subsequently crashed out of Euro 2004 with only one point! Both sides won their opening games, Ireland beat Cyprus 3-0 and Switzerland beat the Faroe Islands 6-0.

Ireland started brightly with both Duff and Reid attacking down the wings. The two combined well and Reid's snapshot from the edge of the area cannoned out to the left flank. Then Duffer, in a carbon copy of the first goal against Cyprus, crossed to Morrison who headed home for the opening goal after eight minutes.

From the kick-off the Swiss piled on the pressure and Carr was booked for taking down Ray after 10 minutes. From the free kick Murat Yakin blasted the shot and Given managed to tip it over the bar. Next a back pass by Roy Keane spilt open the Irish defence (!) and Rey ran onto the ball, Given stood up to the striker and produced a magnificent stop. Switzerland continued to pile on the pressure. Hakin Yakin had Switzerlands third goal attempt (in as many minutes) and was once again brilliantly saved by Given.

The persistent Swiss pressure eventually paid off when Ireland lost possession on the edge of the box after 17 minutes. Vonlanthen was fouled by Roy Keane but the referee played advantage and with Kilbane unable to make the ball, Barnetta passed to Hakan Yakin who ghosted through the Irish defence before firing a low shot past Given into the back of the net.

Ireland tried to respond with Duff running at the Swiss and shooting at goal from inside the box, however the tame effort was easily saved. Then bizzarely Morrison pulled Zuberbühler's shirt as he prepared to clear and was booked for his moment of stupidity.

Switzerland once again resumed their siege of the Irish goal and pinned the Irish back inside their own half. The siege was temporarily lifted following a long darting run by Roy Keane. Reid then put a through ball for Robbie Keane who couldn’t keep his balance and Zuberbühler easily controlled the ball. A minute later Morrison had a weak effort on goal. Then Robbie Keane headed back across goal, from a Duff cross, to Morrison who was right in front of goal but hr headed straight at Zuberbühler. The ball then deflected off Murat Yakin, forcing the keeper to make a second save, in the resulting scramble for the ball Roy Keane was booked for a heavy challenge.

Just after the half-hour Robbie Keane beat three defenders before firing at goal, but the close-range shot was straight at Zuberbühler. Kilbane's rebound was also blocked.   Then Duff’s had a ghosting run through the box when he beat two defenders but was upended by Haas. The Greek referee bizarrely and blindly waved on play instead of awarding the penalty.

The Swiss counter attacked and Rey headed Yakin’s pass straight at Given.. After 41 minutes Switzerland got a free-kick on the left touchline, but Morrison blocked the shot.

The first real attack of the second half resulted in Zuberbühler punching clear Reid's free-kick  after Morrison was fouled by Magnin. On fifty minutes Duff lost possession to Haas in the Irish half but his lack of control resulted in a foul on Finnan.  A few minutes later Robbie Keane was clean through from a Roy Keane ball but was harshly and wrongly adjudged to be offside. Roy Keane then fouled Vonlanthen and was lucky not to receive a second yellow card.

On the hour Morrison was fouled following good passing between Duff and Kilbane, unfortunately Finnan's free kick was too close to the keeper. Ireland applied some pressure but failed to get any real penetration. After 67 minutes Haas was booked for a late challenge on Kilbane. A minute later Hakan Yakin has a shot from outside the box but Given once again managed to push it behind. The game was beginning to become disjointed as O’Brien blocked another shot and then Reid raced forward but lost the ball with a sloppy pass. Reid did not shine and was not as influential as against Cyprus, then Switzerland are a better team and he was eventually replaced by Kavanagh.

Switzerland once again started to apply more pressure and Barnetta was easily outpacing Roy Keane. Hakan Yakin was then booked for a lunge on Finnan. Kavanagh then won the ball from Rey in a crunching tackle and Given put the ball out of play so that Rey could recieive treatment. In an unsporting gesture the Swiss did not pass the ball back to the Irish.

Doherty came on for Morrisson, as the Irish desperately hung on for a draw. But then Kilbane lost possession, Cunningham managed to clear the ball but the Swisss regained possession and Barnetta, slipped past Carr and cut to the by-line before a perfectly weighted cross into the box, thankfully for the Irish there were no Swiss jerseys there. Lonfat had a chance blocked for a corner by Kavanagh and Doherty cleared the subsequent ball. Then on 90 minutes Kilbane clumsily gave away a free kick about 40 metres out which resulted in a corner. Kilbane and Duff managed to clear the danger. Then with a minute remaining Kilbane won a free kick and Ireland survived to earn a point.

Overall Shay Given was man-of-the-match and without a string of first class saves Ireland could have been beaten by three goals. Disappointingly Ireland never really looked like winning the game, but a point was a good result.

Switzerland: Zuberbuhler, Haas, Muller, Murat Yakin, Magnin, Vogel, Barnetta, Cabanas, Hakan Yakin, Vonlanthen (Lonfat 72 mins), Rey

Rep of Ireland: Given, Carr, O'Brien, Cunningham, Finnan, Reid (Kavanagh 72 mins), Roy Keane, Kilbane, Duff, Robbie Keane, Morrison (Doherty 83 mins)

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)