By Tadhg Peavoy
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Watch Republic of Ireland v Brazil live on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie from 7.30pm tonight. Live commentary on RTÉ Radio from 8.00pm (DAB, LW and Online).
10.00pm In conclusion, Brazil look awesome, and a definite contender to win this summer's World Cup.
Ireland have a long way to go and lack bite up front. The problem that was in evidence in Paris against France, a lack of goals, was evident today and is a major worry. Trap needs to find a way to connect midfield and attack better for the qualification process for Euro 2012. Having said that, this was Brazil, after all.
Thanks for joining us, and, see y'after.
93 mins That's the last action of the game as the referee draws the tie to a close.
92 mins Best has a 25-yard shot at Cesar. Never going in, but he made the goalkeeper work.
91 mins Carlos Eduardo runs from halfway to the Ireland box. He plays a pass to Kaka who oh so nearly gives him the perfect pass to smash past Given.
90 mins Ireland have dropped deep into their own half. 11 men behind the ball as they accept defeat. Grafite attempts to lob Given from the left wing!
89 mins If the award was given to a Brazilian, my money would be on Kaka. He has looked top drawer tonight.
88 mins It's become a little bit of a stroll for Brazil. 2-0 will be a good way to end for Ireland at this rate. Andrews is given the RTÉ Man of the Match award.
86 mins Kaka slips the ball to Grafite on the right flank. He cuts inside McShane and his shot his put to the near post and wide. Nice move, poor finish. 30 seconds later, he misses a cross by two inches to make it 3-0.
85 mins Leon Best tackles Dani Alves just when the Barca man seemed ready to dash into the box. A deluge of subs have come on in the last few minutes.
83 mins Alves and Kaka play keep-the-ball around Ireland in midfield. Kelly eventually fouls Nilmar.
82 mins Lucio comes off for Luisao. Silva takes the captain's armband.
81 mins Ireland have very little possession now.
80 mins Kaka is ripping Ireland apart in midfield. The Brazilian fans cheer every pass that their team makes.
76 mins GOAL: Brazil score an incredible goal. Robinho and Kaka combine with a special one two outside the Ireland box and which bypasses three Irish defenders. Robinho then feeds Grafite who backheels the ball back into Robinho's path. The Santos player then guides the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net. Ireland 0-2 Brazil.
75 mins Brazil are well in control. The second half has been a hard one for Ireland. They are being squeezed all over the pitch. Dunga's defensive coaching is very much in evidence.
74 mins Brazil are being very lean at the back now. Doyle can't get a ball though to Keane at all.
72 mins A flowing move ends with Maicon feeding Kaka in the box. He takes about 50 touches and the ball is hoofed clear.
71 mins McCarthy is on for Lawrence now.
70 mins Andrews loses the ball on the left flank. Kaka is the man he loses it to. He squares to Robinho, who misses from two yards! It should be 3-0 now.
69 mins McShane loses the ball in front of his own goal. He tries to turn but loses the ball to Robinho. Robinho knocks the ball in the Irish net, but he was offside when the ball was played forward and it is ruled out.
68 mins Andrews feeds McGeady on the right wing. McGeady crosses but it is cleared by Lucio with a backheeled clearance.
67 mins Robinho has a shot from 35-yards. It drops just over the crossbar. Great effort.
65 mins A chance falls immediately to Dani Alves. He catches St Ledger in possession and rounds Given. With the goal at his mercy he puts it wide! That would have been curtains for Ireland.
64 mins Gibson is caught in possession by Robinho but he cannot get a useful pass forward. Grafite and Dani Alves make their entrance for Brazil.
63 mins Maicon - who is very decent today - weaves his way into the box. St Ledger blocks the effort.
62 mins Corner for Brazil. Bastos takes it and Kilbane heads clear.
61 mins A high ball into the Brazil box falls to Lawrence, but he cannot steer the ball to Doyle.
60 mins The stadium is much fuller now. The attendence 40,052. Still pretty empty though, to be honest.
59 mins Robinho cuts inside from the lef wing with about 15 step overs, he feeds the ball to Bastos who fires the ball high and wide.
58 mins Ireland look like they need some fresh legs and are a little stale so far this half.
56 mins Whelan beats Maicon at the touchline and it's an Irish throw. Two substitutes for Ireland: Gibson and McGeady on for Duff and Whelan.
55 mins Andrews is fed the ball by Whelan charging in on goal. He tries to feed Doyle but Lucio intercepts. A crucial interception at that.
54 mins Doyle tries to slip a ball to the touchline. It's a good idea but Kelly is caught slightly offside when he attempts to get to it.
53 mins England boss Fabio Capello is spotted in the stand.
51 mins Kaka and Andrews square up to each other. Mike Dein has a word with Kaka.
49 mins Brazil interchange over 10 passes outside the Ireland box and Melo delivers a cross into the box. It is cleared for a corner for Brazil. Bastos takes it. Doyle heads away. Throw Brazil but Ireland clear.
49 mins Keane breaks forward but his pass to Doyle is cut out by Lucio.
48 mins Lawrence's ball is poor but Bastos gives it back to him. Lawrence then feeds Whelan who can't use it. Brazil clear.
47 mins Whelan plays a one-two with Lawrence who feeds Doyle. Bastos knocks it out for a corner. Duff delivers and its punched clear by Cesar. Duff forces another corner.
46 mins We are off in Croker, I mean, London.
9.06pm The concept of having this game in the UK is dividing opinion. Certainly is does seem an odd decision especially with the attendance being so poor. Let us know what you think.
9.05pm Ultan:
why all the sadness that the Ireland game is in England? The vast majority of "the greatest fans in the world(tm)" spend their barstooling days drooling at the antics of Perfidious Albion's prized sporting export, surely watching their national team within these comfortable confines should be natural to the Irish sporting West-Brits?
Ultan.
9.02pm The talk in studio is that Ireland are playing superbly well and are unlucky not to be at least level.
45 mins No time for Ireland to mount another chance as the opening period draws to a close.
44 mins GOAL: Brazil break swiftly as Kaka feeds Maicon. The right-back slips the ball past the Irish back four and to Robinho. He is in on goal and turns a shot goalward. Keith Andrew attempts to clear but instead turns the ball goalwards and over Given. Robinho looked very much offside and that is hard on Ireland. Own-goal Andrews. Ireland 0-1 Brazil.
43 mins Ireland play the ball smartly around the halfway line looking for an opening. Doyle is played the ball and Bastos knees him in the back. Free Ireland. Whelan threads the ball to Duff in the Brazil box. He can't pick anyone out.
41 mins Kaka and Robinho interchange passes in the Irish midfield. The ball is played wide to Maicon who swings a good ball into the box where Adriano is waiting to pounce. St Ledger gets in front of the big Brazilian and a strong head puts the ball clear.
40 mins Doyle fouls Maicon with a pull of the shirt. Brazil take it quickly and move the ball into the Irish half. Ramirez is fed the ball on the right and Kilbane clips him to concede the free.
39 mins Duff delivers. Lucio heads clear and St Ledger attempts an overhead kick. Brazilian in effort but not in finish.
38 mins Doyle is bundled by Melo and free-kick Ireland. Now Duff is fouled as Ireland pass the ball around the park with nonchalance. Lucio fouls Keane from behind. Brazil look frustrated.
37 mins Doyle gets pass from Lawrence in the Brazil half. He tries to turn Lucio but the ball is put out. Ireland can't make use of the throw.
36 mins Bastos takes the free and it joins Maicon's earlier effort in the local chippie.
35 mins Kaka is fouled by Kilbane with a clip on his heels. Brazil free 30-yards from the Irish goal.
34 mins Whelan plays a ball directly down the middle of the park with Keane about to pick it up, but it hits his heels as he can't control it whilst running.
33 mins Andrews goes down with a niggle, but is okay to go on.
32 mins Keane attempts to play in Doyle, and under pressure Maicon concedes a throw. It is thrown to Keane who is pushed off the ball.
31 mins Notably Gilberto Silva has a lot more hair than he had at Arsenal. I don't think it was a transplant, more a style-change!
30 mins Kilbane overplays the ball and almost plays Ramirez in on goal. Some things never change!
29 mins Maicon and Adriano interchange pases which pass Duff and McShane, but Maicon blasts the ball somewhere into a chippie located beside Highbury tube station.
27 mins Adriano drives a ferocious free-kick at Given, who has to tip the ball over the bar. Corner Brazil: Maicon takes it, but Andrew heads clear. A second corner is awarded: Whelan and Duff get the ball out of the danger area.
26 mins Donal O'Murchu:
Is this a home or away fixture? I thought they might have played God Save the Queen seeing as they are on the 'mainland' and the Republic of Ireland team are at home. They didn't have to travel and there was no danger anybody might forget the jerseys. And sure if they do forget them the next time they come to the Emerald Isle surely the GAA would lend them a set!!
25 mins No chances to speak of the last two minutes. The early bounce has vanished a little.
24 mins Silva fouls Keane on halfway. The ball is slipped to Doyle but he fouls Juan trying to get to the ball.
22 mins Ireland pass the ball around the back slowly building up an attack. However a ball from Kelly to Lawrence is intercepted and the attack breaks down.
20 mins Free-in for Ireland. Andrews hoist it into the box. Intercepted and Brazil break. The ball goes down the right wing with Robinho, he plays Adriano into the area but St Ledger blocks his run. The ball nearly falls to Robino but Given moves out of his area to claim the ball. Brazil lighting quick to counter-attack.
19 mins Keane is fouled by Maicon. Ireland are putting it up to Brazil and have dominated all the possession and territory.
19 mins Trivia: Liam Brady scored for winning goal for Ireland against Brazil in 1987.
18 mins Lawrence's corner is too far out. Andrews plays the ball back to him, but he is caught offside.
17 mins A Duff cross from the left and Maicon turns it away for a third Irish corner.
15 mins Kelly and Duff combine on the right. Juan scythes down Duff with his studs showing. A free for Ireland on the line outside the Brazil area. Poor ball doesn't beat the first man. Duff gets a second bite of the cherry. This time it meets the head of Duff and he forces Cesar into punching the ball away. Best chance of the game so far.
14 mins Kilbane and Duff try to combine on the left, but Juan puts the ball out.
14 mins Ireland are holding Brazil well. Giving the South Americans very little time on the ball.
13 mins Kaka gets the ball on 18-yards and rolls the ball right of Whelan and unleashes a shot which dips over the bar. Close call.
12 mins Lucio charges downfield for Brazil, he slips the ball to Maicon and Maicon to Kaka. Maicon gets a return ball but it is cleared by St Ledger.
11 mins Julio Cesar punches away Duff's corner, too close to the keeper all the way.
10 mins Andrews threads a ball through the Brazil back four and Keane ghosts through, but the angle is too tight for the shot, it is deflected out for a corner.
9 mins Robinho plays the ball to Duff in the Brazil half. Duff tries to cut inside Melo, but Melo puts in a strong foot and Brazil break down the pitch.
8 mins Juan and Adriano combine with a 1-2 but the ball escapes Juan and McShane guides the ball back to Given.
8.26pm: Tommy Smyth:
I am so disappointed to see the game in England. What a night it would have been at Croker. I can’t believe how many empty seats there are at the game. Great to see the boys in green stood not for Ireland Calls but for the real thing take that rugby boys
Go Ireland..
5 mins Lawrence to Doyle, who sets up Duff for a cross. He gets the ball in the box but the ball is cleared by Lucio. Gilberto Silva breaks, but Whelan and Lawrence foul the midfielder. Free-kick Brazil.
4 mins Robbie Keane takes a knock-down from Doyle outside the box and turns inside Maicon, but his shot is straight at Cesar. Good move from Ireland though
3 mins Andrews hunts down Kaka and puts him into touch. Good strong play from the Blackburn man.
2 mins Shay Given is almost caught in possession by Adriano and has to hastily put the ball out. I think he thought he was Brazilian himself for a minute.
1min And we're off. Brazil kick-off.
8.08pm: The Ireland team huddle together, Shay Given is looking very dapper in a new jersey.
8.07pm: Just in case you're late to join us, Robbie Keane has recovered from injury and starts the tie tonight.
8.05pm Hino Nacional Brasileiro plays out for the South American side. A nice tune and the director has just shown the customary shot of some beautiful Brazilian women in the crowd! It was bound to come sooner or later!
8.04pm: It's anthem time in north London. Amhrán na bhFiann rings out around the plush new ground.
8.03pm: Mike Dein from Liverpool is the referee for tonight's battle.
8.01pm: I'm scanning the stands to see if I can see many of the traditional samba bands and, ehem, scantily clad fans! Not much to behold at present!
7.56pm: Prediction from the panel of Johnny Giles, Ronnie Whelan and Eamon Dunphy is that Brazil may be a bit too good for Ireland tonight, but that Ireland will give it a right lash. The problem may be that without John O'Shea and Richard Dunne Ireland may just lack that little bit of experience.
7.54pm: Hi!
Expecting an entertaining match tonight. Possibly the game ending 2-1, in favour of Ireland. Goals by Whelan, Duff and Maicon.
Greetings from a Mexican fan!
Laura Gutierrez
PS: Please give a shout-out to Jonny from Kilmainham from me, will ya? Cheers!
7.52pm: Glenn Whelan is being praised in studio as a superbly aggressive midfielder and a key player for Ireland. His performance for Stoke against Man City's Patrick Vieira is being used as a perfect example in relation to this.
7.49pm: Another question that arises as a result of tonight is how important is a friendly of this nature? Do they matter at all? Or, are friendlies a superb opportunity for managers to try things out in a less pressurised environment?
7.47pm: Furthermore, Trap tells how important Liam Brady has been as his assistant and how they will miss him now that he is returning to Arsenal.
7.46pm: A Trapattoni interview is being shown, he says Ireland must be compact to beat Italy and that they can get goals from anywhere.
7.45pm Any suggestions yourself on the best team ever. The current Bohemians team, perhaps?
7.42pm: John Giles believes that the 1970s Brazil team is definitely the greatest of all time and that this side have to be compared to that one. Eamon Dunphy, however, claims that this was before his time and is unable to comment!
7.36pm: Right, the teams are confirmed as follows:
Rep of Ireland: Given (Manchester City); Kelly (Fulham), McShane (Hull City), St Ledger (Preston North End), Kilbane (Hull City); Lawrence (Stoke City), Whelan (Stoke City), Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Duff (Fulham); Keane (Celtic, capt), Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers). )
Brazil: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan); Maicon (Inter Milan), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma), Bastos (Lyon); Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus); Ramires (Benfica), Kaka (Real Madrid), Robinho (Santos); Adriano (Flamengo).
7.28pm: As always we want to hear from you. If you have any thoughts or opinions on tonight's clash then email sportonline@rte.ie.
7.27pm: Coverage is about to start on TV, and when it does with it we hope to have the final and confirmed team news for tonight's clash.
7.26pm: So, it’s samba time for Il Trap and his band of merry men as they take the first tentative step in overcoming that brutal and devastating evening in Paris, where a man named Thierry became the least liked Frenchman in our fair land. The French rugby team won’t be winning any popular contests around these parts either to be fair.
The Emirates – and annoyingly not Croke Park - is today’s venue as the Republic of Ireland take on Brazil in the most meaningful type of international match of all: a friendly.
The big talking point of the day has been whether or not Celtic’s Robbie Keane will tog out for Ireland. We now know that Robbie Keane will start tonight’s encounter.
Rep of Ireland: Given (Manchester City); Kelly (Fulham), McShane (Hull City), St Ledger (Preston North End), Kilbane (Hull City); Lawrence (Stoke City), Whelan (Stoke City), Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Duff (Fulham); Keane (Celtic, capt), Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers). )
Brazil: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan); Maicon (Inter Milan), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma), Bastos (Lyon); Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus); Ramires (Benfica), Kaka (Real Madrid), Robinho (Santos); Adriano (Flamengo).
Referee: Mike Dein.
