How the Republic of Ireland players rated after a dramatic and gut-wrenching night in Prague.
Caoimhin Kelleher 7
A sign of how lacking in guile the Czechs were that Kelleher had precious little to do across the 120 minutes.
First called into action for Pavel Sulc's volley which was straight down his throat. This, it turned out, was in the interregnum between Collins going down and the referee being called over to the monitor to award the penalty.
Was alert in tipping a looping header over the crossbar just after half-time. Had one edgy moment where he skied a punched clearance back over his own crossbar.
Had the honour of being the first ever goalkeeper to save a Czechia penalty in a shoot-out but it wasn't enough.
Seamus Coleman 8
Stalwart. Defensively faultless and drove forward in attack. Rescued Ireland when he darted in front of Schick to intercept a low cross and win a free.
Perhaps his only bad moment in the first half was when he failed to control a long diagonal in the corner but it was asking a lot of the man.
Played the full 90 minutes and was still at the coalface in the early part of extra-time until he could give no more.
Dara O'Shea 8
Immense, save for the fateful moment when he was beaten to the near post cross, in which Ladislav Krejci turned home the equaliser.
Otherwise, a towering presence under the barrage of crosses that rained over from the Czechs in the second half.
In scenes reminiscent of Richard Dunne in Moscow in 2011, won one aerial tussle with Schick and drove out of defence, winning a free in the process.
Nathan Collins 9
One of his most commanding displays in an Ireland jersey since his spectacular early run in the jersey in the summer of 2022. The strange defensive lapses that characterised his play in Armenia and even at times in Budapest were entirely absent. Superb both in the air and on the deck.
So close to scoring when his deflected shot thwacked off the roof of the crossbar. And then again from the resulting corner when he glanced it wide of the right post.
Should be commended for his cleverness in engineering the penalty out of nothing. He highlighted immediately that he'd got the ball first and let the official know he had a decision to make (it's an area in which Irish players have been faulted in the past).
Jake O'Brien 7
Part of a sterling defensive effort even if not quite as eye-catching and dominant as the other two centre-halves.
His throw-ins aren't quite Delap-ian in their trajectory but have enough heft on them to cause trouble.
Prone to an all-too obvious push when contesting in the air. This yielded a dangerous free-kick inside the halfway line.
Ryan Manning 5
Sad to say but Ireland paid dearly for his moment of needless panic in the first half. Gave the Czechs a lifeline when they were floundering and seemed to be in a state of disarray. The initial judgement was that ref Nyberg was taking the opportunity to even things up but replays indicated the ref was correct.
Wasn't too bad aside from that. Won a couple of frees on occasion. Took down one long ball with Bergkamp-esque touch, which led to a chance from a long throw-in.
Shipped a head injury when contesting a bouncing ball with Vladimir Coufal and was called ashore.
Jack Taylor 6.5
Deputised reasonably well in the middle of the pitch for the injured Josh Cullen, albeit in a game where midfield was often by-passed.
Went in the book rather needlessly for stopping a Czech counter-attack after a stray Ogbene pass, which contributed to his substitution.
Left Coleman in trouble with a loose pass across the Irish box, creating a situation which led to a Czech corner.
Jayson Molumby 7.5
So unlucky not to have put Ireland 3-1 up early in the second half after connecting sweetly with a dropping ball on the edge of the box.
Otherwise, part of an industrious Irish effort in midfield, where they had an unusually easy ride against a Czech side who seemed uninterested in playing through them.
Appeared to drive down a blind alley at one stage in the second half but raced around the Czech defence on the half on their outside and kept the move alive.
Never renowned as the silkiest of midfield players but that was no disadvantage on the night that was in it.
Finn Azaz 7
Beautiful turn on the edge of the box to create a chance for himself but his curled effort lacked the power to really trouble the keeper.
Another delightful flick in a crowded area almost created a breakaway but Parrott and Ogbene proceeded to leave the ball to one another.
Did well on several occasions to break up Czech attacks and get Ireland out of tight spaces. Unfortunately his poor penalty turned the tide in the shootout at a moment when Ireland had the initiative.
Chiedozie Ogbene 8
As usual a tireless runner and a wildcard for the opposition defence. His efforts were typified none better than in his final act of the game, when he ripped down the right flank on the counter, brushing part the Czech manager in the process. He was perhaps too drained to deliver a final ball, which was cut out.
Otherwise, a master of engineering free-kicks from nowhere. Continued to drive forward in the closing stages, giving Ireland's defenders a crucial breather.
Troy Parrott 8
In what was a fairly frenetic match, Parrott provided a touch of class in the first half. Aside from the well taken penalty, his angled passing and ability to find a pass often got Ireland out of tight spaces and sent them away on the counter.
So close to a second goal with a well directed header after a Jake O'Brien throw-in. Generated an immense amount of power given it arrived to him with very little pace.
He tired very clearly in the extra-time period and was plainly being left on for the shootout. Coolly took the opener.
SUBSTITIONS
Robbie Brady 5
Cracking defending to shepherd a ball out of play on 80 minutes, after which he was almost assaulted in celebration by Molumby.
Almost gifted the Czechs a goal when passing the ball back into the Irish box in the first half of extra-time. Was stamped on his ankle in the process but it was missed by every official present.
Chronically bad touch at one point interrupted a lengthy period of Irish possession in extra-time but O'Shea was on hand to bail him out.
Some rustiness overall but slotted his penalty away well, as he did in France 10 years ago - which will remain Ireland's last appearance at a major tournament for a while yet.
Alan Browne 4
Cruel marking given the agony of the penalty miss but he had a difficult night even in the game itself.
Was certainly unlucky to give away the free-kick which led to the Czechia equaliser, which looked unbelievably soft in real-time and even more so on the replay. Inexplicably, the linesman took great theatrical delight in flagging it.
Was outmuscled in physical exchanges to a worrying degree in extra-time. Butchered a promising breakaway when the Czechs were caught short and he failed to sort out his feet properly. Gave the home sides one last chance to launch one in the mixer after letting a ball bounce and swinging an arm into the player who contested the ball.
Deserves kudos for stepping up to take one, especially after the trauma of Slovakia in late 2020.
Has had an excellent season for Middlesbrough - his lack of international involvement may have been a factor.
Adam Idah 6
So close to getting through on goal in the first half of extra-time but was denied by a last-ditch tackle. Put himself about with vigour but couldn't carve any openings.
Lacked Ogbene's capacity to create real consternation in the Czech defence. Some evidence in his rustiness and lack of game-time with his touches. Tucked away his penalty very well though.
Jimmy Dunne 7
Probably one of the better cameo appearances from the bench. Dunne put himself about well, won a couple of duels and lashed over a couple of crosses.
Sammie Szmodics N/A
The good news is that he is conscious again after being knocked out cold when contesting an aerial ball. Heimir Hallgrimsson confirmed as much in his interview with Tony O'Donoghue afterwards.
The manager disclosed that he was also to be one of the penalty takers.
Harvey Vale N/A
Quite a cauldron to make one's debut even if he only got injury-time in extra-time.
