IRELAND: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Germany joins hosts Switzerland and Austria at Euro 2008 finals

Germany became the first team to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals thanks to a 0-0 draw in their Group D match against Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday (October 13). The point was enough to secure the visitors their place with three games to spare and German manager Jpoachim Loew was satisfied that the job finished in the same way as it began. "Taking stock let me just say that for me it feels like we have come full circle. We have begun this qualifying campaign in September 2006 with a win against Ireland," he told reporters after the match. "Today it was our chance to wrap this qualifying process up which we have done fairly convincingly. At a very early stage we have qualified for Euro 2008 and we have won a whole lot of points and a very favourable goal difference at that so compliments to my team for achieving this," the German manager added. Germany were without usual captain Michael Ballack, striker Miroslav Klose and midfielder Bernd Schneider and Loew said that while his side had played well in qualifying it was still not among the best in Europe. The manager will have to find a new goalkeeper for that game, however, after Jens Lehmann earned a yellow card. Ireland's point from the match will do little to improve their chances of qualifying, however. With 15 points, they are still five behind the Czech Republic and eight short of table-toppers Germany who both have games in hand. Ireland manager Steve Staunton spoke about his frustration at the result given his side's performance. "Bitterly disappointed. I think we should have won the game. And gutted for the players. They put in a very good performance. Especially in the second half. Commitment. A work rate. And in the second half I thought we passed the ball a hell of a lot better and kept it better. So you know we just have to hope we finish the group off properly and come third. We know that's important Also we want to keep our record intact here at Croke Park," he said at a news conference. Yellow cards for Lee Carsley and Richard Dunne mean they too will miss Ireland's qualifier against Cyprus in Dublin on Wednesday (October 17) as Staunton now switches his focus to improving his side's seeding for the World Cup draw.

ITN Source | October 14, 2007

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