After a crushing 4-2 defeat in Switzerland a month ago, ending the Republic’s 13-match unbeaten run, Givens dropped Kevin Doyle and Liam Kearney to the bench, although was sadly without all-time leading scorer at this level in Stephen Elliott due to an ankle knock.

It led to Givens recalling Manchester City’s Willo Flood, Jay Tabb of Brentford and Daryl Murphy of Waterford United.

Among the notable French names for the game at the Stade de l’Aube were Liverpool’s Florent Sinama-Pongolle, while Arsenal’s Gael Clichy was on the bench.