GARY KELLY: Was employed in a midfield role and was a constant threat down the right for his side in the first-half before fading out of the game. 6.

GARY BREEN: A commanding performance from the defender to frustrate Carsten Jancker. 8.

STEVE STAUNTON: The skipper led by example at the back to keep the German forward threat down to a minimum. 8.

IAN HARTE: The Leeds United full-back was at fault for Germany’s opener and looked more comfortable going forward down the left than defending. 6.

STEVE FINNAN: Did reasonably well down the right in impressively handling the penetrating runs of Christian Ziege.. 7.

MATT HOLLAND: Struggled to get a grip on the midfield, but went agonisingly close to his second goal of the tournament in the first-half. 7.

MARK KINSELLA: After giving the ball away nervously early on, he grew in confidence and helped team-mate Holland in trying to compete with their opponents. 6.

KEVIN KILBANE: The occasion looked too much for him early on, but he also grew in stature and began to pose a threat with his penetrating runs and crosses from the left. 6.

DAMIEN DUFF: Lived up to the pre-match warning of the Germans that he was Ireland’s biggest threat. Europe’s top clubs will be taking note after another impressive display and would have been celebrating a goal had it not been for Oliver Khan’s heroics. 9.

ROBBIE KEANE: Had a good chance to score a first-half equaliser with an overhead kick. Not one of his most effective games for his country until he popped up in the last minute. 7.

SUBS:

NIALL QUINN (on for Ian Harte after 73 minutes): Could have scored equaliser late on and set up Robbie Keane’s late leveller. 6.

STEVEN REID (on for Gary Kelly after 73 minutes): Failed to make much of an impact. 4.

KENNY CUNNINGHAM (on for Steve Staunton after 87 minutes)

GERMANY

OLIVER KAHN: Again proved to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world with a faultless and alert display. Stunning saves to deny Damien Duff and Robbie Keane, but beaten in dying seconds. 9.

THOMAS LINKE: A brave and hard-working performance from the German defender to keep Ireland’s attacks to a minimum. 7.

CARSTEN RAMELOW: He orchestrated his side’s best moves alongside Dietmar Hamann at the heart of the midfield and was not afraid to help out in defence. 9.

CHRISTOPH METZELDER: Did well to deal with the threat of Robbie Keane, but looked vulnerable on the turn. 7.

TORSTEN FRINGS: Showed some good touches and quality in attack, but often found wanting in his defensive duties. 6.

DIETMAR HAMANN: A typically industrious contribution from the Liverpool favourite. 8.

BERND SCHNEIDER: In the shadow of Carsten Ramelow, but showed that he was still a dangerman if allowed space. 7.

MICHAEL BALLACK: Carved out his side’s goal for Miroslav Klose, but not one of his most influential games. 7.

CHRISTIAN ZIEGE: Looked vulnerable in attack, but gave Ireland problems with his breaks down the left. 6.

MIROSLAV KLOSE: Had one chance and took it in style for his fourth goal of the tournament. Rapidly looking like becoming find of this World Cup. 7.

CARSTEN JANCKER: A frustrating game for the awkward striker. When he was not being muscled off the ball by Gary Breen he was running offside. 6.

SUBS

OLIVER BIERHOFF (on for Carsten Jancker after 75 minutes): Not what Ireland wanted to see and caused some late concern for the Irish. 5.

MARCO BODE (on for Miroslav Klose after 84 minutes)

JENS JEREMIES (on for Bernd Schneider after 89 minutes)