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INPHO/James Crombie
Euro 2012

Out of 10? Here's the Irish squad's tournament ratings

As the dust settles on Ireland’s Euro 2012 campaign, Miguel Delaney runs the rule over each squad member.

Shay Given

Rating out of 10 5

Tournament in two words Bonner ’94

Best moment The save from Xavi against Spain

Worst moment Antonio Cassano’s header

Prospects Heavily hinted at international retirement

Did the tournament affect his status? Slightly. Will of course remain arguably our greatest ever goalkeeper but, on his biggest stage other than the 2002 World Cup, could have done without his worst run of performances. His brilliant career will a similar caveat to Bonner’s from 1994.

Sean St Ledger

Rating out of 10 5

Tournament in two words Hectic, panicked

Best moment The goal against Croatia

Worst moment Fernand Torres’s first goal

Prospects Unlikely to be dislodged as Richard Dunne’s deputy

Did the tournament affect his status? Not really. Always the more panicky of the central defensive partnership, and that was even more exaggerated given the quality of the attacks.

Stephen Ward

Rating out of 10 3

Tournament in two words Targeted, exposed

Best moment A challenge on Abate against Italy

Worst moment The first of the tournament: Darijo Srna roaring past him

Prospects His poor performances may well see Trapattoni considering shifting O’Shea to the left again

Did the tournament affect his status? Sadly, yes. A lot of the fears people had about him at this level came true. Hugely honest player. Unfortunately, the honest assessment is that this level is a little beyond him.

John O’Shea

Rating out of 10 3

Tournament in two words Lacked authority

Best moment A key block in the Italy game

Worst moment Cesc Fabregas’s goal against Ireland

Prospects Shouldn’t affect his stature as one of team’s leading defenders

Did the tournament affect his status? Somewhat. Didn’t really lead by example in the manner that would have been expected from one of the squad’s most decorated and most experienced players.

Richard Dunne

Rating out of 10 4

Tournament in two words Fighting tides

Best moment After several key interceptions against Italy, almost forced an equaliser past Gigi Buffon.

Worst moment Had tears in his eyes in the mixed zone after the Italy game. Appeared to take the tournament worse than any other player.

Prospects Despite admitting he was “sick of football” after the Italy game, should carry on.

Did the tournament affect his status? Not really. Did more than anyone to get us here and, constantly in the firing line, was placed in an impossible situation.

Glenn Whelan

Rating out of 10 3

Tournament in two words Overrun, outmanoeuvred

Best moment Sadly, didn’t really have one.

Worst moment Turning his back on the corner that led to Antonio Cassano’s goal.

Prospects Depends on Trapattoni’s decisions. Likely to stay in that midfield.

Did the tournament affect his status? Yes. Previously, more people were willing to accept his limitations as a result of the often unfair job Trapattoni demanded of him. And, while that remained the case, still made a few errors that the system can’t really account for.

Spain’s Xabi Alonso and Aiden McGeady of Ireland. INPHO/James Crombie

Aiden McGeady

Rating out of 10 4

Tournament in two words overworked, underwhelming

Best moment The cross for St Ledger’s goal

Worst moment Srna slipping past him in the same move that so exposed Ward

Prospects One of the few players who should hope to kick on. Could do with either a change of manager or a change of role given how Trapattoni’s demanding system saps the energy from his attacking play.

Did the tournament affect his status? Not really. Continued a trend of not truly living up to his talent in an Irish shirt, even if the system simply does not suit him.

Keith Andrews

Rating out of 10 6

Tournament in two words Ireland’s best

Best moment Successfully suppressing Luka Modric

Worst moment Finally losing his cool against Italy

Prospects Although 31, it would be a shame to not see him kick on after a generally convincing tournament

Did the tournament affect his status? It enhanced it. Andrews was the most impressive player in the squad.

Kevin Doyle

Rating out of 10 4

Tournament in two words Lost causes

Best moment The tackle on Andrea Pirlo which so rattled Italy earlier on, although the fact a forward’s finest moment is a defensive act like that — and well into his own half — illustrates a lot.

Worst moment Squandering the very early opportunity against Italy.

Prospects May see his starting position under threat.

Did the tournament affect his status? Not really. The doubts about his starting place remain.

Robbie Keane

Rating out of 10 3

Tournament in two words Slow, unsteady

Best moment An early flick that caused problems against Croatia

Worst moment foraging around as a lone front man in a role he’s clearly not capable of anymore.

Prospects Won’t be retiring any time soon. May well turn into Ireland’s David Beckham.

Did the tournament affect his status? A little. Will always rightfully be seen as Ireland’s greatest ever striker but records can secure a regular place forever. Keane may have reached tipping point before this tournament.

Damien Duff

Rating out of 10 4

Tournament in two words Undeserved ending

Best moment Leading the team out against Italy on his 100th cap

Worst moment Chasing shadows against Spain

Prospects Almost certain to retire from international football

Did the tournament affect his status? Not at all. The praise he received on earning his 100th cap is testament to that.

Stephen Kelly

Did not play

Prospects May well return to the starting XI if Trapattoni decides to shift O’Shea to the left

Paul McShane

Did not play

Prospects Likely to remain a squad member

Jon Walters

Rating out of 10 5

Tournament in two words Hustle, bustle

Best moment Caused Croatia some problems when he came on

Worst moment Chasing lost causes against Spain

Prospects One of the squad’s better performers and, just as he forces way past defenders, may force his way into the team.

Did the tournament affect his status? Probably one of the few to come out of it a bit better off.

Darron Gibson

Did not play

Prospects a mooted change of system could see him more involved.

Keiren Westwood

Did not play

Prospects Soon to be the number-one

Stephen Hunt

Did not play

Prospects Falling down the pecking order

Darren O’Dea

Did not play

Prospects likely to remain the reserve centre-half

Ireland’s Shane Long and Gordon Schildenfeld of Croatia  Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Shane Long

Rating out of 10 5

Tournament in two words Impact sub

Best moment A fine exchange with Kevin Doyle that brought a necessary tactical foul from Daniele De Rossi

Worst moment Left on the bench against Spain

Prospects Another who will fancy his chances of displacing the forward two

Did the tournament affect his status? Same as Walters, looked one of Ireland’s most dangerous players when he came on.

Simon Cox

Rating out of 10 4

Tournament in two words Running aimlessly

Best moment A fine first strike of the game against Spain

Worst moment Wandering about out of position against Croatia

Prospects Has forced his way into the main 15 for the foreseeable future. Outside chances of starting games.

Did the tournament affect his status? A bit. Often seen as an astute pick who could potentially have an impact before this tournament, he really had none at it.

Paul Green

Rating out of 10 Did not play enough

Tournament in two words Irrelevant, surprising

Best moment Getting on the pitch

Worst moment Doing little there in an admittedly impossible situation

Prospects dependent on Trapattoni but probably unlikely to ever be a first-choice midfielder

Did the tournament affect his status? No. For somewhat unfair reasons he can have no control over, will always be unpopular among sections of the Irish support.

James McClean

Rating out of 10 Did not play enough

Tournament in two words Fan favourite

Best moment Provided the biggest cheer beyond St ledger’s goal when he came on in the Spanish game

Worst moment Sitting on the bench as Simon Cox was selected ahead of him to come on on the wing

Prospects Increasingly impossible for Trapattoni to ignore, especially with Duff’s impending retirement.

Did the tournament affect his status? As ever with McClean, he became an even better player by not being on the pitch.

David Forde

Did not play

Prospects Soon to be number-two

Euro 2012 Live: Ukraine v England, France v Sweden

Ratings success: Over 2 million tune in to each of Ireland’s Euro 2012 games

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