How did they rate?

Geremi, Cameroon

Along with samuel Eto'o, the brightest of the Cameroon bunch, especially in the second half. Nipping up and down the right wing he looked like their only potential match-winner. He was unlucky when a curling cross-shot out of nothing almost dipped over Given, but will have rued a missed chance after dispossessing Ian Harte, who was trying to be too clever too deep inside his own half. showed he was willing to defend as well as go for glory in a good all round performance. 8/10

Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon

Did the hard work to set up Mboma for Cameroon's goal, although he was ably assisted by some dire Irish defending. The star of the first half when Cameroon demonstrated why everyone rates them as Africa's best team at the World Cup. With his pace and strength he created some excellent chances and posed a constant threat to the Irish back four, forcing some superb saves out of Shay Given. He couldn't reproduce the same form in the second half when he seemed to lose some of his confidence, which may prove to be indicative of Cameroon's limitations. Wasted the best chance of the second half when a ball was directed straight through to him from goalkeeper Aloumi, and failed to link up effectively with Patrick Suffo, who replaced his prefered strike partner, goalscorer Mboma. 7/10

Steve Staunton

Had a pretty torrid first half, and only improved in the second after Ireland figured out that attack was the best form of defence. Embarassingly nut-megged by Eto'o in the build-up to the first Cameroon goal and looked ill-equipped to deal with his opponents' pace and physical presence. Improved late on after his team-mates gave him time for a breather, but ultimately one to forget for Captain Stan-tastic. 5/10

Matt Holland

Ireland's second-half revival owed much to Holland and Kinsella's positive play and the Ipswich town captain underlined this with his sweetly struck goal. Roy Keane's absence might have weighed heavily on Holland's shoulders, but in the first half the team as a whole seemed to miss their exiled captain. Holland just about held things together in midfield during Cameroon's first half domination and helped his team put the whole sorry Keane (Roy) saga behind them with his sweet strike. 8/10

Shay Given

A fantastic stop from Eto'o one-on-one in the first half was a reminder, if any were needed, of how important Given is to Ireland. This may have explained McCarthy's decision to persist with him between the sticks after he'd picked up a knock which limited his mobility. One flap in the first half when an attempted punch nearly turned into an assist for Mboma, but generally bossed his box well, even when confronted with physically far stronger opponents. 7/10

Robbie Keane

Came closest to winning it for Ireland in the second half after a quiet opening 45 minutes. Fluffed a first half header when he should have tested the keeper, but he won't have wanted the match to end after a found his bearings in the second-half. His strike against the post was a peach, and only a coat of paint stopped Ireland taking all three points. 7/10

Damien Duff

Probably the most marked improvement after the break, though this had as much to do with how his team-mates used him. Isolated in the first half, the more adventurous approach adopted by his team-mates gave him the confidence to take on his marker, Marc Viven Foe. 8/10

Kevin Kilbane

Another performance for Ireland which will leave Sunderland fans bemused. Probably the only attacking player to emerge from the first half with any credit, he at least tried to test his full-back. In the second half, some positive link up play with Duff early on led to a good headed chance which he grazed wide. However, the move heralded the beginning of Ireland's second half domination. Frustratingly, he seemed to sit back more as the game went on. An encouraging start. 7/10

Rigobert Song, Cameroon

Sketchy. Song brought the best save of the game from his own keeper when slicing a low, drilled Ian Harte first half- free-kick goalward in the first half, and Alioum did equally well in the second-half when he prevented a Song hand-ball from crossing the line. Robbie Keane's subsequent screams for a penalty fell on deaf ears. The Cameroon captain spent the remainder of the game hoofing anything that came near him and, given his chequered past, gets five marks for playing an entire 90 minutes in a World Cup finals without getting sent off. 5/10