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Shay Given 6
We should realise just how close he is in quality to the likes of Gigi Buffon and Iker Casillas. Kept typically cool to collect an awkward ball lofted in the box on four minutes and easily got down to a Yoann Goucuff shot. Lucky not to concede a penalty against Patrice Evra. No chance with deflected goal
John O'Shea 6
Seems to have got rid of the moments of carelessness that used to afflict him in games such as this. Did a good shift by keeping tabs on Thierry Henry.
Richard Dunne 7
Manchester City might want to rethink their evaluations of both Dunne and his replacement Joleon Lescott. Showed he had the measure of Gignac early on here by cutting out one move and then later outpacing him to clip the ball away. No chance to impress at set pieces.
SeÁn St Ledger 6
The way the French forward three lined out meant it was always going to be difficult for the Irish back four to decide who to pick up. Occasionally seen drifting but very unlucky to divert Nicolas Anelka's shot past Given in the second-half.
Kevin Kilbane 6
Admirable as he so often is, Kilbane (below) has been a source of joy for the opposition four times throughout this campaign. Evaded a little too easily by Yoann Gourcuff and Andre-Pierre Gignac , while Anelka appeared to target him.
Liam Lawrence 6
Picked for his durability in a game where Ireland couldn't afford to cede the space at home. Perhaps could have done with a bit more precision. Whistle went before he missed sitter.
Glenn Whelan 6
Not as noticeable as Andrews but equally efficient. Worked his socks off to keep slick French at bay. Great chance to level game saved late on.
Keith Andrews 7
A night when he began to dispel all the doubts about whether he's capable of stepping up to the stars. Set tempo immediately by breaking up several French attacks. Unlucky with curling effort.
Damien Duff 7
A statement of intent with crunching early tackle on Bacary Sagna and later showed the more recognisable side of his game by skinning the Arsenal full-back even if he was then done for pace. Turned it on with several great touches.
Kevin Doyle 8
Like Keane, always going to have to battle for any break. But then you'd expect nothing less from him. Illustrated his endeavour as early as the fifth minute by sprinting to force a throw-in rather than a French goal-kick.
Robbie Keane 7
Always going to have to feed off whatever the French allowed fall from the table. Worked so hard right through. Admirably tried to cause problems but it was a big ask for him.
Substitutes
* Leon best 6
Introduced as a fresh pair of legs to augment the midfield effort and looked lively during the last 20 minutes.
* Aiden McGeady 5
Had a decent chance for the equaliser but drove ball well wide.
Stephen Hunt not on long enough to be rated.
France
Hugo Lloris 8
Bacary Sagna 6
Patrice Evra 7
Eric Abidal 6
William Gallas 7
Alou Diarra 6
Lassana Diarra 6
Yoann Gourcuff 7
Nicolas Anelka 7
Andre-Pierre Gignac 6
Substitutes
Florent Malouda not on long enough to be rated.
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Lawrence missed a sitter you say? Brilliant defending by Evra unfortunately. How Robbie Keane gets a 7 is beyond me. Is he protected by the Irish media in general and immune from criticism? All he does in my eyes is whinge and moan at the officials when things don't go his way and as for his "flick on" for Glenn Whelan's late chance, he fluffed it (so much for being world class). He went missing many times last night and he could learn from Kevin Doyle's industrious reputation. If we do manage to pull it out of the fire on Wednesday night, I really hope it's not him that ends up being the ultimate match winner as in my eyes and based on previous displays, he simply doesn't deserve it.