 Given akamiririra Republic of Ireland pamwero wevechidiki asati awana makapu mashanu eRepublic of Ireland yenyika yepasi pemakore makumi maviri nerimwe. Kunyange zvazvo asina kuva mutambi wechikwata chekutanga cheBlackburn Rovers, zviitiko zvaGiven paakanga ari muchikwereti kuSwindon neSunderland zvakamutungamirira kuti ashevedzwe kuRepublic of Ireland squad muna 1996. Akaita kutanga kwake kwechikwata chenyika musi wa 27 Kurume 1996, mumutambo wakanangana neRussia. Kunyange zvazvo Ireland yakakundikana kukwanisa kuenda kuFIFA World Cup ya1998 kana kuti UEFA Euro 2000, Given akazvisimbisa somuchengeti wepagedhi wokutanga. Akatamba mumitambo yese yenyika yake pa2002 FIFA World Cup. Nekubudirira kuCameroon neGermany uye kukunda 3-0 kuSaudi Arabia, chikwata ichi chakasvika padanho rechipiri remakwikwi aya. Kusangana neSpain mumutambo wokurova, Ireland yakamanikidza zvirango nechikamu pa11 pakupera kwenguva yakawedzerwa. Zvirango zvitatu zvakapotsa zveIreland zvakapedza kutora kwavo chikamu mumakwikwi, uye Spain yakafambira mberi kuenda kutenderera rinotevera. 