well but Damien Duff remarked that on the balance of play Ireland could, and perhaps should, have collected all three points. Five days later, this was followed by a 2–0 win over group minnows Faroe Islands at Lansdowne Road - a match in which Robbie Keane finally broke Niall Quinn's record of 19 international goals but otherwise was characterised by poor Irish finishing. At the next international break, on 26 March 2005, Ireland would take on Israel in Tel Aviv. Clinton Morrison put Ireland in front two minutes before the interval but, in what would result in the first serious criticism of Kerr's reign, Ireland then stood off their opponents in the second half and allowed Israel to regain a foothold in the game. Abbas Souan's last-minute equaliser ensured the game finished 1–1 and Ireland had dropped two extremely valuable points. But it was in the return fixture in June of that year that saw Ireland's hopes for qualification take a serious blow and that some retrospectively remarked was the turning point for Kerr. After racing into a 2–0 lead thanks to goals from Ian Harte and Robbie Keane, Ireland again eased off and allowed the Israelis back into the game. Avi Yehiel and Avi Nimni equalised before half-time and the result finished 2–2. The result was described as "devastating" by the Irish team and it now placed additional pressure on securing home wins against Switzerland and, ominously, France if qualification was to be assured. A routine 2–0 win away to the Faroes four days later did little to lift hopes. On 7 September 2005, Ireland welcomed France to Lansdowne Road. France were now a different proposition to the side that had drawn with Ireland in Paris the previous year and could now welcome back their first-choice players who had missed that game. Ireland produced a battling performance but, after 70 minutes and with the home side seemingly having run out of attacking ideas, they were powerless to prevent Thierry Henry's wonder strike which curled past Given from 25 yards out. The result was a massive blow to Ireland's qualification hopes and they now had to hope to win their remaining games - away to Cyprus and at home to Switzerland - while hoping other results went their way. Cyprus were dispatched 1–0 after an early goal from Stephen Elliott but in the home game against Switzerland, with qualification still