scores were level after Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given failed to collect a corner which allowed Sergei Ignashevich to steal in and divert the ball home from ten yards. Russia's tactics effectively nullified Ireland - from whom Damien Duff proved the only credible attacking outlet - and the game finished level with Kerr's tactics drawing some criticism afterwards for lacking creativity and an over-reliance on Duff to provide the inspiration necessary for unlocking defenses. Ireland remained second but the games in hand enjoyed by both Switzerland and Russia over them meant that a win away in Basel was vital if Ireland were to have any chance of qualifying. In the final game of the campaign, Ireland went down 2–0 due to goals from Hakan Yakin and Alexander Frei. The Swiss topped the group and qualified automatically. Russia's emphatic 4–1 win over the Swiss the previous month and then their 3–1 win at home to Georgia saw them secure the play-off spot. Ireland would not be going to the European Championships in Portugal. Despite the disappointment in failing to qualify, hopes remained high that Kerr would be able to lead the Irish team to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Ireland were drawn in UEFA Group 4 - once again alongside Switzerland - but also with the formidable challenge presented by the 1998 World Champions France, with Israel, Cyprus and Faroe Islands rounding out the group. On 4 September 2004, the campaign got off to a positive start with a 3–0 home win over Cyprus, Clinton Morrison, Andy Reid and Robbie Keane the scorers. Four days later, Ireland returned to the scene of their previous campaign's elimination as they took on Switzerland in Basel. This time they were able to claim a 1–1 draw after Clinton Morrison opened the scoring with Hakan Yakin restoring parity for the home side. Ireland's daunting away trip to France was next, on 9 October, but injuries and suspensions had deprived the French team of a core of their strongest players - Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira and Claude Makélélé among them - raising the possibility of an Irish victory. Boosted by the end of Roy Keane's international exile, Ireland turned in a committed and disciplined performance and emerged with a deserved point in a match that finished 0–0 with the French evidently still suffering from their poor performance at that Summer's European Championship. The result was received