The Republic of Ireland managed to hold Brazil to a 0-0 draw in 2004, and, despite the abundance of talent on the pitch, it was a player in green who picked up the man of the match award.
In that period, the atmosphere around the Republic of Ireland was positive - especially without Roy Keane. Indeed, they reached the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan having beaten Saudi Arabia and drawn with Germany and Cameroon in the group stages, and were only knocked out of the tournament on penalties by Spain.
