Dream start for Staunton
Reuters
DUBLIN, March 1 (Reuters) - Ireland gave new coach Steve Staunton a perfect start with an assured 3-0 victory over World Cup finalists Sweden in a friendly on Wednesday.
The home side, who have not qualified for the finals in Germany, piled on the pressure from the start with Chelsea winger Damien Duff giving Sweden the most trouble early on.
Duff was rewarded with his first goal for Ireland since November 2003, his shot after cutting into the box deflecting in off Sweden's Olof Mellberg in the 36th minute.
Ireland dominated throughout, while Sweden, traditionally strong in defence, looked leaden-footed at the back.
Tottenham's Robbie Keane, wearing the captain's armband for the first time, scored two minutes into the second half after being released by Levante's Ian Harte.
Liam Miller, currently on loan to Leeds from Manchester United, capped a perfect night for Staunton, dashing through from midfield and blasting into the roof of the net from 20 yards.
Irish goalkeeper Wayne Henderson, winning his first cap, saved Sweden's best chance of a goal in the 59th minute, denying Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson.
It was Sweden's last match before before coach Lars Lagerback chooses his squad for the World Cup and he said it was one the worst games under his leadership.
"It seems like we're not focused," he said. "We make too many mistakes. We're not playing like a team."
Sweden are in Group B for the World Cup with England, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago and Swedish captain Mellberg said he hoped his side could step up a gear.
"We did nothing well today," Mellberg said. "It's another friendly in which we didn't reach our normal level... hopefully, we can pull ourselves together and step up our game when it really matters."
Staunton, Ireland's most capped player, was delighted with the start. He was appointed national team manager in January, replacing Brian Kerr who was sacked in October.
Critics questioned the wisdom of appointing Staunton, who has little direct coaching experience, even though he has former England coach Bobby Robson as mentor.
"It's gone better than expected, but what's more pleasing was the performance," he said. "I thought there were some outstanding individual performances and we saw some lovely hard tackling."
Six months before the start of qualification for Euro 2008 however, the pressure on Staunton is already growing. Ireland have qualified only once for the tournament.