An absent presence foremost on minds

We'd anticipated this being the night of the coronation, our new leader paraded around Croke Park in the back of a chariot driven by John Delaney, greeting the masses and urging them to follow him and his new charges all the way to South Africa.

Tel, Giovanni, Billy, Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick or Tich - we were never too sure who it might be, especially when the bookies had suspended betting on them all at one stage or another. But we were hopeful it would be someone - not anyone, someone - and the journey to the 2010 World Cup could begin.

We are, though, still waiting for the driver to turn up.

So there we were last night, Brazil, Croke Park in February, three months and a bit since Steve Staunton bid adieu, and still we're gafferless. "All we are saying, is give us a gaffer," the crowd didn't sing, but they were probably thinking it.

In the end Brazil, Ronaldinho-, Kaka-, Lucio- and Pato-less, showed no mercy on a night when the Irish players would have wanted to do it for the gaffer, if they had one, caretaker Don Givens's proud unbeaten run in senior international football (well, played two, drew two) brought to an end by Robinho's sidefoot in the 67th minute.

There were, though, enjoyable cameos from Kevin Kilbaninio, Liam Millerio and Aiden McGeadyio to warm the crowd on a night that your average polar bear would find unpleasantly chilly, and Stephen Hunt's appearance on the touchline, before he came on as a substitute for Kevin Doyle, was greeted with such enthusiasm from a numbed crowd the FAI might opt to do the popular thing and make him player-manager. Actually, we shouldn't jest about these things; they might happen.

A good Brazil, not a great Brazil, but even when they're ordinary they seem extraordinary to those for whom that yellow shirt is a symbol of all that can be very lovely about the game of association football.

Testing times, then, for Givens. Entrusted with the task, along with Don Howe and Ray Houghton, of finding a replacement for himself, he just hasn't had the time the last week, Steve Finnan and Andy O'Brien retiring and Stephen Ireland back in Manchester polishing his FAI Younger Player of the Year trophy giving him an added headache or three when he'd already run out of Aspirin.

He enjoyed last night though, maybe the only 90 minutes of peace and quiet he's had of late. Proud of his players too, and certain the new manager has plenty to work with.

"He'll be inheriting a good squad of players; they're a joy to work with, good professionals. I think he'll be quite happy when he comes in and sees what he's got. And remember, we were missing a few players tonight, but when he comes in I think he's got something to work with.

"It was a decent performance by us tonight, but we have to remember who we were playing against; the quality of the opposition was very, very high.

"We contained them for long periods, we were compact, the concentration was good, and we gave them a few problems. Yes, of course, it's disappointing to lose, especially at home, but the lads gave it everything."

So, Don, any, you know, news? If he was surprised to be asked about the meticulous search for a new manager he hid it well.

"The match tonight, we lost, okay?" So there's nothing you can say about the process? "No, nothing at all. Not tonight." Has all of this been hard for you? You've had a lot on your plate? "Look, you get through these things, you do each part of the job the best you can. But this wasn't difficult; it was a pleasure and an honour to manage the team against Brazil. An honour."

And he's gone. There's a gaffer to be found. On we go, next stop Serbia at Croke Park in May. And we've been promised that gaffer by then. Hopefully not a compromise.