Republic of Ireland 0 - 0 Croatia: Robust Irish please Trapattoni

The Republic of Ireland extended their unbeaten run to five games after playing out a goalless draw with Croatia in last night's friendly.

The hosts, who had won all of their previous four fixtures, appeared fortunate not to give away a penalty in the first half as clumsy challenges in the box by Glenn Whelan and Stephen Kelly went unpunished. They nearly broke the deadlock soon after when Shane Long saw his header kept out by goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, though, while Richard Dunne missed their best chance after the break.

Although a string of players had withdrawn from his squad due to injury, Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni was able to name a relatively strong first XI.

It was captain Robbie Keane and new West Brom signing Long leading the line in a side which also featured the likes of Shay Given, Dunne and Damien Duff.

The Republic were looking to keep up their recent momentum ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifying double-header against Slovakia and Russia next month with a positive performance against the Croatians, whose starting line-up included Tottenham trio Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka.

Given that sort of star quality and the fact that Slaven Bilic's team are ranked ninth in the world, Trapattoni will view this as another encouraging result.

Republic of Ireland: Given, Kelly, Dunne, St. Ledger, Ward, Duff, Whelan, Gibson, Hunt, Long, Keane. Subs: Westwood, Forde, Keogh, Treacy, O'Dea, Clark, Cox, Clifford.

Croatia: Pletikosa, Corluka, Lovren, Simunic, Strinic, Srna, Modric, Vukojevic, Kranjcar, Eduardo, Mandzukic. Subs: Subasic, Pranjic, Perisic, Schildenfeld, Kalinic, Ilicevic, Dujmovic, Olic, Petric, Vrsaljko.