Ireland v Switzerland / Analysis: It's time for pragmatism rather than recrimination. The Republic of Ireland failed to qualify for the World Cup finals or the play-offs because they did not have the quality of player to do it when it mattered.

It didn't matter whether it was Jose Mourinho or Brian Kerr who was in charge.

Look at the three substitutions Ireland made; in Stephen Elliott a striker who is an international novice, Stephen Reid a player who has played very little in the campaign, and Gary Doherty whose arguably a better centre-half. It encapsulates Ireland's struggles of late.

Fingers will be pointed at the Israel results but they made it difficult for France and Switzerland too so that accusation is a little unfair. When the group started, second place was a realistic ambition and the team came close but the just lacked that quality.

Inevitably there will be calls for Kerr's head but there has to be an honesty if he's to be replaced. You have to look at what's available to him and if there is to be a new man, then there needs to be a stock-take in terms of where the international team is going.

Kerr needed his big players to perform in the penultimate stage of qualifying. He was denied Roy Keane through injury and neither Damien Duff nor Robbie Keane performed to their high standards.

The opening 45 minutes was a cagey staccato affair, punctuated by an intrusive referee who refused to let the game flow. It wasn't his fault alone as some of Ireland's play lacked authority and discipline.

It was to some extent a classic cup final with neither side prepared to risk too much, afraid of what they might lose rather than what was to be gained by taking the initiative. The Swiss looked a little bit better on the ball, neater and were more prepared to work their openings.

Ireland were content to lump it forward, looking to knock it long from back to front. The defenders were hitting too many long balls that were no better than 50/50 and not favouring either Robbie Keane or Clinton Morrison. It meant Switzerland were able to pick up possession cheaply through sheer weight of numbers.

The Swiss would have been aware of the fact France went 2-0 up against Cyprus and that might have tempered any exuberance. The longer the half developed the more it shaped to be a contest that would be decided by a single goal.

Ian Harte's free header from the corner on two minutes should have given Ireland the lead but the visitors will point to what was arguably an more glaring miss by Alexander Frei. Kerr would have told his team to get the ball down and try to play, to gradually increase the pressure by keeping possession and being patient.

Morrison, the patron saint of lost causes in terms of chasing down some ball that was knocked in his direction, needed to be a little less physical in his duel with Phillip Senderos and try to play the ball more. It was a common problem as the home side were guilty of several rash challenges.

One other aspect of Ireland's performance that was hugely disappointing was the lack of quality in crossing. Time and again, the home side worked the ball wide only to under or over hit crosses. There was precious little penetration as the increasingly isolated front two for Ireland struggled to try to secure possession.

John O'Shea and Mattie Holland needed to try to get past the front two but were hampered by a conservative attitude and some lamentable passing. The longer the game progressed the more ragged the Irish performance became; it became a case of hit and hope.

While the Irish defence weren't unduly troubled after the interval, in part due to Switzerland's lack of ambition and, on occasion, vision. They didn't have to score, didn't have to press on and seemed content to swarm around Ireland's front two and flood midfield to pick up breaking ball.

Despite their lack of adventure it was the Swiss that created the two most clear-cut opportunities after the interval with Frei involved on both occasions. He failed to get a touch on a ball whipped in from the left and was later brilliantly denied by Shay Given when clean through.

At the end Ireland could only offer perspiration when inspiration was required. There could be no doubting the attitude or the commitment but that lack of quality, the lack of ability to change the pattern of the game proved too much of a handicap.