Now this was a disaster. Ireland's World Cup and with it their world caved in at the Stade Felix Bollaert in tortuous, heartbreaking fashion last night. Now it is only Argentina who have the quarter-final against France at Lansdowne Road still in focus.

Never led until the 75th minute, and generally with an edge in possession and territory, Ireland just couldn't put the game away and break free. Suddenly behind, they switched to panic mode, but then regrouped with the encouragement of six minutes of injury-time.

First taking recourse to a couple of 15-man line-out mauls, the first of which was pulled down inches short of the line, Ireland battered away at the Puma line. But the excellent Argentinean defence held firm against a succession of desperate head-down charges. Their tackles went in harder than ever in a nail-biting climax, albeit with a succession of blatant professional fouls which might well have yielded a penalty-try. However, the deeply unsatisfactory Stuart Dickinson bottled that decision.

Ireland will harbour deep misgivings not just about Dickinson's refusal to award a late penalty-try, but his general performance and the overall penalty count of 17-16 in the Pumas' favour.

Ireland had enough ball to win the game (the ruck count was 62-40 to Ireland), and had they been able to register a try in the middle chunk of the game, they would assuredly have killed the game off.

However, on the few occasions that Brian O'Driscoll and others made it through the Puma defensive line, there was rarely sufficient support. The bottom line is that Ireland lacked the killer instinct. And it was the Puma backs, off lesser attacking platforms, who conjured the game's sole try. Ultimately, that's what won the game and from that standpoint, Ireland can have no complaints.

The irony was that in an otherwise near faultless display, in which he landed seven penalties from seven, David Humphreys shaved the posts with two drop goal attempts and hit the upright with another.

For the most part, in a strained, high-stakes game, Ireland applied few frills and kept the risks to a minimum, playing for territory and keeping the scoreboard ticking over with three-pointers. Sadly, it left them open to a late mugging.

The absence of Peter Clohessy was acutely felt as the scrum turned into something of an Achilles heel. Alas, Paul Wallace was off the pitch with a blood injury when Ireland earned their one five-metre scrum of the match 12 minutes from the end of normal time when 24-18 ahead. Never set right, Ireland were penalised by an impatient Dickinson.

Even with Wallace back on board, the Irish scrum buckled to concede the crucial 80th-minute penalty which left them in need of a try rather than a goal-kick to save the game. Playing catch-up is not this team's forte.

To begin with, on a chilly night in the north-east of France, nothing like the anticipated 30,000 crowd turned up, leaving the 41,500 stadium half-full.

For much of a staccato first half rigidly controlled by Dickinson, the only aspect of the game that was in focus for the Lens locals was the place-kicking. Mind you, they didn't appreciative this, roundly whistling and jeering the procession of penalties which bisected the posts from Humphreys and Gonzalo Quesada.

Dickinson, who had been chosen despite having refereed the Pumas only four nights before, might have helped proceedings had he not prevented a couple of quick taps or been inclined to play the advantage more. For the most part, though, each side was content to play for territory and take its three-pointers.

Humphreys was in sublime form, ensuring Ireland were never headed as long as it was a kicking duel with Quesada. Humphreys opened his account from fully halfway and his next was from 45 metres. It had been a pretty good start. Second rows Jeremy Davidson and Malcolm O'Kelly hit the rucks hard, and after a crooked throw to start with, the Irish line-out supplied a steady stream of ball.

The respective out-halves traded penalties before Ireland came close to the first try, as first the out-of-touch Conor O'Shea threw a low pass to Justin Bishop after Dion O'Cuinneagain, who had another mighty all-round match, opened up Argentina with a basketball pass off a turnover.

Quesada briefly drew the Pumas level at 9-9, but Humphreys put Ireland in front again. Ireland continued to lord the territorial game. Keith Wood was showing most of his repertoire as well - an athletic high take could have been woven from the Clare midfield, and there was also a deft kick to touch.

Argentina kept conceding penalties when their line was threatened, mostly through flankers Santiago Phelan and Rolando Martin, as the Irish maul also began to make inroads. Kevin Maggs was almost through, but Dickinson adjudged Humphreys's pass forward. Kieron Dawson was freeing up the ruck as well as making his tackles.

A Quesada miss on half-time - the only one of the night by either kicker in a combined total of 16 - left Ireland 15-9 ahead at the break.

On the restart O'Cuinneagain led the way with a huge follow-up hit. He continued to set the tone in the third quarter and a penalty and a drop goal by Humphreys had Ireland breathing easier at 21-12.

Ireland were on the brink of putting the game away, but a costly penalty turnover against Wood for not releasing led to a huge touch find by Quesada, who then landed a couple of penalties before trading another one with Humprheys to leave it 24-18.

The turning point was possibly Humphreys's drop goal attempt which hit the upright, and the ensuing five-metre scrum where Ireland were penalised. Argentina had begun to break out of their patterned play, with playmaker Lisandro Arbizu unveiling his array of tricks, be they chips from deep or deft reverse passes.

Matt Mostyn saved a near certain try when coming in off his wing to snuff out a two-man overlap, but off set-piece ball wide on the right, replacement out-half Felipe Contepomi floated a long pass to Gonzalo Camardon, coming across from the right wing. His pass in front of Diego Albanese gave the tricky left-winger sufficient time to score in the corner.

Quesada, inevitably, landed the touchline conversion and tacked on another penalty. Cue the desperate finale, and whatever crying was to be done would be for Ireland.