Robinho lifts gloom as Brazil shade win

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Robinho's 65th-minute strike was enough to settle a lackluster encounter at chilly Croke Park and send the Republic of Ireland back to the harsh reality of their increasingly frustrating managerial hunt.

A glamor friendly against Brazil could hardly have come at a better time for the Republic's beleaguered officials but the promised sunshine football hardly flowed and only the Real Madrid striker could lift the gloom in a 1-0 win.

Brazil coach Dunga had named a stronger than usual starting line-up including the likes of Chelsea's Alex and Arsenal's Gilberto, but rugged Republic defending largely kept them at bay.

In front of a colourful travelling support, the Brazilians had their best chance in the seventh minute after Robinho was fouled by Lee Carsley but Diego's free-kick was saved low by Shay Given.

Aiden McGeady produced a moment of magic in the 37th minute when he skipped around two Brazilian defenders and fired a deep cross which Luisao did well to hack out of the six-yard box.

The Republic enjoyed their best spell of the match just before the hour mark, with Kelly's right-wing cross setting up a chance for substitute Potter who mis-kicked in a central position.

Moments later Kevin Kilbane sent in a more lofted ball from the opposite flank towards Doyle, but although the Reading man got his head to it he directed it onto the roof of the net.

As the game belatedly sprang into life, Given tipped a close-range Fabiano effort over the bar and Julio Baptista drove a low effort narrowly wide of the keeper's right-hand post in the 62nd minute.

Leonardo Moura set up the onrushing Fabiano only to see him shoot into the side-netting, before the visitors finally took the lead in typically effortless fashion in the 66th minute.

Diego swept forward on a counter-attacking move before playing in Robinho who tricked the retreating Carsley before sending a delicate effort through the midfielder's legs and across Given into the corner of the net.

The Republic rallied in the dying minutes with substitute Stephen Hunt almost playing in Robbie Keane before the Tottenham man found himself free in the six-yard box only for Julio Cesar to react quickest and save.

Republic of Ireland caretaker Don Givens refused to discuss his country's ongoing search for a new manager following the defeat.

Givens heads the panel charged with finding a successor to Steve Staunton but the process has been fraught with frustration over the failure to name the new man so far.

However, Givens insists the new man will inherit a talented squad of players after watching the way his side came close to getting something out of the game.

"We have got a decent mixture of experienced professionals and promising young players so I think he'll be quite happy when he comes.

"We were missing a few players tonight who will be big players, so I think he's got something to work with. I think it was a decent performance and you have got to remember who you are playing against.

"We contained them for long periods, plus we gave them some problems as well. It was disappointing to lose at home but no everything is downbeat and I think it was a decent performance."

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres lasted just 23 minutes of Spain's 1-0 friendly win over France before being replaced after suffering what appeared to be a right hamstring injury.

It was not immediately obvious when Torres suffered the problem, but Spain coach Luis Aragones was quick to replace the frontman with Daniel Guiza when it became obvious he was struggling.

Liverpool, who are away to Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League this weekend, will be keeping their fingers crossed that the injury to Torres -- their top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions -- is not serious.

Spain's goal came from Joan Capdevila after 82 minutes. E-mail to a friend