Damien Duff (right) celebrates his goal with Republic teammates

Chelsea winger Damien Duff opened the scoring when his deflected shot found the bottom corner after 36 minutes.

New captain Robbie Keane doubled the lead two minutes after the break with a powerful 16-yard volley.

Substitute Liam Miller added the third on 71 minutes with a superb run and shot past keeper Andreas Isaksson.

The Republic made a bright start but Sweden, who will face England in the World Cup in June, threatened first after eight minutes.

Irish keeper Shay Given beat Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a race for the ball to deny the Juventus striker a clear strike on goal.

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The home side went close two minutes later when Isaksson's punched clearance from Duff's cross rebounded off Stephen Elliott with the ball drifting wide.

Man-of-the-match Duff was the creator again on 12 minutes with his cross headed into the side-netting by debutant Kevin Doyle.

Henrik Larsson was played in by a superb pass from Ibrahimovic after 25 minutes but the Barcelona frontman volleyed over from close range.

Keane volleyed wide before Duff broke the deadlock, cutting inside Alexander Ostlund and hitting a low drive which deflected off Olof Mellberg before finding the bottom corner.

Tottenham forward Keane wasted a good opening five minutes before the break but it was an encouraging first half for the new boss.

Keane made amends for his miss by scoring two minutes into the second half with a low volley from Ian Harte's headed throughball.

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Staunton brought on Wayne Henderson and Stephen Ireland for their debuts and both were involved within minutes of their introduction.

Ireland scuffed a shot wide from 12 yards before Henderson saved from a weak Larsson effort after a slip from Joey O'Brien.

Manchester United midfielder Miller, currently on loan with Leeds United, made it 3-0 after 71 minutes with a superb 25-yard shot which flew past Isaksson and high into the net.

The match was over as a contest and the tempo dropped as the Republic cruised to an easy victory.

Rep of Ireland: Given (Henderson 48), Joey O'Brien (Miller 61), Andrew O'Brien, Dunne, Harte (Kilbane 61), Elliott (Kavanagh 48), Steven Reid, O'Shea (Ireland 48), Duff, Keane, Doyle (Morrison 68).
Subs Not Used: Breen, Douglas, Kelly, Lawrence.

Booked: Steven Reid.

Goals: Duff 35, Keane 47, Miller 70.

Sweden: Isaksson, Ostlund (Christoffer Andersson 74), Mellberg, Hansson, Edman, Linderoth (Daniel Andersson 69), Elmander (Jonson 60), Kallstrom (Svensson 60), Wilhelmsson, Ibrahimovic (Rosenberg 37), Larsson (Allback 78).
Subs Not Used: Gustafsson, Dorsin, Lucic, Alexandersson.

Booked: Ostlund, Christoffer Andersson.

Att: 34,000

Ref: Damien Ledentu (France).