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The Irish take on France tomorrow night in Troyes (kick-off 8pm, Irish time).
The finals take place in May 2006, and the Republic are currently third behind France and the pace-setting Swiss. Givens' charges began their campaign with a 3-0 win over Cyprus in Kilkenny last month.
"What we cannot afford is to follow our loss against the Swiss with a loss in France," Givens told the PA today, ahead of tomorrow's meeting at the Stade de l'Aube.
"But I've a good group of players and they won't need any reminding of what happened in Switzerland.
"One bad result doesn't make a bad team and just because we conceded four goals, that doesn't mean anything is wrong. I am confident we will make amends for that performance.
"We've a chance to wipe what happened from the memory. If we get a positive result then the Switzerland game gets forgotten.
"We are a decent side and hopefully we will put it right. I will be stressing the fact it is vital to get something from this game."
The Republic's record goal scorer Stephen Elliott - six in 10 games - is missing with an ankle injury, and fellow Sunderland star Sean Thornton is also absent due to a groind strain.
Both Elliott and Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady were second half scorers against the Swiss.
Eighteen-year-old Leicester City midfielder Stephen Dawson, uncapped at this level, has been called up in Thornton's place.