Stephen Bradley's side are on the cusp of another milestone in Europe.

The comparisons are natural given their backstories. Both were precocious talents catapulted from the Irish underage scene - Stokes choosing Arsenal, Parrott Tottenham.

Ireland's skin in the game at the Euros, to borrow the national broadcaster's phrase, revolves around the only nation capable of derailing their route to a first tournament play-off in 13 years.

Little could be gleaned from the 20-0 aggregate wins over the minnows bar hardening the case for nations to be tiered in qualification campaigns.

On June 12 last year, Christian Eriksen died on the pitch. He was gone from the world for five minutes, in his own words, a world watching his life slip away live on television.

The Students' struggles this season has seen them rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division but their value to the football ecosystem remains clear

Clash of the Rovers offers contrasting philosophies: while Shams took the money with two-year gambling sponsor deal, Sligo push for such firms to be banned

From Vera Pauw's viewpoint, the permutations are fairly straightforward. Record a second win over Finland on September 1 and the playoff berth is Ireland's.

The former Ireland boss has always refused to blindly follow the majority opinion

Even at underage level, the Auld Enemy have stood in Ireland's way too many times down the years. Can our future generation pull off another famous victory?