The parallels are striking. For Liechtenstein in Vaduz almost 23 years ago read Gibraltar in the Victoria Stadium on Saturday.

In contrast to soundbites of rebuilding and transition by his predecessor Martin O’Neill, injected into the mission statement from Mick McCarthy is a reality check in pragmatism.

Tony Cascarino has become the latest former Ireland international to criticise Roy Keane’s actions as Ireland assistant boss – stating that the former Man United great was ‘anything but a professional’.

TWO MINDS: Chris Kamara made the most of a rare seat on the ‘Soccer Saturday’ panel:

Do you remember who said: “That five years as an electrician probably just grounded myself”?

Peter Schmeichel all but scoffs when asked how the current Ireland and Denmark squads compare to his day when the teams drew twice in the qualifying rounds for the 1994 World Cup.

Say what you like about Enda Kenny but he never found himself embroiled in a row with LCD Soundsystem, writes Colm O’Regan. 

“To succeed you have to become nastier” Mark Hughes told Tore Andre Flo, soon after the young Norwegian arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 1997.

You heard them before you saw them.

Different era, same trauma. For Séamus Coleman 2017 read Jimmy Holmes 1979.

He was famed as an England boss but any Irish players came under the wing of the late Graham Taylor during his long managerial career, with the legendary Paul McGrath leading the tributes to his former boss.

Jack Charlton was Ireland manager the last time Ireland played a senior international match in Cork, and Munster’s finest provided the opposition, writes Martin Claffey.

All set for the big one tomorrow? The Super Sunday to beat them all?

Fourteen years on from the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea, when he scored for Ireland against Saudi Arabia, Gary Breen is still being followed around the place by one of the daftest and most memorable of the Green Army’s all-time greatest hits.

A couple of weeks ago the new Red Mills Unraced Stake at Curraheen Park was unveiled. This is a great addition to the calendar at this track as it has long lacked a similar stake, the type which goes particularly well at other venues.

Jon Walters capped a memorable weekend and a memorable year when, having scored for Stoke City in their 2-1 win at Watford on Saturday, he was last night named Ireland’s Player of 2015 at the annual FAI/3 International Awards.

Former Irish international Tony Cascarino believes Sweden are there for the taking in the Republic of Ireland‘s opening Euro 2016 fixture.

In his role as a technical instructor for Uefa, Packie Bonner occasionally bumps into his work colleague Ioan Lupescu on the continent.

Liverpool’s £29 million (€40m) deal to bring Brazil forward Roberto Firmino to Anfield will not impact on further summer spending or change their stance on want-away winger Raheem Sterling.

The State has said it was horrified by the revelations about the 796 babies buried at Tuam; The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland has said the Church felt a sense of “bereavement” at the result of last month’s marriage equality referendum and Interpol has issued ’international wanted persons’ alerts for two former FIFA officials. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

Andy Townsend might struggle to remember Ireland’s 3-3 draw away to Poland in 1991 – the last competitive meeting between the two countries – but it’s a game which is lodged firmly in your humble correspondent’s memory banks.

They can never again say I don’t make the big calls, says Larry Ryan.

Behind all the bonhomie and judicious score-settling, Roy Keane’s books are discreetly aimed at Premier League bosses, says Michael Clifford

Wednesday. The cartoonist rings. Drinan. Good, isn’t he? "What’s it about this week? I’ve to draw it today. Heading off."

Andy Townsend not up to speed: “The players are always greeted with such velocity here at Old Trafford.”

We wanted it to work out for David Moyes.

Adrian Chiles has been voted the most gaffe-prone TV football pundit.

Entente Cordiale, surely? King for a day, or two. No need to pepper the makeshift throne.

The Irish Government should treat whistleblower Edward Snowden’s asylum plea with the same creativity as the Jack Charlton era, it has been claimed.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said it is impossible for Ireland to offer asylum to the whistleblower Edward Snowden for the time being.

Hod and Rod. Two men made for centre stage inched back into the glare this week.

It is too easy to be cynical about The Lions. But if I have learned anything in life, it is that; if an easy option presents itself, your search for options is over.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich deserves a “pat on the back” for bringing Jose Mourinho back to the club, according to former Blues favourite Ron Harris.

The backdrop to last night’s events in Dublin had been a negative one, despite the Stockholm result, focused as it was on past defeats to Austria who have found encounters with Ireland, more often than not, to their liking.

For the Irish football fan, this time last year was full of dreams, songs to sing and camper vans to source.

It didn’t take long for people to start picking holes in Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s miracle goal.

The old saver ‘cultural differences’ was suggested; the first refuge of racists and the inappropriately friendly

1. Martin Keown’s poker face: “Del Bosque has played his hand here… it’s almost like a game of chess.”

Ahead of our departure for Poznan, we caught Poland’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Greece on television in Sopot last night.

When it comes to ranking my shameful confessions, this one doesn’t quite make it to the top spot.

Robbie Keane’s former international strike partner, Tony Cascarino, has claimed the Dubliner enjoys a love-hate relationship with Ireland fans because money changed him.

Trying to find the hidden messages behind today’s clash at the Aviva Stadium.