There were times when this would have felt just like old times for Glenn Whelan. And everyone watching.

Despite plenty of endeavour, Ireland’s attack lacked the requisite composure or finishing ability to adequately trouble their opponents for much of the 90 minutes.

In the run-up to big games, we easily pleased meeja types like nothing better than when rival managers and players have the fabled ‘pop’ at each other.

Denmark manager Age Hareide admitted he went from hell to heaven as his team mounted a staggering late comeback in Basel to extract a point off Switzerland in the battle of Group D’s top seeds.

Brazil 1 Switzerland 1: Steven Zuber denied Brazil victory in their opening game of the World Cup last night, as Switzerland fought back to snatch a famous 1-1 Group E draw in Rostov-on-Don.

European champions Portugal got the victory they required over Switzerland to book their place in next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Borussia Monchengladbach 1 Celtic 1: Moussa Dembele’s second- half penalty gave Celtic a 1-1 draw at Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday and kept the Hoops’ Champions League hopes alive.

France 0 Switzerland 0: France topped Group A despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Switzerland — who also qualified for the last 16 — in Lille.

English Premier League stars Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne scored the goals as Belgium warmed up for Euro 2016 with a 2-1 victory against Switzerland in Geneva.

Republic of Ireland 1 Switzerland 0: Amidst the official Good Friday drought, the Aviva Stadium might have seemed an inviting watering hole for some in the attendance of 35,450 but, if not exactly intoxicating, the friendly fare on the pitch certainly provided a lively enough distraction and even some all too feisty exchanges as Ireland edged past Switzerland thanks to a Ciaran Clark goal after just two minutes of the game.

Sergio Aguero struck a last-gasp penalty winner as Manchester City came from behind to reignite their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Wayne Rooney smashed Bobby Charlton’s record and became England’s greatest ever goalscorer with a fine penalty in the 2-0 win over Switzerland at Wembley last night.

Basle 1 Chelsea 0

Chelsea 3 Basle 1 (5-2 on agg)

EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG

Basle 1 Chelsea 2

Basle 2 Tottenham 2 (Basle win 4-1 on penalties, 4-4 on aggregate)

Andre Villas-Boas’ hopes of lifting the Europa League for a second time hang in the balance thanks to a woeful defensive performance and a serious-looking injury to Gareth Bale.

Tottenham 2 FC Basel 2

MANCHESTER UNITED crashed out of the Champions League following defeat in Basle last night.

Basle 2 Manchester United 1

ASHLEY YOUNG rescued Manchester United from an embarrassing defeat by Basel in a match which exposed worrying defensive shortcomings for Alex Ferguson’s men.

FT Manchester United 3 Basle 3

IRELAND’S U21 side suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to Switzerland in a UEFA Championships qualifier they could have won in Lugano.

Switzerland Under-21s 1 Republic of Ireland Under-21s 0

OWEN GARVAN played a captain’s role by popping up four minutes into injury-time to seal a precious point for the Irish under-21 team against Switzerland at the RSC last night.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 1 Switzerland Under-21 1