Spirit of the Gael can only bring Ireland so far

Since that 1-0 defeat of the Dutch 13 years ago, Ireland have played 32 competitive games at Lansdowne Road, Croke Park and at the Aviva.

Only 15 have been won, 12 drawn and five lost.

Irish fans walking the short distance from the tram stop to the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday would have been afforded a very clear reminder of how the German city owed us one had they looked beyond the locals selling beers and scarves out of mobile crates and turned their heads 90 degrees to the left.