Ireland: The 25th best team in Europe

You could hardly describe the draw with Scotland as a positive result but at least, in contrast to what a defeat would have meant, it leaves Ireland with a slight chance of qualifying for France 2016.

To put it another way: after Saturday’s result, qualification is still possible but not, you would have to say, probable.

One big result – either beating Germany or Poland – and hoping Scotland slip up somewhere, possibly in Georgia, now seems to be our best hope of salvation. But would I be optimistic that we can make the most of that slim chance? No.