Was this a blessing in disguise?

Russia 4,Ireland 2

Russia included only three who started in the World Cup and failed to ascend to a level that was remarkable in an overall sense - they conceded two goals after all. But they attacked with verve, with urgency and with rare penetration. Four goals was evidence of that.

Yet it was important to emphasise their generous return owed as much to Ireland’s capacity to lapse into error as to their own attacking excellence. Ireland blundered repeatedly to produce a maladroit performance in a contest enjoined in a manner that was uncharacteristically cavalier.