Will Swedes follow in Polish footsteps?

In a bygone era, back when shorts were short and footballers’ hair was much, much longer, Poland became synonymous with the bad old days endured by Ireland’s national side.

Interminable and all too regular trips behind the Iron Curtain to never-heard-before places likes Bydgoszcz came to frame the culture of blazers before players and, in more recent times, our most recent dealings with our cousins from eastern Europe have continued to highlight our shortcomings.

Last summer, the carnival that was Euro 2012 turned into a catastrophe for an Irish team that played its games in Poznan and Gdansk and, excellent hosts though they were, the Poles have not been slow to highlight our shortcomings on the pitch when they have been the visitors.