Déjà vu as we bid for a scalp

As the good Dr Thompson once put it: Well, yes, and here we go again.

Another international year, another crunch qualifier, another opportunity to see if a significant European scalp can be taken at home for the first time since Ireland beat the Netherlands in a celebrated World Cup qualifier all of 14 years ago (with no offence intended to Slovakia, who were indeed higher ranked than the hosts, but hardly a team of historic pedigree, when beaten at Croke Park in 2007).

And, not for the first time either, the prevailing mood outside the Irish camp is one more of hope than expectation, as the surprise group leaders come here looking for at least the point that would see them retain the whip hand in qualification, irrespective of other results in tomorrow’s games.