Spot the Premier difference

The parallels are striking. For Liechtenstein in Vaduz almost 23 years ago read Gibraltar in the Victoria Stadium on Saturday. Mick McCarthy's second spell in charge of the Republic of Ireland takes its first competitive test away to the bottom seeds of a qualifying group, just as his first did in 1996, when Andy Townsend's team romped to a 5-0 win.

Only the target tournament is different. Then, it was the 1998 World Cup finals, which Ireland failed to reach after losing a play-off tie. Now, it's Euro 2020, some of which will be played in Dublin.