Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign in review

Stephen Kenny’s tenure is no longer going backwards; it no longer looks hapless. These are modest gains but enough to cling to for now

The Republic of Ireland team, back row, from left, Callum Robinson, Adam Idah, Shane Duffy, Gavin Bazunu, Matt Doherty, John Egan, James McClean, front row, from left, Chiedozie Ogbene, Josh Cullen, Seamus Coleman and Jeff Hendrick before the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying group A match between Luxembourg and Republic of Ireland at Stade de Luxembourg in Luxembourg. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The High: Ronaldo and Portugal at the Aviva

Can a 0-0 draw at home really be the high point of the World Cup qualifying campaign? It wasn’t so much the stalemate against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal last Thursday as the tangible sense that the Irish players and the Kenny project are bedding in now and finding poise to go with the purpose.