Struggle to penetrate opponents the biggest concern for Ireland

BREAKTHROUGH: Ireland’s Callum Robinson celebrates scoring the only goal against Malta. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Expectations within Maltese football are spelt out by their stadium wifi code reading ‘daring to dream’ but ‘dodging the dread’ is the objective for Ireland gazing into what lurks ahead.

Losing to Norway at home and toiling to the narrowest of wins in Malta won’t warm the winter bite during the longest lull of the international cycle.