Not Ireland 2.0, but almost the perfect blend of fire and ice

The national team always plays better at pace and with their backs to the wall.

27 March 2023; Chiedozie Ogbene of Republic of Ireland in action against Theo Hernández of France during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship Qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and France at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

There was probably some form of argument to be made long before Josh Cullen played a square ball across his own area after half-time that Ireland’s chances of finding par with the French would have been better with Trap, Mick or MONKeano scribbling the Xs and Os.

The Republic had welcomed two bona fide heavyweights to Dublin in Stephen Kenny’s first three years in charge and, to be blunt about it, the draws recorded against Serbia and Portugal look appreciably better on paper than they did on the turf.