Next stop Budapest as Ireland take down Portugal and the Prince of Petulance

And those permutations now? Only the one. Win in Budapest. Suddenly, that feels doable.

ONE MORE WIN: Ireland defeating Portugal leaves one more job to do - defeat Hungary on Sunday away from home. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Permutations? Numbers were on everyone’s lips before kick-off here on Thursday night but abstract notions tend to scurry into the darkness of the city’s November nightscape when you have €500m worth of talent dominating the ball.

‘Here lads, forget Budapest, like. Vitinha is looking to find Ronaldo again.’ Madeira’s finest was actually the ‘cheapest’ player on Portugal’s starting XI in this Group F tie, according to current values on the transfermarkt website. Then again, this a 40-year old legend who has generated almost €250m in fees down the years.