Adding Finland to the home and away scalps of Georgia, Moldova and Gibraltar in the past 10 years of competition for Ireland won’t exactly rattle the rafters of European football.
But when you’ve been on your knees for so long and been put to the sword by Finland twice during that barren run, Thursday’s 1-0 win was a welcome step in the right direction.
As penalty hero Caoimhín Kelleher rightly observed: ‘It’s all about results.’
Under Heimir Hallgrímsson, Ireland have won two and lost three of the manager’s first five games, all of which have been in competition.
It’s a decent return, given it took Stephen Kenny 13 attempts to chalk up his first competitive win.
While a third-place finish in 2020 and 2022 in the Nations League ensured League B status, the tweak by UEFA to the competition format means a two-leg play-off in March against League C opponents.
With the advantage of playing at home second, Ireland should have enough about them to stay in the second tier.
Those play-off commitments will, almost certainly, mean a four-team 2026 World Cup qualifying group with games not until September, October and November next.
Should that come to pass in the December 13 qualifying draw, Hallgrímsson could use friendly games next June to fine-tune ahead of the autumn tests on which much will rest, not least his own position.
Avoiding summer qualifiers would suit Hallgrímsson just fine.
‘June is always difficult for Ireland because we have so many players in the Championship finishing early May and that’s a long spell without games,’ he said.
In contrast, a four-team group with a September start, holds appeal. ‘I would be happy with that. It gives us probably two friendlies, or more, in June.’ With the exception of Hallgrímsson’s first game, at home to England, Ireland have had some positive moments since, along with some uncertain ones, during games.
Finding a balance, and a preferred team selection, is still a work in progress. No one is codding themselves that Ireland are where they need to be, not so much to make a fist of things against England at Wembley tomorrow, but more so for the World Cup qualifiers.
Allowing modest opponents such as Finland to have the lion’s share of possession, 15 efforts on goal – two of which struck the upright – and coughing up a penalty highlighted the on-going rebuilding work.
‘Playing England, for sure we need to improve the defensive side and be more tactical than we were on Thursday night,’ said Hallgrímsson.
‘We had energy for 90 minutes. It was not sloppiness and then all in, but we were missing a bit of tactical smartness or game management, whatever you like to call it.
‘I think we need to build on the good things from this game, the good moments in possession. When we moved the ball we created good opportunities, good positions, good crosses and chances.’
While Ireland have a bit going for them – Kelleher and goalscorer Evan Ferguson are more established than before – there was a looseness about their play which a better team would have taken advantage of.
For all the power and pace of Festy Ebosele, and the dribbling skills of Mikey Johnston, Ireland were wide open at times. Johnston’s lack of discipline near his own box was unnecessary.
‘Mikey gives you his confidence, it’s for everyone to see, taking players on, getting good crosses in. Two times he was trying to dribble inside our box so sometimes it’s over-ambitious.
‘Some might call it reckless or whatever but then he does something and we score a goal, similar to Festy (Ebosele) against Finland away, doing some magic and then we score a goal. It’s always give and take.’
Josh Cullen and Jason Knight, who is suspended tomorrow, can run and tackle all day but more control is needed in the trenches, more resilience, more rhythm.
Hallgrímsson knows it’s an area that needs tending to.
If Ireland repeat their laxity in the trenches at Wembley, Jude Bellingham could hold a cut-glass crystal goblet in one hand, a Havana in the other, and Ireland will run around in the entrails of cigar smoke.
England have the incentive to win and secure promotion to League A, which would represent a decent autumn’s work for interim manager Lee Carsley.
I suspect Hallgrímsson will opt for pragmatism tomorrow with two low blocks and a lone attacker. Standing in the ring and going toe to toe with England’s elite, as they did with the Finns, will only lead to one outcome.
‘Finland played well, they moved the ball well and got into good spaces. Unlucky for them they didn’t convert it to goals, but another time they would have done it.
‘We are under no illusions. It’s nice to win and that will give a lot, especially psychologically, to the players but we need to improve’ the next game.’
Hallgrímsson is a fan of Ferguson who has started the last three games and is expected to lead the line tomorrow with Adam Idah injured.
Just turned 20, Ferguson, will be boosted by his goal against the Finns, and his general contribution.
‘Goals for goal-scorers always helps you, but one goal doesn’t change his trajectory and he is improving step by step.
‘Probably, he feels it’s too slow for him but we have seen in the numbers that he is doing more and more and you can see he is getting more minutes at his club. We’re just patient. But he has good quality.
‘It’s a big pressure on young shoulders that he needs to carry this team. We just need to share that load with him.’
To have four international goals at such a young age is some going but what appeals most about Ferguson is his big match temperament. He’s not fazed by the bright lights, or the expectations.
If anything, he embraces them.