Minutes before kick-off in the biggest Ireland game for years, news began to filter through that all was not well in the Irish camp.
A slightly stunned looking Stephen Kenny appeared on television to confirm that both Adam Idah and Aaron Connolly were not available for selection for the crunch game, but didn't elaborate further.
The rumour machine went into overdrive before confirmation came though that the attacking duo missed out because they were deemed to have been 'close contacts’ of an Ireland staff member who had tested positive for Covid-19.
What effect that had on Kenny’s team selection, we’ll never truly know but given everything the new Ireland boss had said in the build-up to the game and the way he set his team out in Bratislava, it’s fair to speculate that the Irish boss had been forced into at least one late change.
A front three of David McGoldrick, Callum Robinson and Connolly had been predicted by many in the build-up to the game, but by design or circumstance, it was James McClean who lined up on the left side.
The 31-year-old Derry man put in the kind of performance that we’ve come to expect from him in recent years, showing now shortage of effort or desire but lacking in the guile and craft needed to prise open a defense.
McClean’s best moment of the game came early on when Slovakia broke from an Irish corner and McClean ran back a full 80 yards before eventually sliding in and making a great blocking challenge on Duda, who was poised to strike.
It was everything good about the Stoke player and his commitment to the Irish jersey in one short cameo, but in the new look era of Stephen Kenny, desire alone will no longer be enough.
Despite the nature of Thursday’s result there were plenty of reasons for optimism in the Ireland performance. They passed and moved the ball with purpose, kept a good attacking shape throughout and pressed as a group at the right time.
The only thing lacking from that game was the killer final ball. All too often Ireland’s patient attacks fizzled out with an overhit cross or a player running into a blind channel and McClean was more guilty than most with some sloppy passing sprinkled in.
The team selection for Sunday’s Nations League clash with Wales at the Aviva could prove to be telling, although with Connolly absent, McClean may yet get another chance.
The surprise success of the Nations League in ensuring that meaningless international friendlies are now a thing of the past means that Kenny won’t take too many chances in his team selection in a game that may yet prove to be important.
Even were this a friendly with nothing on the line, Ireland are a team in need of a win and with little time to implement his new brand of football, you can expect the Irish boss to stick with the approach and the majority of the starting XI that featured against Slovakia.
With little competition in goal and no reason to change, Darren Randolph is almost certain to start, so too with Shane Duffy and John Egan in the centre off defence, although Kenny could be tempted to give Kevin Long a run out alongside Duffy.
Enda Stevens impressed against Slovakia with his understanding of Kenny’s game plan and was rarely caught out of position despite the fact that he was always offering himself as an option in attack but once again Matt Doherty failed to show his undoubted ability in a green jersey.
The Spurs full-back was often a willing runner but at times didn’t appear to be on the same wavelength as those around him and is perhaps fortunate that Seamus Coleman is unavailable for Sunday’s game.
Cyrus Christie doesn’t offer as much going forward as Doherty so the Spurs man may get another chance to impress Kenny, but he’s going to have to start turning in performances for Ireland that match his club form if he’s to keep that right-back place in the long term.
The midfield trio of Jeff Hendrick, Conor Hourihane and James McCarthy that started against Slovakia were decent up to a point, but Kenny should be looking for more creativity and incisive passing from that area of the pitch.
James McCarthy was at least tasked with a more defensive role and performed it well until he was taken off with a knock in the second-half, which saw Hendrick slot back in that shielding role in front of the back four.
It was a position that seemed to suit Hendrick better than the more advanced role he had in the first half and you shouldn’t be surprised to see him start there against Wales.
Alan Browne will feel that he did enough as a second-half substitute in Bratislava to warrant a start against Wales and he was certainly the most dangerous looking player from midfield.
Meanwhile, Hourihane turned in the kind of reliable but unspectacular 7/10 display that we’ve come to expect from him in an Ireland shirt.
It would be nice that think that Kenny would look to a more expressive and creative player against the Welsh and to that end a midfield trio of Hendrick, Browne and Jack Byrne or Jayson Molumby would be great to see, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that Hourihane’s reliability will give him the edge.
Up front at least there can be no doubt that David McGoldrick should start. He was the best Irish player on the pitch against Slovakia and worked wonder in bringing others in the game and creating opportunities for them.
The Sheffield United man doesn’t bring too many goals with him but when he’s constantly working so hard to create room for others to flourish in, you can forgive that. His clubs supporters certainly do and the only problem Kenny could have with him is that he's not five years younger.
Callum Robinson will feel that his energetic running and aggressive play should be enough to see him add to his haul of caps, even if his energy levels did fade in extra-time.
The absence of Connolly means there’s a final place up for grabs. McClean didn’t do enough to justify keeping his place in the team and with an eye of the future, you would expect to see Kenny look to a younger.
Callum O'Dowda’s 15-minute cameo in extra-time was a snapshot of all the good things he can offer as he linked well with Robbie Brady and was a willing runner, taking the ball into the heart of the Slovakian defence to set up attacks.
Between O’Dowda and late call-up Sean Maguire, it seems O’Dowda is the more likely to get the nod although Maguire will at least be hoping for a chance to impress off the bench in the Aviva.
Ireland (predicted team): Randolph, Stevens, Duffy, Egan, Doherty, Hendrick, Browne, Hourihane, Robinson, McGoldrick, O’Dowda.
