The build-up to the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2025 qualifier against England in Norwich has been bookended by an explosive controversy and a high-profile announcement that's ultimately made things feel decidedly low key.
Shockwaves are still rippling after last weekend's RTÉ/Sunday Independent investigation into alleged unwanted or inappropriate sexual advances on former players from FAI coaches in the 1990s.
Current head coach Eileen Gleeson said the programme was "awful to watch", and revealed the squad had discussed it before starting preparations for tonight's clash.
"In terms of it being a difficult week for football, it's a difficult week for women and girls as well in football," she told RTÉ Sport’s Tony O’Donoghue.
"For me personally, it was awful to watch and to listen to the girls recount their experience."
This game has been further overshadowed by Wednesday's announcement that Heimir Hallgrimsson is the new boss of the men's senior team, with the Icelandic 57-year-old facing the media for the first time yesterday at the Aviva Stadium.
The surprise arrival of the former Jamaica and Iceland boss dominates the back pages this morning, with the Girls in Green's latest challenge bumped down the billing.
FAI interim CEO David Courell said the announcement had to come in the middle of the women's international window "due to a range of factors". But there's no doubt the timing is unfortunate.
For England, it's party time. The country has been gripped by Euro 2024 fever after Gareth Southgate's men made it to this Sunday's final, while Carrow Road is a sellout for the women's game with over 27,000 supporters expected to come through the turnstiles.
It's no dead rubber either, certainly not from England's point of view. They need a win to keep alive their hopes of automatic qualification for next year's Euros, and while Ireland will finish bottom of the group no matter what happens in their final two matches, a heavy defeat in East Anglia would damage their overall ranking, which could impact their seeding in the play-offs.
Any positive result against the world's third-ranked team would be a massive shot in the arm for a side that's found the going tough in Group 3 of League A. No points, no goal and lots of harsh lessons.
They'll also have to square up to the reigning European champions without a trio of key players: captain Katie McCabe is suspended, while Heather Payne (achilles) and Kyra Carusa (hamstring) are injured.
It'll be interesting to see how Gleeson shuffles the pack. Last time out they frustrated Sweden in Stockholm for 84 minutes until Magdalena Eriksson knocked home a soft winner. The visitors set up with a compact five-player midfield that night and looked as secure as they have done at any point in the qualification campaign.
Gleeson will surely consider doing so again after watching Keira Walsh run the game when England came to Dublin in April. Ireland cannot allow the brilliant playmaker to have the sort of time and space she enjoyed at the Aviva that night.
The good news is Denise O'Sullivan is back to strengthen midfield after missing the Sweden double-header with a knee injury. Elsewhere Leanne Kiernan is entitled to feel she's done enough to start again; though that may come on one of the wings with Amber Barrett potentially leading the line. Marissa Sheva hasn't played for her country since last summer's World Cup and she could well get a run at some stage here with Gleeson light on attacking options.
Niamh Fahey also returns, while Galway United's 60-times-capped Julie-Ann Russell is in the squad for the first time in four years. Russell's baby daughter Rosie was a popular presence in the team's Castleknock Hotel base earlier this week.
Wiegman's quality outfit sit third in Group A3, level on seven points with second-placed Sweden. France lead the way with nine points. The Lionesses play Sweden on Tuesday and with only the top two going directly to the finals in Switzerland, there's little room for error.
England will fully expect to take care of a spirited but limited Ireland team whose main threat against them a few months ago came via Megan Campbell's mega throw-ins.
Wiegman has her defence braced for a possible onslaught.
"I would say they're almost more dangerous than the corners," she said of Campbell's deliveries. "So yeah, we prepared for that."
Another tough night at the office awaits before Ireland welcome France to Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday night to round off their qualifier campaign. Three days later they will learn who they'll face in the autumn's play-off semi-finals, where Gleeson and her squad will really be judged.
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes)
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Eva Mangan (Cork City), Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United)
Forwards: Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Emily Murphy (Wake Forest University), Marissa Sheva (Portland Thorns)
Watch England v Republic of Ireland in Women's Euro 2025 qualifying on Friday from 7.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on 2fm's Game On
