Which Ireland team will show up when they come face to face with Portugal at the Jose Alvalade Stadium this evening?
Armenia showed what Heimir Hallgrimsson's side are capable of, Hungary likewise, England at Wembley, Greece, home and away.
Before that, things were perhaps even worse, consecutive collapsed campaigns, losing to Luxembourg a particular night to forget for the Boys in Green.
From a positive perspective, some performances pointed to potential; impressive, albeit losing outings, at home to both France and Netherlands.
But it's a results business, and when beating Scotland at home in an end-of-season encounter in the Nations League is the biggest scalp of recent years, times must be tough.
Sticking with the positives, since Hallgrimsson took over, he managed a victory in his third competitive game, doing the double against Finland, while repeating the feat against Bulgaria in the Nations League play-off in March.
The defeat in Yerevan, however, has killed any momentum that was building, behind both the team and the manager, and it really is a case of make or break over the next few days.
Hallgrimsson, rightly, is keeping talk of Armenia on ice, other than saying that three points are imperative in Dublin to keep the campaign alive.
The Icelander might talk about taking something tangible from tonight’s game by producing a near-perfect performance, however, what he wants, in fact, needs from his side in Lisbon is a high-energy, organised combative and disciplined performance to bring back to Dublin.
Of course, sneaking a point at away to Portugal, or at home next month, could prove the difference between second and third place when the final tallies are totalled at the end of the six-game streak.
But if Ireland are to win at Lansdowne Road on Tuesday and then beat Hungary in Budapest to close out the campaign, they need to send out a signal to their group rivals by putting it up to Portugal, at least.
Looking back to where Ireland have been at their most productive since Hallgrimsson’s tenure began, it points to the moments where his team have gone behind in matches and came back to secure a result.
Right back to that first game in Helsinki and all the way to the opening game of the World Cup campaign against Hungary, and several in between, Ireland have conceded first before showing real character to fight their way back into the game.
A theory put to John O’Shea earlier in the week that perhaps the players instincts took over in those moments, straying from the script to make something happen to help kick-start the team.
While the assistant head coach did say that maybe it allowed them to play with more freedom, he felt the main reason that they fought back was by sticking to the game plan and remaining faithful to the manager’s tactics and instruction.
"No, we can't [stray off script]," said O’Shea.
"We have to be a team that have a proper resilience and a structure and a belief in what we do, and that's what we have done when we've got results and the performances that we've got.
"Obviously, we were planning on building on that second half against Hungary. That was the intensity and the application that we needed out in Armenia and obviously it didn't happen.
"So now we have to do it against Portugal."
The last time that Ireland were humiliated – losing 5-0 to England at Wembley last year – the team managed to bounce back quite well, by beating Bulgaria twice in a week earlier this year.
So there is every expectation that there will be a noticeable improvement in tonight’s game in terms of energy, endeavour and application.
But bear in mind that these players are without doubt struggling with confidence and could be so focused on their own performance that the collective suffers.
O’Shea also spoke about this situation in terms of the ability to recognise when fellow team-mates need help and being able to provide it.
He also spoke about the team in units, be it defensive, midfield, or in attack, and that again is aimed at creating that collective spirit.
Team before individuals has been key to crucial Ireland results over the past 30 years, according to O’Shea, however, there is no doubt that Hallgrimsson could really do with someone to step up and take the initiative to help this struggling side.
Seamus Coleman and John Egan returning to the squad should certainly help with the build-up to tonight’s game and should one or both start, it will certainly add informed and articulated direction on the pitch.
Troy Parrott and Evan Ferguson, on the other hand, are two of the younger generation, and while there has been real and unreasonable expectation placed on both their shoulders since they emerged at underage level, the duo are now showcasing that potential at a very high level.
Whether both of the strikers start tonight – there was question marks about the two players’ fitness coming into camp – remains to be seen, with Parrott and his goal threat surely needed more for the must-win game on Tuesday.
Ferguson’s pre-season goal fest has not continued into his debut Serie A league campaign with Roma, however, his all-round role at his new club and the form he has shown in games should prove very useful for Ireland tonight.
There is every chance that Ferguson will be asked to perform a solo role in attack, attempting to occupy the home defence and make a nuisance of himself in and around the penalty area.
Hallgrimsson will demand an energy-filled performance from his midfield unit, which could see five players squeezing the space, pushing Portugal out to the flanks for their attacking plays.
And there is a huge onus on the defensive four to deal with everything that arrives into the box in order to keep Caoimhín Kelleher as quiet as possible.
There will be long-range efforts, no doubt, and the double number six role, most likely shared between Josh Cullen and Jayson Molumby will prove crucial in thwarting those attempts, while giving away little in terms of set-piece plays around the penalty area.
All going to plan for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side, it may come down to set-pieces deciding the game, and while Portugal’s prowess is among the most potent in Europe at the moment, Ireland will always have Jake O’Brien and his launched long throws into the mix.
Watch Portugal v Republic of Ireland in World Cup qualifying on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live radio commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
