The management called for an Irish performance, the players obliged.
Nothing tangible was taken from that heartbreaking injury-time defeat in Lisbon, however, the rewards should come later for Heimir Hallgrimsson's side.
Confidence could not have been lower going into Saturday evening’s encounter, but the well-organised, and defence-heavy formation went about their business from the opening exchanges and sat in for a very tough night against a team full of continental stars who were out to impress in front of their home crowd.
Gradually the minutes began to get chalked off as Ireland frustrated the attack-intensive Portuguese who were not getting any joy attempting to play their slick and stylish football.
And when they did, Ireland enjoyed some rare good fortune as Cristiano Ronaldo’s left-footed effort crashed off the base of the post.
But the toil that it was taking out of the resilient Ireland collective was already beginning to show towards the end of the first half, as some sloppy passing and lethargic legs allowed Portugal to maintain their relentless approach.
Tired bodies but sharp minds with Nathan Collins alert to the danger on the stroke of half-time as his courageous and perhaps goal-stopping block offered respite going into the break.
Ireland were up against eleven of the best in their position throughout Europe, but it also appeared that the referee was favouring the favourites with a range of decisions that did not equate when compared with the colour of the jersey.
The Slovakian official made some strange decisions throughout, with the penalty call almost a reflex action, as Ivan Kruzliak pointed to the spot as soon as the ball made contact with Dara O’Shea’s…chest.
Such a scenario would have been reviewed as play proceeded, but once the call was made, the VAR would have had to find conclusive evidence to prove the referee was wrong.
"I'm not used to talking about the referee, so I'm not going to do that now," said Hallgrimsson after the game, having already stated that he felt that the referee gave Portugal too much respect.
Caoimhín Kelleher would prevent it from becoming The Ronaldo Show, thanks to a great save from the spot-kick, however, it is a scenario that Ireland should get used to, such is their lowly ranking situation.
Lower ranked sides fail to get the big decisions, and so it played out in Lisbon, and that will only change for the better when Ireland begin to climb the FIFA table on that front.
The rebuild has been going of for five years, and perhaps now the standard has been set in terms of energy and endeavour required from the national team.
A major part of that rebuild is to make the team hard to play against, and that was encouragingly in effect in the second half of the Hungary game, and backed up against Portugal.
Both teams will have to take on this fighting Irish unit once more before the end of the campaign, and neither set of players will be marking it down as a match to look forward to.
But first Armenia, and while the Lisbon showing should lead to a high-octane, front-foot, confidence-filled performance on Tuesday night, it will all count for nothing should Ireland fail to come away with three points.
Victory and the World Cup conversation moves into November, anything else would most likely bring down the curtain on the current manager’s tenure.
Hallgrimsson admitted that the defeat, and the nature of it, proved painful, however, there was a sense, when speaking with the media in the bowels of the Jose Alvalade Stadium an hour after the game, that he is primed for the Armenia arrival.
"It's a different kind of game, absolutely a different kind of game," said Hallgrimsson.
"Armenia going to Hungary, played a really, really good game, 1-0 and could have gone both ways that game. Hungary scored the second goal in extra time from a counter.
"So again, a tough team. We should know now that we shouldn't underestimate that team.
"But we can take a lot from this game, especially all the team things, all the team elements, working for each other, taking each other's positions.
"It will just be a different game, probably different formations, etc, but we need to leave this game here, all the frustration and pain that we are dealing with at this moment, we have to leave that here in Portugal and focus on recovery for Armenia at home."
