The call was set-up five days out from Cape Verde’s debut in the World Cup finals and all bar one of those dialled in from Dublin and beyond can be seen most Friday nights at League of Ireland grounds across the country.

They were, by and large, faces familiar to the man preparing to make his own World Cup debut against the European champions Spain but this time they weren’t asking about the Greatest League In The World.

Instead, their questions to the Shamrock Rovers captain were all about the Greatest Tournament In The World - the one where dreams come true and heroes are made.

As he sat down, digitally speaking, with the Irish football media two Thursdays ago, Pico Lopes was asked for his own World Cup highlights. They were all traced back to 2002 and a tournament in Japan and South Korea that was won by Brazil and the scene of the odd Irish story or two.

Just shy of his 10th birthday, Pico wasn’t really immersed in the story from Saipan that preceded the tournament. Instead his eyes were ultimately focussed on the football on the pitch and the Brazilian team that won the tournament, a team blessed with the talents of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo to name just three of their Galacticos.

Those superstars in the most famous national jersey in the world inspired the defender in waiting as he watched back home in Crumlin but it was Ireland’s own Galacticos who provided the highlights that come to his mind instantly when such a question is asked.

He spoke from Tampa of the goal that Robbie Keane scored against Germany in Ibaraki. He remembered the noise of the trolley being dragged across the classroom floor as the TV set was dragged in for the final group game against Saudi Arabia.

And he can still recall, vividly in fact, the little bow that Duffer made in honour of his surroundings when he scored the third and final goal in that 3-0 win against the Saudis in Yokohama.

That goal and the win secured Ireland’s qualification for stage two of the tournament and a game against Spain in Suwon that ended in defeat via a penalty shoot-out, a defeat that broke the hearts of Pico and so many more in Crumlin and beyond.

And why am I telling you all this over a week after Pico outlined his World Cup highlights with the Irish media via a Zoom call?

Because life throws up coincidences every now and then - although the fact that both young Pico and now 34-year-old Pico have Spanish World Cup stories to share is stretching it a little.

Instead, let’s concentrate on the fact that a game against Saudi Arabia again holds the key to Pico’s World Cup knock-out phase dreams, on the pitch this time and not on a big, ugly television sitting on top of a classroom trolley.

Pico and Cape Verde will play against the Saudis in the final game of Group H of the 2026 World Cup finals in Houston on Friday night local time, 1am Irish time.

And the outcome of this game will decide if Cape Verde can extend their World Cup odyssey. On the basis of their heroics against Uruguay on Sunday night, a five minute spell of madness before half-time aside, they deserve to carry on in America past Houston.

Up against the Bielsa bop and the constant bombardment of their box, the archipelago side were brilliant, none better than Lopes and his central defence partner Diney Borges in the eye of a constant Uruguayan storm.

Calm and resilient throughout, Lopes should have got the player of the match award as Tony O’Donoghue said on RTE afterwards but he won’t care that he didn’t. Nor will he be too upset by Stephen Bradley’s assertion on the same RTE panel that he should have scored with that chance from a late corner.

All that mattered to Pico Lopes going to America was that Cape Verde would rise to the challenge of a first World Cup finals, and that as the third smallest country ever to qualify.

When they spoke pre-tournament of progressing to the second round of the tournament, Cape Verde will always have marked the Saudi game as the one to get them there as it always looked likely that one win could seal one of the 32 spots to be shared out after phase one.

Now, thanks to those heroic draws against Spain and Uruguay, a win against Saudis will guarantee Pico’s team safe passage to round two. And you wouldn’t bet against them this weekend or against a Pico goal and a little Duffer style bow from the man flying the flag for Ireland in this World Cup.

The schools in Crumlin will be off on their summer holidays by kick-off time on Saturday morning then so there will be no need to wheel the big screens into the classrooms this time around.

But they might just keep the pubs open in Tallaght and Dublin 12 instead - and roll out the champagne if Cape Verde do get through. They already deserve to be toasted but I suspect there’s more to come from Team Pico.

A decade after the famous Wembley win over Germany, Geoff Hurst scored on his debut for Cork’s Celtic as they beat Shamrock Rovers 3-1 in the FAI Cup. That same year Bobby Charlton wore the Waterford jersey while a year later Gordon Banks signed for St Pats, four years before ‘66 squad member Ian Callaghan signed for Cork United.

All four didn’t stay long and they aren’t the only ones with World Cup histories to feature in the Greatest League In The World. Paul McGrath, Steve Staunton, David Kelly, Felix Healy and Peter McPartland all played in the LOI before or after their World Cup involvements.

So did Uwe Seeler, Bobby Collins, Jimmy Johnstone, Peter Lorimer, Trevor Brooking and Terry McDermott who all came and went and picked up a few bob or two for their troubles along the way.

This World Cup is different though. Never before has a player been active in the League of Ireland at the time of his appearance at the greatest tournament of them all. Never before has a player who has spent his entire playing career in the League started a World Cup game on the pitch.

Never before has a player gone from Shamrock Rovers or St Patrick’s Athletic to a World Cup finals as Pico Lopes and Joseph Anang have done this month.

Hoops defender Lopes started and starred for Cape Verde against Spain on Monday night. Saints ‘keeper Anang was on the bench for Ghana’s 1-0 win over Panama in the early hours of Wednesday and may now be second choice stopper after an injury to starter Lawrence Zigi.

Tonight both players will be watching LOI TV from America as Shamrock Rovers go to Waterford and Pats entertain Sligo Rovers. Both will be missed by their teams at the RSC and Richmond Park respectively but you can guarantee their World cup achievements will be discussed before, during and after every Premier Division game in Ireland tonight.

As well they should. Pico Lopes won’t just be representing Cape Verde against Uruguay late on Sunday night. Joseph Anang won’t just fly the flag for Ghana when they take on England on Tuesday evening.

They will, personally and collectively, represent their clubs and their workplace in front of millions of TV viewers this week, all the time selling the League of Ireland and not just to prospective fans.

Yes, the sight of Pico stopping Spain in their tracks on RTE television will inspire future generations of Irish footballers. To see one of their own tackle the World Cup stage with such grace and confidence will prove to young players that Ireland’s national league can offer a route to international football from within.

For Joseph Anang to sit on the bench for Ghana and be prepared to face the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham if called upon will prove to young goalkeepers that a LOI club can offer access to the highest levels of professional football.

The achievements of this pair will also send a message to young professional players abroad that a move to the LOI, on loan or permanently, is something to take seriously now, something that can enhance and develop your career.

Young players with big clubs abroad and their coaches will see now that they can benefit from playing regular men’s football in our League. An influx of young players looking to follow the Lopes and Anang pathway to the top via Irish football can only improve the game here.

A rising tide brings every boat to the top, as the old saying goes. Pico Lopes and Joseph Anang are powering World Cup storms and rising tides as we speak - they should be celebrated at every League of Ireland ground tonight and given a heroes welcome whenever they return next month.

This pair have put Irish football on the map - again.

There will be mixed feelings from both the Ireland camp and their fans alike following a FIFA World Cup Qualifying Play-Off draw that has thrown up Kazakhstan, Belgium and Poland for Carla Ward’s side.

While there would have been relief at drawing the weakest possible opposition for the semi-final in Kazakhstan, a potential final against familiar opposition in Belgium or Poland will provide a real test for the Girls in Green.

An impressive third-place finish in a very difficult qualifying group provided Ireland with a seeded play-off ahead of the draw on Thursday. This ensured that Ireland would face, on paper, easier opposition in the semi-final.

Going by FIFA rankings, Hungary represented the toughest possible semi-final draw while Kazakhstan, ranked 100th in the world and 79 places below Ireland, were the most favourable opponent available.

Given the gap in rankings and Ireland’s impressive recent form, they will be strong favourites to progress to the final. However, logistics may cause unwanted issues, as over 5000km and an eight-hour direct flight separates Dublin from Astana, venue for the first leg while a five-hour time difference will challenge Ireland’s ability to adapt.

Led by former captain Begaim Kirgizbaeva, Kazakhstan are an unknown quantity for the Girls in Green. The two sides have never met before and the majority of their players ply their trade in the Kazakhstan Women’s Football Championship, meaning they are relatively unknown outside of their home country.

Kazakhstan secured a play-off spot due to their second-place finish in a League C group consisting of Belarus and Armenia. They recorded two wins, one draw and one defeat in the process, an improvement on their previous World Cup qualifying campaign that saw them lose every match and concede 34 goals.

Scoring five goals across their four qualification matches, Kazakhstan don’t appear to have one lone goal threat, instead sharing the goals across the squad.

Kazakhstan are aiming to qualify for their first major tournament since the 1999 AFC Women’s Championship, prior to their move from the AFC to UEFA.

If Ireland are successful over the two legs against Kazakhstan, they will progress to the two-legged play-off final against the winner of the semi-final between Belgium and Poland.

Belgium will be favourites for the tie, going unbeaten in their qualifying group and scoring an impressive 22 goals across the campaign.

That being said, Poland shouldn’t be underestimated. Barcelona star Ewa Pajor is a threat to even the top defences in Europe, this being highlighted with her two goals in the UWCL final against an extremely strong Lyon side.

The play-off final legs will take place in the final week of November and the first week of December, with Ireland once again away in the first leg. Both opponents are extremely familiar to the Girls in Green. Poland finished fourth in Ireland’s qualifying group, with Ireland winning both meetings between the sides on their way to a third-place finish.

Meanwhile, Ireland were victorious over Belgium in last year’s Nations League play-off, overcoming the Red Flames 5-4 on aggregate.

For Poland, much of the attacking threat comes through Barcelona Pajor. Belgium also boast a lethal forward in their captain and Inter Milan star Tessa Wullaert.

The 31-year-old is no stranger to finding the back of the net for her country, amassing a monumental 105 goals throughout her international career, three of which were against Ireland in the previously mentioned Nations League play-off.

Both sides would provide a tough test but Ireland may quietly prefer a meeting with Poland. Ward’s side won both encounters during qualifying and will draw confidence from those performances, while Belgium’s attacking quality makes them a particularly dangerous prospect.

That being said, the Girls in Green will fear nobody in this play-off campaign after a narrow 1-0 loss against France in Grenoble denied them a historic automatic qualification.

Under Ward, the squad has gone from strength to strength throughout the qualifiers. A last-gasp 3-2 victory over the Netherlands showed that they can go toe-to-toe with the world’s strongest teams.

Perhaps the biggest decision to be made surrounding the play-offs will be the choice of where Ireland will call home for the semi-final, and if they are successful, the final.

Tallaght Stadium has been the primary venue in recent years. The Aviva Stadium is also on the cards, especially for the final. But you couldn’t blame Ward and her players for wanting to return to the ever-fruitful Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork for either of the ties.

Ideally, one game would be played in Dublin, and the other in Cork, something that would be the ‘ultimate dream’ according to Ward.

The venue for the second leg of the Kazakhstan tie must be confirmed by the FAI by next Friday, June 26th, while the venue for the final does not have to be decided until October.

Ireland’s route to Brazil could hardly present a greater contrast. First comes a long trip into the unknown against Kazakhstan, before a final battle against opposition they know all too well.

With home advantage in both decisive second legs and confidence growing under Carla Ward, the Girls in Green will believe another World Cup appearance is within reach.

Ronaldo, then just 40 and playing in his 225th game for his country, was sent-off for an elbow into the back of Dara O’Shea in a game when Troy Parrott announced his intentions to come with both the goals in a brilliant 2-0 win for Ireland.

Little went right for Ronaldo and Portugal that night, Roberto Martinez’s side stung by the aggressive front foot approach from an Irish team in the World Cup’s last chance saloon.

And things went from bad to worse when Ronaldo saw red in the 59th minute as his side struggled to counteract those two first-half goals from the Troy wonder.

Many observers that night felt the referee did Martinez a favour when he sent a disbelieving Ronaldo for an early bath and the RTE cameras caught one fan mimicking the great one crying his eyes out.

A red card of that nature carries a three game suspension and sure enough, Ronaldo sat out the next match when Portugal confirmed World Cup qualification with a 9-1 hammering of Armenia and a display of quite brilliant attacking football - without their talisman.

Therein lies the clue. As the world awaited a three match ban for Ronaldo so FIFA took the laws of the game into their own hands, not the first time they have bent the rules to protect big stars and, more importantly I suspect, commercial opportunities.

Thus they took us all by surprise (sort of) on November 25th when they announced that Ronaldo would serve a three match ban but the final two games of the suspension would be suspended for a year, freeing him up to play in the United States.

It was quite a preposterous decision, based apparently on the fact that he had never been sent off previously in any of his 224 international appearances before Dublin.

Here’s what the Fifa statement said: “If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately.”

We were amazed at that statement but Roberto Martinez must have been disgusted. Throughout his time with Portugal, which will end after this tournament, Martinez has never shown any inclination to take a hard line with Ronaldo and drop him from the team or the squad.

He’s been slow to take him off in games as well although, to be fair, Ronaldo can turn it on in an instant as Stephen Kenny fans will tell you.

There was never any suggestion on Wednesday night that Ronaldo would turn it on, never mind turn the game around for Portugal yet he was still on the pitch at the final whistle, trudging down the tunnel with barely a glance at his team-mates or their opponents never mind a hand shake.

That reaction and his poor performance has prompted another debate on Ronaldo’s role as a World Cup untouchable.

Tony Cascarino, live on Talksport, even claimed Martinez is afraid to leave Ronaldo out of a game yet alone his team.

Cas would know what it feels like when a manager makes a hard World Cup decision by the way. He made way for Niall Quinn for the 1990 game against Holland and Niall scored the goal that sent Jack Charlton’s team into the second phase and justified the decision to drop him. So his opinion counts here.

And we all have to wonder what disservice FIFA did to Martinez now when they suspended the Ronaldo suspension for a year. They did warn that any misdemeanour would see the full suspension reimposed with immediate effect - does being crap count as a misdemeanour?

It should when you’re old and past it, even if your name is Ronaldo. Martinez must be glad it won’t be his problem anymore when this World Cup ends.

On Monday evening, Irish time, the Shamrock Rovers captain was one of the stars of the show as Cape Verde marked their World Cup debut with a backs to the wall scoreless draw against European champions Spain.

It was a brilliant performance from the Crumlin native and his team-mates from the Atlantic ocean archipelago, the sort of story that separates the World Cup from your regular big sports events.

And he made headlines across the world, did our Pico with everyone from James Corden to Gary Lineker discussing how he became a Cape Verde international from Dublin 12.

Pico even drew the attention of Waterford Whispers News, the irreverent social media phenomenon that likes to take the piss out of Irish life.

Like the Phoenix magazine, Ireland’s Private Eye which sadly announced its closure this week after 43 years keeping solicitors business, WWN takes no prisoners on one hand. On the other hand, if you make it onto their feed then you can rightly claim to have made it in Irish life.

So well done Pico for your WWN arrival on Monday night, two days before your 34th birthday which will be celebrated on the seashore in Tampa with a squad who will never have heard of Waterford never mind this online satire outlet.

They won’t know that WWN are taking the mickey with their photo, attached, and the headline: ‘Ireland (Specifically Pico Lopes) Secure Historic Draw Against Spain’, in honour of that 0-0 draw with one of the tournament favourites on Monday.

Any Irishman or woman with half a football bone in their body will laugh at the humour, all the time aware that we are more than happy to claim Pico as Ireland’s World Cup representative this summer.

What else can we do? Prague ended our interest in the tournament so we can follow Cape Verde, adopt the Scots as our team and enrol in the ABE club one again - with membership of ABR thrown in for good measure.

That’s Anyone But England. And Anyone But Rice. Declan Rice. Once of this parish but dead to us now ever since he told Mick McCarthy to stick his Ireland shirt up his jumper and jumped ship to England.

Declan is a regular on WWN. We like to laugh at him and we like to laugh at his team. We will be smiling smugly on Wednesday evening when they begin their World Cup adventure against Croatia in Dallas.

And we will be wishing Croatia well, hoping that a 40-year-old Luka Modric can extend the 60 years of hurt for at least another 90 minutes. The Dublin Airport social media crew will probably even get in a dig or two at England if they lose tonight or, God forbid, miss another World Cup penalty.

To be honest, I’m starting to wonder if it is time to relax on the ABE stuff? Sure it’s fun, but I’m two years older than their World Cup anguish and it is starting to feel a bit dated seeing as how every single one of us in Ireland has a relation who is working or has worked in England, who is living or has lived in England. I’ve done it myself on at least three occasions for reasons of employment and they were always nice to me.

Yes, we have 800 reasons to hate the English but that is well and truly history now, just like their World Cup failures.

Maybe we should cut them some slack today - or at least try to even briefly before their big kick-off in Texas.

So let’s adopt an Englishman for a day. Or 11 of them. And let’s wish them well on their World Cup journey and acknowledge that they got there on merit - we couldn’t even get there on penalties!

Let’s make England our third team at the World Cup - after Cape Verde and Scotland! for!!!!!!

Alfonso is a producer on ‘World Cup After Hours with James Corden’ and he had a request to make in relation to Pico’s availability after his heroics against the star studded Spanish tip, many people’s favourites to win the tournament.

The first mail outlined the fact that the Fox network would love to have the Shamrock Rovers captain on their show that night to mark the occasion of Cape Verde’s incredible World Cup debut.

The show, co-hosted by Corden and England legend Rio Ferdinand, has aired since the tournament began with comedian Ian Karmel also involved with presentation duties.

Guests to date have included Hollywood A-lister Mila Kunis, Curacao defender Leandro Bacuna and US World Cupper Antonee Robinson.

On Monday night the great Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the centrepiece for their show and sat in on the production meeting to plot the script and decide on the topics for the day.

One guest was a wanted man according to Alfonso and his emails. Rio wanted Pico Lopes. Zlatan wanted Pico Lopes. And if you read Zlatan’s brilliant autobiography you will know that Zlatan normally gets what Zlatan wants.

The email came my way incidentally because I have been assisting Pico with his media duties since qualification for the World Cup was assumed last October, as my regular reader will know.

And who am I to turn down James Corden, Rio Ferdinand or Zlatan Ibrahimovic? So I didn’t. A quick WhatsApp to Pico, mid-flight from Atlanta back to the Cape Verde base in Tampa, relayed the request and the reaction was positive.

And so Pico Lopes appeared live on one of the biggest World Cup TV shows in the United States of America late on Monday night their time, in the early hours of Tuesday morning Irish time - because Rio and Zlatan wanted him beside them.

Alfonso was delighted with the positive news that came his way, the hosts were thrilled when Pico pointed out that he has history with Zlatan, that they played against each other in Tallaght Stadium in 2020 in a Europa League clash behind closed doors thanks to Covid which AC Milan won 2-0.

And so the stage was set for the perfect ending to a perfect day for Pico, a day that put Pico on the map in a manner last seen when Phil Lynott was strutting his stuff on Top of the Pops and MTV back in the day.

Like goalkeeper Vozinha, Pico Lopes is now written into World Cup history. He made 11 interceptions and one match saving block on Oyarazabal as the drama unfolded at the Atlanta Stadium, otherwise known as the Mercedes-Benz stadium when FIFA aren’t in town.

The Mercedes-Benz analogy would be a better one for the day that’s in it. Pico’s performance against Spain and their goal machines was as good as Paul McGrath’s statement defending against Italy at the Giants Stadium on that famous day back in 1994.

Pico brushed off the comparison when he spoke with the few Irish journalists at the game afterwards but that’s typical of his modesty. It was that good and it was no surprise that this gentle man from Dublin 12 rose to the challenge presented by some of the best players in the world.

That Ray Houghton was there to witness it and had a photo taken with Pico afterwards was a bonus. The man who put the ball in the Italian net will tell you the World Cup changed his life.

That performance against Spain will do the same now for Pico Lopes and his family. Nobody in Irish football deserves that more.

Now apologies, but I’ve another email from Zlatan to look out for!!!!!!

Today is the day Pico and his team-mates from the African archipelago make their World Cup debut against the reigning European champions Spain in the noon kick-off live from Atlanta, 5pm Irish time.

It will be a very special day, first and foremost, for the 33-year-old from Dublin 12. When he looks up into the Atlanta Stadium stands before the national anthems, he could catch a glimpse of his wife Leah and baby son Diego, his parents, brothers, the in-laws and maybe even his childhood friends Kenneth Glennon and Keith Buckley.

When he looks into his heart before the kick-off and takes a second to come to terms with the enormity of it all on the occasion of his 45th international appearance for his father’s homeland, Pico might just think of all those back in Dublin who helped him along this way. I reckon he will. He’s that sort of guy - as I well know.

For the past nine months, I have had the pleasure of assisting Pico Lopes with the huge media interest in his story ever since Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 World Cup last October.

In that time, I have got to know the measure of a man who is one of the finest sportspeople to ever come through the Irish football system - and a gentleman to boot who has attracted media interest from every corner of the world.

The take-up of his unique story has been incredible, people from all corners wanting to know how he first ignored a message in Portuguese from the then manager on LinkedIn and only answered a second message when it landed in his in-box in English.

Journalists from every possible form of media outlet - be they online, print, digital or broadcast - have sought his time, have asked him about the journey his dad Carlos made to Ireland as a merchant sailor, have immersed themselves in the story of the love between Carlos and Dubliner Judy, PIco’s mum, that has brought them all the way to the United States for today’s big game.

Along the way, Pico has fielded calls and answered them from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, the USA, Poland, Spain, Canada, Japan, France, Portugal, Egypt, Scotland and England - I’ve probably missed a few as well!

He has spoken live on television, on radio, on podcasts. He has helped a young Irish student studying media at college in England with his thesis. He has worked with Elverys and Nike for their World Cup promotions.

Pico Lopes has done all that and more and always with a smile on his face. He has immersed himself in this World Cup experience because he knows how hard he has worked to get here through the good times and the bad.

And he knows well that he is flying the flag for Ireland as well as for Cape Verde against Spain this tea-time.

Proud of his Irish upbringing - and a one-cap Under 19 international with the Republic - Pico will readily acknowledge that he wouldn’t be in Atlanta today without his coaches at Lourdes Celtic, Home Farm, Belvedere, Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers.

Irish football should - and will - acknowledge Pico today and celebrate the fact that his World Cup debut with Cape Verde is Guaranteed Irish. He was Made in Ireland and his arrival on the biggest stage in world football today should mark a coming of age for the Granny Rule as far as this country is concerned.

For years we have enjoyed that rule. Everyone from Shay Brennan to Ray Houghton to Harvey Vale has worn the Irish jersey of their forefathers. Others, like Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, have flirted with us before returning to their own birth countries.

Pico is different. He is the player who can ensure that we realise and accept that Irish football can produce World Cup players who are born in Ireland, who play in Ireland, who are immensely proud of their Irish football heritage but are also proud that they can play for another country.

Today Pico will play World Cup football for Cape Verde but today is also a big day for Irish football. A really big day. It is the day the Granny Rule comes of age.

Best of Irish this evening Pico - you deserve it!

As Roberto “Pico” Lopes prepares to live out every young boy and girl’s dream of lining up for their country in the World Cup. And after countless interviews and photoshoots the day finally arrives as Cape Verde will finally come face-to- face with 2010 World Cup winners and reigning European Champions, Spain.

But if the Crumlin native had listened to his club manager then the dream could have been over a long time ago.

Following Friday night’s defeat to Shelbourne, Stephen Bradley sensationally revealed how a chat with his skipper might have changed things.

“If he had taken my advice he wouldn’t be there, because I wanted him to step away from the international stuff maybe 14 months ago,” admitted Bradley. “He was doing a lot of travelling around the other side of the world to play games. We had a heart to heart and I said, ‘It’s time to step back from this Pico’. He said, ‘Let me think about it’. He came back to me and said, ‘I promise you I’m good to do it, my body’s good’. I had to trust him. Thank God he didn’t listen to me, because he wouldn’t be there now living every footballer’s dream, with his family over there watching; his wife, his son. It would have been devastating for him, but I’m delighted for him. I’ll be the proudest man in Ireland watching him on Monday.”

Having crossed the Dublin divide from rivals Bohemians to Tallaght back in 2017, the now 33-year-old has enjoyed a trophy laden spell under his current gaffer and developed into one of the leagues best ever centre backs. But Bradley was reluctant to take credit for such an historic and inspirational rise to the very top of the game.

“It’s all down to him. Incredible dedication to his craft and what he gives it,” beamed the double winning manager.

“It’s special. He wasn’t going to come to us because he was thinking he had a steady job in the bank. You can always go back to the bank, was the conversation. He trusted us. He has put in the graft and worked. What he has put into the game, how he holds himself, how he represents us as a club, as a team, as a group off the pitch is incredible.

“He’s our captain, our leader, obviously. So I’ll be extremely proud watching him on Monday. I only texted him that (on Thursday) and he said, ‘Stop talking to me, you’ll get me emotional’. He’s in a good place, he’s looking forward to it.”

And when pressed to give a prediction on the David versus Goliath clash, in which he will be in the TV studio for, the 41-year-old was firmly backing his man and laying his allegiances plainly for all to see, adding with tongue firmly in cheek: “It’s an easy game for them (Cape Verde) as well, isn’t it? Spain? They should win that. Easy one 2-0 or 3-0.”

Welcome to the new side line for Irish football - the long wait. That it is centred around the most divisive story in our game since Saipan doesn’t help anyone.

The vote by FAI members to suspend Israel from all UEFA competitions was passed back in November after which senior FAI officers duly announced they would play Israel if they had to.

The Nations League draw that proved irony exists in European football and threw Ireland into the melting pot with Israel took place back in February when the Tesco Johnnies controlling the Board and the management team in Abbotstown declared that they had no choice but to play the two fixtures, including the one in Dublin.

The Stop The Game movement to keep Israel away from sharing any pitch with their Irish counterparts was launched in early May and has been gaining momentum ever since.

Over a week ago, the FAI Board first truly discussed moving the home game against Israel to a neutral venue, anywhere other than Ireland even though the world keeps saying it will be Hungary.

Twice in recent days the FAI Board has met again to decide what to do as public opinion rails against their sluggishness.

As Government sources leaked that the game in October will not take place in Dublin so two Dail motions - and two amendments - drew votes and protestors to Leinster House.

We were promised movement after the Board meeting on Thursday, movement that was delayed to avoid a clash with the women’s team and their World Cup game against France on Tuesday night.

It is now Friday morning and still there is no sign of white smoke from the corridors of power in Abbotstown as they scramble to make sense of a no-win situation, a no-win of their own making.

Football is fed up with this stuttering and stammering over an issue that has split the game and won’t go away, even if they announce today that the Ireland-Israel home game will be played on the Isle of Man or anywhere else.

And football, or so we believed, took a stance at the end of May when those FAI members who control the real power in the game even if nobody accepts it, themselves included, got the 10 per cent of votes they needed to call an EGM of the Association with just one topic on the table - Israel.

Almost a fortnight later and there’s still no news on that EGM. As the Board dillies and dallies, what has happened to the democratic right of those dissidents to bring all AGM members of the Association together and let football - not the dilliers and dalliers - decide what happens next?

It is still an option if they really want to stop this game, even if the press release comes out from the FAI on Friday to confirm the game is moved, not stopped.

The members of Irish football control Irish football. It’s time they ended the long wait and reminded themselves of that simple fact. This ain’t Tesco and they shouldn’t be left on the shelf.

But that’s a story for another day. And we have many football days to come this summer when we can celebrate Ireland’s own World Cup journey in all its glory and even the occasional goriness.

Instead, today’s story is all about the start of another World Cup romance, the four yearly celebration of our collective love affair with the greatest sporting event on the planet as the greats of world football and many others get ready to serve up a 48-team feast across Mexico, Canada and the United States of America.

Romance today, or so they tell me, often starts with the download of an app, a look at a screen and a decision to swipe right or carry on looking.

But that’s not how a World Cup romance should be, even if the remote control unit is going to be equivalent of a swipe left or right for most of the country as RTE broadcast all 104 games live across one or other of their many platforms.

They are to be commended for that by the way - even if I doubt anybody will watch all 104 matches live and in their entirety.

A World Cup romance should be more Mills & Boon than Tinder, more West End musical than Hollywood blockbuster, more sweep you off your feet than a flick of the wrist and a swipe right or even left, if there is such a thing.

I want this World Cup to flirt with me, to court me, to remind me of the first time, to remind me how it used to be.

I want the football over the next 38 days to force me to remember that thrill of 1974 when the television flickered into life and World Cup football came all the way from West Germany, a million miles away or so it seemed in the pre-Ryanair days.

I want a tournament that reminds me why I looked up Haiti and Zaire on the Atlas in my primary school, why I questioned how there was a West Germany and an East Germany, why I told anyone who would listen that Gerd Muller was the greatest goalscorer in the world.

I want football to be innocent and invigorating and essential once again. I want to see players I have never heard of, and from countries I have never even seen on a map, woo me and captivate me and make me want to support them.

Naively I know, but I just want the good old days back again, when football was played over 90 minutes with just one break, when the referee was the man in charge and when the commentators like Jimmy Magee, all on his own, turned a black and white picture into colour and made me feel like I was sitting alongside him.

This World Cup probably won’t tick any of those boxes. We know every player worth his salt even before a ball is kicked in anger. We know the story of every country that is going there, even the smallest ones like Curacao and Cape Verde, with our own Pico Lopes on board.

We know the fairytales before they are written because we live in an instantaneous world. And we know that Infantino and Trump will do their best to make this all about them and not about the football played on the pitch.

But that can’t stop us dreaming, that modern day reality can’t quell our hope for inspiration when Mexico and South Africa kick-off tonight or when Spain, I suspect, lift that trophy in New Jersey on July 19th.

Nobody can tell us not to dream, not even Trump himself. As a 10-year-old in 1974, watching a World Cup I would actually remember properly for the first time, I never even questioned why Ireland weren’t on that stage. I was just too enthralled by Brazil and Argentina, by Haiti and Zaire, by Scotland and Poland, by Muller and Lato to even think about my national team.

That was the power of football in an age of innocence. If this tournament can offer that same dream to any young boy or girl experiencing World Cup magic for the first time, it will be a success.

If Messi or Ronaldo, Olise or Yamal, Haaland or Mbappe can inspire the new generation then all the ills of the football world can be forgotten for the 38 days and 104 matches at least.

That’s the magic of the World Cup. Always has been and always will be, no matter who is in charge. Let’s hope it lives up to the billing.

The international season for Heimir Hallgrimsson and his Republic of Ireland men’s squad has drawn to a close with the two end of season friendlies against Qatar and Canada - and what did we learn ahead of the Nations League games to come this autumn?

A 1-0 win in the Aviva followed by the spoils shared in Montreal concluded what was a frantic and emotional rollercoaster of a campaign for the Boys In Green.

In another life, the squad would be currently on an extended stay in North America following the Canada fixture, gearing up for the World Cup finals.

Though cruelly that wasn’t to be, these two fixtures did give us a short insight into what could lie ahead for the upcoming Nations League campaign with a mix of raw talent and experienced heads all on show over the last two weeks.

One name amongst the happiest in the camp is someone who’s been involved in the setup - and perhaps also a first name on the team sheet - for some time now.

Chiedozie Ogbene went through some injury hell this season, rarely seeing a consistent run of the pitch both during his loan with Sheffield United and with parent club Ipswich Town, with the latter’s season resulting in promotion to the Premier League.

The Cork man netted Ireland’s equaliser against the Canadians last weekend, a rebounded finish from Troy Parrott’s saved spot kick. A goal naturally will do a world of good for a player when you’ve had a season like Ogbene’s. But after maybe the toughest period in his club career, the last two fixtures showcase that he remains an integral part of this Irish squad and now as one of the more experienced players.

At 29, Cheo finds himself playing a different role in the camp while also solidifying a place in the starting team, exemplified when speaking earlier this week about his pride for fellow Cork man Jaden Umeh who made his international debut whilst also sitting his Leaving Cert.

Umeh also showed his glimpses of quality in both games and despite not yet making a senior appearance for Benfica, it wouldn’t shock many if he is included in the squads for the Nations League campaign.

A skillful and direct forward with a lot of promise, his ability was clear to see in both fixtures.

Another Ireland debutant over this window was Bohemians captain Dawson Devoy, who played the first-half in Montreal. I found that many on X (Twitter) were needlessly quick to get on his back in what was 45 minutes of football in a game that did not suit a midfielder of any quality, with the tactics from either side not so easy on the eye in that half.

Whether Devoy is to be seen again in the national colours will be revealed in the future, but to see a League of Ireland player start for the national side is something that should be regarded as way past a sympathy call up for our domestic league.

Elsewhere in the squad, more specifically the defensive operations, we again witnessed Heimir’s loyalty to the mainstays of his back five.

A generous number of minutes for Seamus Coleman, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea, Liam Scales and, despite an own goal to his name, Jake O’Brien reaffirmed that these are the figures likely to lead out from the back once more in Autumn.

Add the impressive introductions of Corrie Ndaba and James Abankwah to this and the defensive side of things is seemingly taking care of itself.

Overall, these were two good run-outs for the extended squad with international debut’s aplenty and perhaps that is the biggest talking point from both fixtures.

There is room for some gripe with the manner of the debuts handed to some players however. Looking specifically at Joe Hodge, Kian Leavy and Adam Brennan for example who were all introduced to the fray in an Ireland shirt for the first time at the end of the 90 minute mark against Canada.

No doubt a proud moment for all three of them, but being given at the very most maybe five minutes to impress felt slightly unjust given the talent these players have.

Again, it’s great to see features in the media with players from our domestic league getting senior caps in Leavy and Brennan, something that seems to happen once in a blue moon these days. But surely more minutes for the three lads mentioned could have been afforded to really showcase what they’re about.

Regardless, I think that international window is one that brought more positives than negatives.

Ultimately, it showcased that there is lots to build on from the World Cup qualifying campaign that let the nation dream for a split second once more.

It can’t be seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity gone by but rather a building block for some success in small doses in the next few years which is aided by an outpouring of young talent.

That can start with the Nations League campaign in Autumn. Though the focal point of our opponents in that group may be a certain state in the Middle East and the ramifications around the fixture, there is a chance to solidify momentum behind the national side once more with a good campaign.

That is most definitely achievable with the depth of squad we now have at our disposal.

History awaits Carla Ward’s Ireland in France tonight when a win, any win never mind a shock win, will secure qualification for the 2027 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. What a story that would be.

First though, my take on the action last Friday night as Ireland edged a Dutch thriller to set-up this decisive French clash as Páirc Uí Chaoimh once again played host to a memorable night as Amber Barrett’s late winner secured that dramatic 3-2 victory.

Carla Ward was left with tough decisions to make regarding the starting line-up with Cork native Denise O’Sullivan unavailable for selection after picking up a second yellow card of the campaign last time out against Poland and key forward Emily Murphy was also suspended. Larkin came into the side in place of Murphy, while Ruesha Littlejohn took O’Sullivan’s spot in the centre of the park.

From the off, the Oranje dominated possession, leaving Ireland to work hard off the ball and remain resolute in their defending.

Despite this, it was Kyra Carusa who broke the deadlock. A great ball forward from Littlejohn released Abbie Larkin, whose deft pass with the outside of her foot found Carusa who remained onside. The Irish striker finished neatly with 20 minutes on the clock.

For the remainder of the half, Courtney Brosnan was a calming presence between the sticks and she was quick off her line on multiple occasions to snuff out Dutch attacks. Thus it remained 1-0 heading into the break after a brilliantly disciplined display from the Girls in Green.

As the conditions continued to worsen, the second-half took a while to get going but it was Dutch persistence that paid off as Mannion brought down Groenen in the box and Janssen made no mistake from the spot to equalise.

Again, the Girls in Green showed excellent character following the disappointment of conceding, going straight down the other end to re-take the lead through the impressive Larkin.

As Ward looked to her bench to see out the result with both goal scorers making way for Leanne Kiernan and Amber Barrett, the back and forth nature of the tie continued as with 10 minutes to go, Pelova remained calm in the box getting away from Mustaki and Hayes to finish into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.

With third place in the group and a play-off already secured after the French victory over Poland, the Girls in Green had nothing to lose as the rain soaked Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Ward took a gamble, changing the shape from the tried and tested 5-4-1 to a more attacking 3-4-3 as Saoirse Noonan came on.

It’s safe to say the gamble paid off as, in the 89th minute, Marissa Sheva sent in a lovely ball from the right-wing which was expertly knocked on by Patten and sent into the goal by the outstretched boot of Amber Barrett, securing yet another historic victory in Cork.

While Barrett’s winner deservedly grabbed the headlines, this victory feels like a true coming-of-age moment for this Irish team.

The Netherlands dominated possession for large spells, but Ireland remained focused and disciplined throughout while always looking to transition quickly. Carusa led the line superbly, combining her physical presence with the relentless energy of Larkin to cause problems for the Dutch defence on the counterattack. Ireland particularly impressed down the right flank as Carusa, Sheva and Mannion linked up well, creating a number of opportunities to stretch the Dutch defence.

At the other end, Caitlin Hayes and Courtney Brosnan stood out. Brosnan made a number of impressive saves at crucial moments in the game, while her ability to command the box helped to relieve pressure throughout. Despite facing 17 attempts on goal, the Girls in Green limited the Netherlands to relatively few clear-cut opportunities.

Carla Ward also deserves huge credit. Her substitutions were timed brilliantly as she swapped Carusa and Larkin for Barrett and Kiernan, introducing fresh legs without sacrificing Ireland’s ability to threaten on the break. Her willingness to gamble in the final 10 minutes was refreshing and ultimately proved decisive as Barrett clinched victory with a late winner.

Following the excitement of Friday’s victory, Ireland now turn their attentions to an even greater challenge in Grenoble on Tuesday night against group leaders France. They go into the game knowing that one more historic victory will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Ireland will be boosted by the return after suspension of both Denise O’Sullivan and Emily Murphy while the performances of Ruesha Littlejohn, Jess Ziu and Amber Barrett against the Netherlands highlighted the growing depth available to Ward. Kiernan will be unavailable for selection following her late sending off but with competition for places increasing, Ward has several difficult selection decisions ahead of Tuesday’s crucial tie.

France, while one of Europe’s strongest teams, are not invincible. Their technical quality and attacking prowess have helped them to the top of the group thus far, but throughout the campaign they have shown signs of vulnerability, most notably losing 2-1 to the Netherlands in Breda and only securing a 1-1 draw in the return fixture.

Ireland’s previous qualifying clash with the French saw Les Bleues run out 2-1 winners through two Melvine Malard goals.

A win on Tuesday wouldn’t be the first time the Girls in Green have shocked France. A 3-1 home victory over the French in July 2024 was the sole positive in an extremely tough Euro 2025 qualifying group.

This Ireland team are no strangers to the role of underdog and will travel full of confidence after Friday’s victory. If their display against the Netherlands proved anything, it is that this group possesses the resilience and belief required to compete with Europe’s elite as 90 minutes in Grenoble now stand between Ireland and a place at their second ever Women’s World Cup. History beckons.

Bright sunshine will continue for Carla Ward and her Irish heroines after a quite brilliant win in a rain soaked Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Friday night, a result that has set-up the prospect of some Brazilian sunshine via FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification in the French enclave of Grenoble this Tuesday night.

As the other World Cup beckons, sunny spells and scattered showers remain the forecast for Heimir Hallgrimsson and his players after a 1-1 draw in Canada when the first-half was grim but the second-half was brighter as the squad experimentation came to an end ahead of the Nations League storms to come.

Ah yes, the storms. It’s still stormy I’m afraid for those who sit in the FAI Boardroom and the offices on that corridor of power in Abbotstown. They still can’t shift those Israeli storm clouds and still don’t appear to want to. Dark days ahead but more of that anon.

Let’s start with Mna na hEireann and a win in Cork on Friday that is every bit as worthy of high praise as their victory in Hampden Park almost four years ago.

Then it was Amber Barrett who scored the goal that made all the difference for the Girls in Green. Again on Friday night and fittingly, it was the Donegal hero who scored when it mattered most.

Already guaranteed a play-off for the finals in Brazil next year, this brave and bold Irish side can now throw caution to the wind against France on Tuesday when a win will send them straight to the World Cup.

They will have a ‘f****ng go’ as Carla Ward promised on Leeside and why not. They have nothing to lose and they have already proven that there is no limit to their ambition when it really matters. Give it a lash Carla - and it if works, then we can all go f****ng mental!

Post Prague, it looked like it will be some time before fans of the Irish men’s team will get the chance to go effing mental on a World Cup stage again and whilst some are talking of green shoots after wins against Grenada and Qatar and a draw with Canada, these are early days.

Yes, there were bright spells in the latest experiment that was Friday night’s game in Montreal but the huge variety of players used over the past month tells its own story. These end of season games were designed to have a look under the bonnet and see what parts are missing and what parts are available for an overhaul two summers before Dublin co-hosts a Euro finals that Ireland must be a part of.

The truth is that some of those players utilised for the first time by Hallgrimsson over the past three games may have played themselves into contention for the Nations League games to come but caution is the word here. Very few of them will be in the squad come the end of September but more of them may be around when the Euro qualifiers begin.

It is down to them now, down to the likes of Jaden Umeh, Mason Melia, Jack Moylan, Tom Cannon and James Abankwah to show at club level that they deserve to be part of a bright future for this Irish side.

And so to the silent FAI and the dark days ahead. They still haven’t told us what decisions, if any, they made about the Israel game when their Board met last Thursday and they still seem to be whistling in the wind caused by the Israeli storm that won’t go away until they take a definitive stand.

The world and his mother now seems to accept that the game can’t be played in Dublin and last week John O’Shea, one of the football world’s great ambassadors, added his voice to a story that shouldn’t have ever concerned the Irish players or management if the FAI had any real leaders in the boardroom or in the big offices in Abbotstown.

The leadership wannabes will have their fingers crossed that Carla Ward fashions a win against the odds in France on Tuesday night and overshadows the Israel issue for another day or two.

But those storm clouds ain’t going away. Irish may be rosy on the pitch but off it, Irish football needs a big decision now. Don’t hold your breath.

The management of misjudgement will be staged in three locations on Friday and hosted, once again, by those who think the Football Association of Ireland is just another business and just another Board to boost their CV.

All eyes will be on Dublin this morning for news on Israel, on Cork this evening for a big World Cup game and on Montreal late tonight for the last match of the senior men’s international season.

A busy day on the pitch. Another worrying day off it.

On paper the FAI is a member’s association where every movement should reflect the wishes, the desires and the needs of those who organise the game from Malin Head to Mizen Head, the men, women and children who play our game, organise our games and ensure that Association Football thrives in Ireland.

In reality, the game here is controlled by a Board that is now top heavy with independents, many of whom have to be subservient to Sport Ireland and the Government simply because they put them there.

Ask some of them where Glebe North FC are based and several would struggle to give you the answer. Ask them where Glebe South play and they will probably tell you south of Glebe North. There is no Glebe South FC by the way.

Beneath that Board lies a new look Senior Leadership Team that is simply afraid to upset the paymasters in Government, UEFA, FIFA and a well known Irish bank.

Together they will tell you - or a Business podcast - that the Dark Days are over as they transform Irish football for the better when all they are doing is cutting the work force back to the levels it was at before some of them were put forward as the solution to the crisis that festered pre-2019.

But are the dark days really over? When Carla Ward and Heimir Hallgrimsson send their respective women’s and men’s teams out against the Netherlands and Canada in the coming hours, the focus will switch back to actual football and we will all celebrate the Girls and Boys in Green, as we should.

Those players are the best we have, the finest representatives of a family that lives in every Irish community here at home and far away. They are our team.

For those few hours however the attention won’t turn away from the boardroom. Israel will still be a hot topic no matter what announcement is made in the coming hours.

And that begs a question. The Irish Sun broke the story on Thursday that the Board of the FAI would meet that evening to discuss the games against Israel in the autumn, in particular the home game scheduled for the Aviva on the first Sunday in October.

At the time of writing, early on Friday morning, there is still no word of what happened at that meeting. Why? And why are we surprised?

When the members of the FAI told their Board to bring a vote on sanctions against Israel to UEFA last year, the President was brave enough to stand up and say Ireland would play Israel if fate decreed as much - and tempted fate which duly delivered!

The President however made a statement and he is to be applauded for that decisiveness, no matter your view on this matter.

He offered clarity in a time of controversy but alas clarity has been a victim of the Israeli situation ever since.

When the draw was made in February for the upcoming Nations League and Israel were paired with Ireland, the suits went missing straight after the event and declined to comment. First mistake.

Their handling of the affair ever since has been a disaster. Instead of fronting up to the reality of the crisis in Gaza, they have hid behind Garda insistence that they can cope with anything an Israeli game in Dublin can throw at them. They have spoken of Government support for the game even though the Ministers for Sport threw them under the bus last week when they both confirmed they won’t attend any game against Israel.

They have ignored the Stop The Game movement and left Seamus Coleman to update the members, via the media, on the vulgarity of putting the Irish players in a no-win situation in a political debate.

And this week they hid again. With an issue of this importance, why did the FAI not tell us what their Board decided about Israel as soon as their meeting ended on Thursday night - even if they just announced that any decision needs to be discussed with the Government and the likes of UEFA and the Gardai?

What’s the big secret? Do they seriously think season ticket holders will throw their toys out of the pram if the right thing is done here and they lose a game off the 2026 roster?

Do they really believe that the people they represent - their members - will think less of them for doing the right thing?

The lack of leadership, real football leadership, at the FAI is frightening at a time when the Dark Days are supposedly over. They’ve only just begun.

On Saturday evening, Declan Rice scored in the penalty shoot-out as Arsenal lost to PSG in what was, for the most part, a disappointing Champions League final.

Rice, once of Ireland but now of England, scored but Eze and Gabriel didn’t as the Gunners again failed to add the old European Cup to their repertoire.

It’s important to note here that former Irish international Rice did score his penalty at a crucial time in that shoot-out to level the scores at 2-2 after Eze and then Mendes had missed, for Arsenal and PSG respectively. He scored, they missed. It happens in football.

But none of us, including the Dublin Airport social media team, can really imagine the pressure that any elite player is under in a penalty shoot-out.

What we can acknowledge is that it takes real cojones to stand there in front of almost 62,000 people with a ball on the spot in front of you and a goalkeeper and the world staring at you - most of whom, it seems, hate your club these days.

What we also know is that no player sets out to miss his or her penalty kick in a shoot-out. Not Declan Rice. Not Finn Azaz. Not Alan Browne. Not Stuart Pearce or David Batty or Gareth Southgate.

Nor, we have to assume, does whoever runs the socials for Dublin Airport know what it is like to even play in a game of such importance or to take a penalty in a Champions League final shoot-out. We don’t even know who they are or if they play football and ever ended up missing a penalty and losing a cup final at any level.

It is a pity then that said nameless social media person behind the Dublin Airport socials chose to attack Declan Rice and Arsenal with a cheap shot on Saturday night. It’s one they must have been saving to use ever since their Rangers penalty jibe back in March after their penalty shoot-out against Celtic and the two Gers misses that sent the DA team into overdrive if you remember.

We let them off that time. Goading Rangers could be classified as mickey taking, a bit of fun on behalf of the Celtic brethren. - even if I’ve regularly seen the shops at Dublin Airport accept money from Rangers fans, some of them even wearing their colours!

This time however the Dublin Airport cheap shot was wide of the mark, in my ageing opinion at least. To carry an image, posted here, of a disconsolate Declan Rice and claim underneath it: ‘Lost on penalties. Obviously he is English after all’ is crass and insulting to anyone with dual nationality, never mind the thousands of Arsenal fans who use Dublin Airport every week of every month of every year.

Arsenal by the way will probably fly into the same Dublin Airport in August for their pre-season friendly at the Aviva but they’re only going to be customers so it’s all right.

Declan Rice is English and he is Irish, like Morrissey, like so many others with shared identity. Had Martin O’Neill played him in that competitive game against Moldova in 2017 when he trained with the Irish squad before the game, he would happily have committed himself then to Ireland and we’d happily have taken him.

Had he won that competitive cap, even as a raw teenager, we wouldn’t even be having a Dublin Airport social media debate right now. We’d have taken him when the chance was there and we’d have taken the opportunity to switch allegiances away from him.

But we didn’t. So Declan exercised his right and switched to England, the country where he was born to Irish stock. We’ve all vilified him for that. Of course we have since hating the English is a national past-time here.

But maybe it is time to call an end to the Declan Rice baiting. Maybe we need to finally get over it and wish him well, with Arsenal or with England. Maybe we need to grow up as well and ask the social media team at Dublin Airport to do the same.

Let’s leave the cheap shots to Ryanair and just enjoy their ‘window seats with no windows’ responses whenever anyone complains.

They’ve made an art of it. Anything else is imitation and it’s not even bordering on flattery.

‘Stop The Game’ was the catalyst as those tennis balls rained down on the South Stand end of the pitch in both the 10th and 20th minutes of an otherwise forgettable night of international football in Dublin 4.

That’s ‘Stop The Game against Israel’ just in case you have been basking in the sunshine on a remote island off the West Coast for the last week or so as Irish players became political pawns in the eyes of the media and Seamus Coleman found himself with no choice but to criticise how the bumbling FAI have handled the whole Israeli crisis, how they have thrown the players into the firing line.

Last night the players were again in the line of fire as those tennis balls, draped in the colours of the Palestine national flag, descended on them and brought attention to the cause - or made their point in other words.

They also triggered a question or two as the protestors were ejected from the ground and a Stop The Game flag was removed from the West Stand, as captured by the RTE cameras and broadcast during the half-time analysis.

Why was it just the Israeli game that was the inspiration for the first tennis ball protest since fans demanded the sacking of the FAI Board way back in 2019 as the proverbial hit the fan?

Why did nobody bat an eyelid about the presence of Qatar in Dublin yet again for a friendly, the nation with a human rights record that is deplorable?

The answer of course is that Qatar aren’t engaging in genocide right now and their sins were barely worth considering never mind worthy of a protest.

Instead, the Board of the FAI and those who lead the organisation internally were given another reminder that public ire towards those Israel games is growing by the day.

Even Ministers Patrick O’Donovan and Charlie McConalogue confirmed this week that they won’t be going to any match against Israel at the Aviva - despite the FAI claiming they have the full support of the Government to press ahead with a Dublin fixture.

And the FAI suits are clearly losing support for their stance that the home game must be played in Dublin in October. Yes, it must be played under UEFA rules but who says that it has to be played in Ireland, never mind Dublin.

That’s a question that will be raised again in the coming days when the FAI will be hit with a demand for an EGM to discuss this matter from members of the General Assembly.

And they really need to start considering new answers now that the brief tennis season in Ballsbridge is over.

There were other questions raised too last night. Why didn’t we see more substitutions from the Ireland bench - what was the point in Seamus Coleman, Caoimhin Kelleher, Nathan Collins, Jayson Molumby and Troy Parrott playing for as long as they did for example when Mason Melia was barely involved as a late substitute and Killian Phillips, Alex Murphy, Joe Hodge, Adam Brennan, Ed McGinty and Conor Brann were all left on the bench?

Why was Jack Moylan sent-off for a tackle that looked more awkward and mis-timed than malicious?

And the hardest question of all - how can a side as limited as Qatar be going to the World Cup and we will be watching from afar after being 2-0 up in the play-offs away to Czechia?

I know they operate in a different qualifying zone by the way!

But just four years after FIFA ignored the aforementioned Qatari human rights violations and awarded them the World Cup finals, there is little to suggest they will make any impression in America this summer.

And it’s a good job their forwards weren’t asked to throw the tennis balls. They’d have missed the pitch and the game would have carried on in total ignorance of any protest!

An eye for detail is a wonderful thing. It can spot crossovers, it can prompt debates, it can inspire questions like this one - can a senior member of a national football association’s staff hold a FIFA player’s agent licence?

This is the question that came to this mind on Thursday, albeit with the help of a couple of contacts within the fledgling Irish football industry who also spotted a familiar pattern between a new press release and a slightly older one.

Let’s start with the older edition. On February 26th 2025, the FAI announced the appointment of Christina Kenny as their new Chief Operating Officer and outlined, as these things do, her many achievements on an impressive CV.

The release noted that Christina had been an Independent Committee Member at the FAI for a number of years, adding that: “Christina has a deep understanding of the organisation and the commitment to the growth of football in Ireland. She is also a FIFA licensed agent so has a wider understanding of the landscape.”

Another press release announcing a Christina Kenny appointment was dispatched on Thursday morning as the Federation of Irish Sport welcomed her to their Board.

Again, Christina’s vast experience in the world of sport was highlighted, including the following: “A strong advocate for inclusion, participation, and sustainable sporting infrastructure, Christina holds an MBA and a FIFA agent’s licence, bringing extensive commercial, operational, and governance expertise to Irish sport.”

That’s twice recently the world of press releases has celebrated Christina Kenny as a FIFA licensed agent, in February of 2025 and in May of 2026. Fair play you might think, that experience is bound to be of benefit to Irish football and Irish sport.

But what, you might also have to ask, would FIFA make of all this, how would FIFA feel about the Chief Operating Officer of one of their member associations holding a FIFA agent’s licence?

Perhaps someone will ask FIFA and the FAI that question in the coming days but for now, let’s concentrate on what the FIFA Football Agent Regulations handbook has to say about it, even if Christina’s LinkedIn profile suggests, rogue full stop aside, that she is a ‘Licensed FIFA football agent. (Not active)’.

Said FIFA Football Agent Regulations handbook, available via digitalhub.fifa.com, is a 39 page document and is the bible for all those applying for a FIFA agent’s licence and, most importantly, for those who have successfully been awarded one.

On page 12 of the FIFA handbook it clearly states: “To become a FIFA agent an applicant must, upon submitting their licence application (and subsequently thereafter, including after being granted a licence) not be an official or employee of FIFA, a confederation, a member association, a league, a club, a body that represents the interests of clubs or leagues or any organisation connected directly or indirectly with such organisations and entities; the only exception is where an applicant has been appointed or elected to a body of FIFA, a confederation or a member association, representing the interests of Football Agents.”

It would appear from those regulations that you either hold a FIFA Agent’s Licence or you work for a member association. It would also appear that you can’t do both, even if you state publicly that the licenced football agent is ‘not active’ as per LinkedIn.

All this will make for some interesting questions to the FAI. Who will ask them?

The inevitable press conference took place in Abbotstown on Tuesday and the just as inevitable questions around Israel soon followed. Those questions will be as painful by the end of the week as the ankle injury picked up by one FAI staffer in a kickabout at the Aviva Stadium late last week.

The senior executive, injured in the annual match on the staff day out at the National Stadium, will recover and his wounds will heal but the wounds caused by the insistence that the game against Israel goes ahead in Ballsbridge next October show little or no sign of closing, never mind healing.

Whilst you might feel some sympathy for the man who fell to ground clutching his ankle last Friday, it is hard to feel any sympathy for those Board members and any FAI suits who still think hosting Israel in Dublin is a good idea.

The ‘Stop The Game’ movement told them as much via some very high profile signatures earlier this month. The majority of the public have sold the same line to Liveline, Newstalk and any other broadcaster worth their salt in recent weeks.

The FAI heads should again have understood the level of opposition when politicians from various parties boycotted the annual match featuring an Oireachtas team against the FAI stalwarts last week as a protest against said fixtures.

They ought to have realised how much political anger is out there when Dublin Central by-election winner Daniel Ennis breezed into Leinster House for the first time on Tuesday and promptly declared that the Israel fixture should not be played.

This story ain’t going away. The questions posed to Nathan Collins yesterday proved that much again. Those questions will continue for the rest of the week.

Hopefully, at least some questions were asked by the FAI Board to the FAI Board at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday - their chance to debate amongst themselves the call from General Assembly members for an EGM to discuss the Israel issue and nothing else.

It shouldn’t take an EGM called by members for the FAI to do the right thing now. This is a member’s association after all, not Tesco, so that Board needs to listen to those members and it needs to take appropriate action. And soon.

Yes, we can acknowledge that they have to play the Nations League games against Israel as they have repeatedly said. UEFA won’t treat them kindly if they don’t. But they don’t have to play the home leg in Dublin.

Do what the Scottish women are doing when both their World Cup qualifiers against Israel will be played on neutral territory in Hungary next month, behind closed doors.

That’s an out that saves face for everyone. The FAI big wigs could even look into it when they visit Budapest for Saturday’s Champions League final on the UEFA express.

They can still save face by doing the right thing. Play Israel for sure, just don’t do it here - and spare Nathan Collins and his fellow players the endless questions about a subject they are not equipped to talk about. Nor should they have to.

Damien Duff talked so much sense before, during the half-time break and after the Dublin derby on Monday night that it’s hard to know which was better - the game or his Virgin Media analysis.

He even managed a typical Duffer sidestep at the conclusion of the live show when he gave little or nothing away about his future managerial plans, admitting only that he tries to get out of bed with a smile on his face every morning.

That was probably the mildest and most mundane thing he said all night. Aided and abetted by a wily and informed sidekick in Tim Clancy and steered by a confident navigator in Tommy Martin, Duffer was at his best explaining a game that had a little bit of everything in it.

He was ruthless in his criticism of the home team’s failure to turn chances into goals and their awful shooting accuracy in what he described as a statement win for the Hoops in their defence of the league title.

He was so honest in his farewell to the current Dalymount Park for this particular derby, calling it the most intimidating and hostile ground in Ireland to play in as the away team - although he didn;t make any reference to the disused terrace he graced during a suspension from the Shels bench not so long ago.

Duffer was forthright in his view that Dawson Devoy should have joined up with the Ireland squad immediately after Monday night’s game and not on Saturday as now planned. He was accurate in stating that fellow Ireland call-up Ed McGinty had to start this game given that Dalyer in the demolition derby was no place for 17-year-old Alex Noonan to make his full Rovers debut.

He was at his brilliant best as he warned the current Bohs players that this might be their last chance to win the League simply because they are going to be out of Dalymount at the end of the season for God knows how long and very few teams ever win the League title in a temporary home.

He constantly reminded us that this is the Greatest League In The World as it likes to be known when Enda Stevens rose majestically at the end to head a World Cup class cross, Duffer’s words not mine, from Dylan Watts to the net for the sensational extra-time winner.

It was when he was asked to comment on the GAA style schemozzle after the final whistle that Duffer really came into his own as a gem of a pundit with even a dig at sidekick Tim as he recounted many of his own sideline spats over his three plus year in charge of Shels.

Those spats became draining and a distraction for Duffer. They became boring. They became too regular to get worked up about. And, he said, they always featured the same people.

Yet, and this was the point he was really making I suspect, they are part of what makes the League of Ireland great, they are one of the reasons people turn up every Friday night and sometimes on a Monday to witness that passion, that commitment, that fight.

All of which are qualities that Damien Duff has in abundance. May he never change from his new role in life as the Southside Roddy Collins. breaks.

International football was all the rage at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night - and then the reality of actual Premier Division football in the League of Ireland took centre-stage and Sligo won the battle of the Rovers, against the Shams as they like to call them.

You see the Sligo diehards regard themselves as the true and only worthy owners of the Rovers moniker in domestic Irish football, a claim they sometimes love to throw in the face of anyone from outside Yeats Country as I have found to my cost.

Shamrock Rovers are the Shams in their vernacular. And their Rovers did lay claim to the bragging rights again on Friday night as their snatch and grab late, late win proved once again that nothing can be taken for granted in football - not your right to a name or your right to a win.

Let’s get back to international football before we discuss the Sligo win in this battle of the Rovers. Before the match, those sitting around me in the main stand were keen to discuss the international merits of Shams ‘keeper Ed McGinty and winger Adam Brennan, both of whom report to the Irish team hotel on Monday morning for the friendlies against Qatar and Canada.

They are just the latest players to benefit from Heimir Hallgrimsson’s almost over eagerness to experiment post the Prague disaster that was the World Cup play-off against Czechia. And they probably deserve their chance, even if my own belief is that Brennan should stay with the Under 21s barely six months into his Premier Division career after serving his time with UCD in the First Division.

McGinty is a different story. He’s now 26 years of age and played under 21 football previously for both Stephen Kenny and Jim Crawford so he is not new to the international debate.

What’s interesting is that both McGinty and Brennan will report for senior Ireland duty this morning - even though the Shams or Rovers, depending on what you want to call them, face a rejuvenated Bohs at Dalymount Park tonight.

We will call them the Hoops for the rest of this article actually, that can’t spark an argument. And Hoops boss Stephen Bradley remained true to his word on Friday night when he confirmed that both his players will be allowed to put their international ambitions before club duties tonight - even though Bohs have kept Dawson Devoy out of the Ireland camp until after tonight’s fixture and Friday’s game, with Sligo of all people.

Bradley, once the brightest young talent in Irish football, is to be applauded for allowing his players to take advantage of an opportunity he never got himself. But you have to wonder if he had second thoughts on Friday night when the Shams never seemed to get out of second gear against a Rovers side that never gave up chasing and harrying and generally getting in the way of the champions.

John Russell’s team got the reward for their perseverance with Carl McHugh’s injury time winner, a goal that was always in danger of coming the more Shams failed to impose themselves in their usual manner despite the probings of an impressive Jack Byrne in their midfield.

That it was a defensive error from the home team that led to the winner, this time from Tunmise Sobowale, was no surprise. They were too slack and too lacking in focus throughout, something Bradley will doubtless address at Dalymount on Monday night.

And that brings us back to international football. Pico Lopes was a more than interested spectator at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night. Before the match he was part of a moving tribute by the club to those players, supporters, officials and volunteers who are no longer with us. At half-time he received an emotional send-off from the Tallaght fans as he prepared to set sail on the World Cup adventure with Cape Verde over the weekend.

At full-time he shook many hands as well-wisher after well-wisher offered their support ahead of the games against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

Pico was a busy man on Friday - off the pitch. On it, he was badly missed and more so for his leadership qualities I suspect. Shamrock Rovers need to find a new Pico while he is away on World Cup duty, someone who will drag them out of their occasional slumbers and ensure they remain focussed game in, game out. That’s what sets the top teams apart - no doubt Stephen Bradley will ponder that conundrum as Pico, Ed and Adam enjoy their international breaks.