So far, so good. Sort of.
A 0-0 draw in Bosnia would, on the face of it, seem a good result for Ireland from Friday’s first leg against Bosnia.
Sure, it would lead to an extremely nervy return game at the Aviva on Monday night where a Bosnian away goal would leave Ireland needing to score twice, but a nail-biting 90 minutes in Dublin would be far more welcome than a tie that’s all but gone.
But there’s still a long way to go – the second half of the first half if you’re working to the old cliche that the first leg is just the first half.
The first half of the first half – the first eighth of the game if you’re following the old cliche (OK, we’ll stop now) – went in a familiar pattern.
Just like the five stages of grief, Ireland matches follow a watertight formula: pessimism; baseless optimism; realisation that we’re pretty rubbish; unfounded belief that we might still nick it; joy/despair.
Zenica is no different. Here’s how the first 45 played out on Twitter
It began with optimism and encouragement from someone we’d much rather was on the pitch rather than tweeting from Dublin.
Come on lads!!! Challenge accepted! #COYBIG #EURO2016 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪💪🏻👌🏻
— Shane Long (@ShaneLong7) November 13, 2015
And a novel idea on how we could match the atmosphere drummed up by 11,000 home fans in Zenica.
We should play our games at Dalymount.
— The Man in the Black Pyjamas (@pyjamas_black) November 13, 2015
Quickly the reality dawns.
Amazing that a team can make a play-off without being to able to suggest any semblance of keeping possession.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) November 13, 2015
Followed by defensive errors.
Phew! Let off for Ireland #BIHIRL pic.twitter.com/XaV18Z2IvA
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 13, 2015
Though maybe it’s all a cunning plan.
One off the training ground there from Ireland. Ward takes out Keogh and puts off the Bosnian who had a free header. Textbook
— Evan Fanning (@evanfanning) November 13, 2015
And a call to calm the f*ck down.
Brady needs to chill out here. Getting involved in silly little off the ball spats with Pjanic and Sunjic
— Stephen Doyle (@dubsoulrebel) November 13, 2015
And some more encouragement.
Giving these way too much respect. Get at them!!!!
— Stephanie Zambra (@StephanieRoche9) November 13, 2015
And a realisation that nothing changes. Ever.
https://twitter.com/RichieMcCormack/status/665260818225864704
And the view from Bosnia.
Looking at this Ireland, I would say Bosnia are too cautious.
— Saša Ibrulj (@sasaibrulj) November 13, 2015
Not many teams that played in Zenica were this defensive as Ireland. Still, Bosnia should have done better.
— Saša Ibrulj (@sasaibrulj) November 13, 2015
Still, 0-0 at the break. We’ll take it.
