If truth be told, few of even the most optimistic of the Republic of Ireland's avid followers would have harboured particularly high hopes for the country’s prospects of success at this summer’s European championships.
Nevertheless, it’s difficult to ignore the notion that most will have been distinctly under-whelmed over what turned out to be a disastrous showing, and a consequently premature end to Irish participation.
Of course, it must be acknowledged at the outset that, in being drawn in Group C, Ireland were handed an extremely difficult mission, on the assumption that qualification for the quarter-finals was their initial aim.
Defending European and current world champions Spain need no explanation on that score. And for all that Italy are possibly a tad diminished compared with previous eras, (although they did win the World Cup as recently as six years ago) they continue to represent stiff opposition for most teams.
Croatia, as always, could be considered dangerous opponents, whose failure to qualify from the group will possibly have come as a relief to some of those who have already made it through to the knock-out stages.
However, we must also conclude that Ireland were culpable to a great extent in their own downfall, which culminated in their elimination from the tournament following a mere two matches.
In the opening fixture, the Irish were handed a severe mauling by the Croatians, with the 3-1 final score barely reflecting the sizeable gulf between the sides. Worse was to come when Spain scored four times without reply in the second match, and that was that for Giovanni Trappatoni’s beleaguered side. We were left with the sense that Ireland’s tournament was over almost before it had even begun.
A degree of pride could be said to have been restored in the final match against the Italians, but even that more disciplined and aggressive display couldn’t prevent a third consecutive defeat.
So, just where did it all go so badly wrong for Ireland? First and foremost, schoolboy defensive errors early in each of those first two wretched matches won’t have helped. That goals were conceded early in the first and second halves of those two fixtures was frankly unforgivable – I mean, to paraphrase another Irishman, Oscar Wilde, to lose one early goal is unfortunate, but four is utter carelessness.
Back in the television studio, Roy Keane was seething at such insipid displays from his fellow countrymen, and did little to disguise his frustration as the Irish players contrived to concede goals in almost comical fashion.
His withering criticism included a reminder – as if any were needed - that teams such as Croatia and Spain need little encouragement in the business of winning football matches. Yet the Irish players came to this tournament bearing gifts for their more illustrious opponents at every turn.
Keane’s demeanour, in fact, flirted somewhere between anger and downright embarrassment. Much the same could be said about manager Trappatoni, who cut a desolate figure as he stood within his technical area, suddenly wearing the look of a 73-year-old yearning for the comfort of his slippers and a glass of something strong for medicinal purposes.
Of course, a more forensic assessment of Ireland’s inadequacies will be delivered in various quarters in due course, and the feeling persists that the finger of blame will be pointed at individual players, as well as the team as a cohesive unit.
In that regard several of the Irish players are experienced enough, but could be described as, whilst not exactly over the hill, the wrong side of thirty years old. Witness the paucity of performances served up by the likes of Richard Dunne (32), Damien Duff (33), John O’Shea (31), Robbie Keane (31) and goalkeeper Shay Given (36), and it’s difficult to deny that those players looked their age.
Given, in particular, had a woeful tournament, and question marks over his fitness will hardly subside given the nature of some of the goals he conceded. Top goal scorer Keane hardly had a sniff at goal from the first whistle to the last, and those who have argued that his move to America was an ill-judged one will be nodding sagely at this.
To add insult to injury, Keith Andrews’ red card in the dying moments of the Italy match summed up a tournament where the fabled luck of the Irish singularly deserted them. Andrews’ obvious pent-up frustration as he left the field would have been similarly felt by the hordes of fans who had once more turned up in their droves to cheer on the side.
And so, Ireland exited Euro 2012 with a whimper, and – like Holland – without a point to their name. The only consolation is that the World Cup qualifiers start soon, although, with the likes of Germany and Sweden in their group for company, you wonder whether Ireland’s luck is likely to improve any time soon.