So now we know what the road to the good times looks like. The Republic of Ireland must slip past Belgium in a two-match World Cup qualifying play-off to reach the finals in France next summer. Ireland have been drawn at home for the first match (Wednesday, October 29th) and will travel to Brussels for the return leg (Saturday, November 15th).
The eight European countries which have advanced to the play-offs were drawn out of a hat in Zurich yesterday as Ireland's football tribe welded transistor radios to their ears. All things considered, the draw was as good as the Irish side might have wished. With five former Soviet bloc teams in the eight-team draw, we avoided the might of Italy and escaped the discomfort of a winter trip to eastern Europe.
The Irish camp had nominated Belgium as one of the more attractive draws on offer yesterday, mainly by dint of their narrow win over a weak Welsh side at the weekend.
In the event of Ireland and Belgium finishing level on points at the end of the two matches, goal difference will decide the winner. If this is inconclusive, the team scoring most away goals will qualify.
If the teams are still tied at that point, 30 minutes of extra time will be played at the end of the second game, with the "golden goal" rule applying - the match will be over as soon as one team scores. If extra time fails to produce a goal, the tie will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
The relatively low cost of travelling to Belgium should ensure a large Irish following at the Brussels match, irrespective of the result in Dublin. The glamour-free nature of the countries in Ireland's World Cup qualifying group has meant that many credit union accounts have been unmolested for some time.
"We won't have any worries about playing the second leg away", Mick McCarthy said. "The second leg will be like a home game with the sort of support that is already being talked about."
McCarthy will implement the FIFA fiveday rule in advance of the October 29th game to ensure that he will have access to his players for five full days before the match. "On this occasion there will be no exceptions to the rule. The players I want will all travel to Dublin", he said.
Aer Lingus and Ryanair say that they will be putting on extra flights to Brussels for the November 15th match. However, neither could guarantee that current low-price flights would be available that weekend.
Travel agents specialising in sports trips were flooded with calls following yesterday afternoon's draw in Zurich. Package trips, including tickets, travel and two nights in Brussels, are likely to cost about £350.
Supporters who had block-booked tickets for the qualifying matches will be given first option on tickets for the home leg at Lansdowne Road, according to the FAI. Soccer clubs throughout Ireland will also receive allocations. In a reciprocal agreement with the FAI, the Belgian football authority has requested 3,500 tickets for the Dublin game. Only after tickets have been allocated under these headings will the possibility arise of tickets going on sale to the public.
Belgium, the final obstacle: page 21