The barely concealed delight exhibited by both camps when the Republic of Ireland drew Belgium in these playoffs gives some idea of how each side views itself.
Each manager knows the extent of his own squad's shortcomings and each seemed well enough aware of his opposite number's difficulties to know that fortune had been kind. Hungary might have been a softer touch, but you can't have everything your own way in this life.
In fact, the Belgian squad which arrives here on Monday, has much in common with the side that stands between them and their country's 10th World Cup finals.
Key players are past their best, important ones are injured and in Georges Leekens, the visitors possess a manager who, in his first qualifying tournament with the national team, is generally popular but could do with qualifying for France '98 in order to convince the sceptics.
Leekens took over from Wilfred Van Moer at the start of this year after what might best be described as an erratic career in management.
A cup win at Cercle Bruges and a league and cup at FC Bruges earned him respect as a coach, but there were lean times too. After indifferent spells with Trabzonspor in Turkey, as well as back home with Cercle Brugge (again) and Charleroi, he was forced to drop into the second division in order the re-establish his credentials.
This he quickly did, leading Moeskroen to the second division title and leaving them for the national job at a time they led the championship. The club threatened legal action against the FA over his departure, but the country's football supporters were delighted by the appointment of a man who appeared to have what his predecessor lacked . . . a plan.
"He has brought certainty to the team," says one observer. "You always know how he will play, with a man behind the defence and five in defence or midfield, however, you prefer to see it, where as with Van Moer, the tactics seemed to change for every game."
Before announcing the squad for this game, he made it clear to the press that there would no surprises - and in the 19-man panel he has named, he has been as good as his word. Criticism of Philippe Albert earlier in the year and a hint that the Newcastle defender would not play again for Leekens may have sparked the 30-year-old's decision to retire from international football when recalled on Thursday. Here too, there appears to be a parallel with the Irish camp and the slightly-premature departure of Paul McGrath.
There is at least one marked difference between the set-ups, however. While Mick McCarthy increasingly finds himself turning to members of his under-21 squad with limited first-team experience to plug the gaps in his ageing senior panel, Leekens has plenty of experienced players from the leading Belgian clubs to call upon.
With 11 Irishmen on bookings and several of our best-known names prone to injury that could yet end up making all the difference when this tie goes back to Brussels in the middle of next month.
