Revenge for the Viking Raids

Friendly internationals, especially those at the very beginning of the season are notoriously unreliable indicators of form, but it was good to see that Ireland were determined not to start this season as they did the last (a 4-0 home defeat to the Netherlands a year ago); they even went the extra mile and won 4-0 away from home, something they haven't managed since they watched Roy Keane take Cyprus apart in March 2001. Denmark were the opposition, a team Ireland hasn't lost to since Eoin Hand's last match in charge in October 1985 and Robbie Keane and young Shane Long weighed in with two goals apiece. Pleasing stuff even if I'm not fully convinced that Ireland have what it takes to win in both Bratislava and Prague next month (and two wins are what are needed), but we have, at least being served up a comforting illusion that will make the first game, at least, worth a look.