'It discredits the team to say that... You have to play the teams that are in front of you'

If anything, they feel that playing against a nation that has an inferior ranking makes the challenge all the more difficult. Managing expectations is one of many burdens to carry. The public is anticipating a comfortable victory against a team like Kazakhstan, who sit 78 places beneath Ireland on the rankings. Winning the first leg of their World Cup play-off semi-final 8-0 puts Ireland in a commanding position to complete the mission at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tonight.