It was transfer deadline day in England yesterday so when the Irish players filed into their Dublin hotel there was careful counting of the faces.
Anyone missing? Where was John O'Shea? Was he off trying on an Everton shirt for size? Or introducing himself to the Newcastle public? Andy Reid? Had Joe Kinnear finally said "yes" to Spurs? Or Charlton? Was Reid in London, chatting with Jacques Santini? Or Alan Curbishley? Steve Finnan? Where is he? House-hunting in the blue half of Liverpool, or bumping into Reid at White Hart Lane? Shay Given, Stephen Carr and Andy O'Brien? Upstairs checking Ceefax to see if there was any word on a new manager at Newcastle? Or, more important, checking if the club had signed a centre half for O'Brien to play alongside? Rory Delap? Busy reading his rules of rugby in anticipation of a season of rolling mauls, scrums and lineouts at St Mary's? Or was Gary Lineker jesting when he said Clive Woodward would be the next Southampton manager?
No developments on those fronts, as it proved, Reid shaking his head when asked "any news?" O'Shea wanders in smiling, not quite looking like a man who's been "offloaded" by Manchester United.
Nothing for it, then, but to concentrate on international duty, every player singing from the same hymn sheet: "All I'm thinking about is Saturday, three points against Cyprus, that's all that matters."
Barring a dramatic late recovery, Matt Holland, missing for Saturday's game against Cyprus, is unlikely to return in time for Switzerland next Wednesday. So, the heart of the midfield, Roy Keane and Holland, is lost. How big a blow?
"Of course we're disappointed to lose two players of that quality and experience - not only Roy but Mattie as well," said captain Kenny Cunningham. "Mattie's been outstanding for us the last year and a half, scored some crucial goals too, lots of composure in big games, so that will be missed. But it's a great opportunity for other players as well, the likes of Graham Kavanagh, Alan Quinn, Kevin Kilbane and one or two others, I'm sure they'll be relishing the prospects of grabbing the jersey and getting a place in the starting line-up.
"We just have to get on with it. We're just determined we make a good start to the group, get some momentum going. It's not going to be easy to win this group with the strength of the French and of course we know how difficult Switzerland can be, but it's vital we get that good start."
What about Cyprus?
"Well as every one says, the gap between the so-called minnows and larger European nations has closed in the past few years - it's a cliché, I know, but there really are no easy games now. Cyprus will provide a test. They won't make things easy for us. I'm sure they'll be organised, competitive and physically very strong so we're going to have to show a lot of composure, patience and imagination in the last third of the pitch.
"We have players of great natural ability but not the biggest - we can't be looking to knock too many long balls up to Damien and Robbie. We have to play it to their feet, be confident and brave enough to take possession of the ball and keep working for openings; hopefully that'll get us the three points we're after."
Switzerland?
"Well, I don't think we've any score to settle with Switzerland, as some people have said. We have to put our hands on our hearts and say that, over the two games the last time, the Swiss were the better team and deservedly won through to Euro 2004. But it's a different time now. It's a year down the road.
"There are a few new players in the squad; it's a different set of circumstances. So of course next week's game is key as well but I'm not looking to that one yet - that would just be disrespectful to the Cypriots. They're the only people on our minds at the moment."
One game at a time, then.
