David Sneyd The 42

WHEN IT COMES to this World Cup play-off, even the oldest cliché in the game doesn’t stand a chance.

So much for taking it one game at a time when the whole party has already been laid out for you.

Before a ball has even been kicked in Czechia next week, the Republic of Ireland know what could be waiting in North America this summer.

Should Ireland progress, they will go into Group A. Games with South Korea in Guadalajara on 12 June, South Africa in Atlanta on 18 June and co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City on 25 June are over the horizon.

Before that, it’s all eyes on Prague.

How have Ireland got here again?

Troy Parrott. Budapest. Need we say anymore?

Well, it would help…

Ireland’s group stage campaign came to a thrilling conclusion with wins in their last three games, against Armenia and that brilliant final double header with Portugal and Hungary in November.

It was on life support at the halfway point, though. A disastrous 2-1 defeat in Yerevan left manager Heimir Hallgrímsson in a state of shock. The nature of the performance, not to mention the result, suggested the Icelander would soon be out of a job as familiar failings reared their ugly head.

Instead, Ireland rallied. The manager recalled Seamus Coleman, reverted to a back five in defence, and just so happened to benefit from Parrott being in the form of his life for both club and country.

So much so that at his squad announcement on Thursday, Hallgrímsson casually confirmed that he had signed a new contract earlier that morning which takes him up until after Euro 2028.

Why is this play-off different?

Gone are the days of the home and away duels against the same country. The heartache or joy will remain, of course, it will simply be wrapped up in a different guise at the behest of TV companies (we will explain more shortly).

For now, Ireland are drawn to play Czechia away from home in Prague this Thursday in what is effectively a one-off, knockout semi-final.

So what happens on Thursday?

The match will be decided on the night. To use the George Hamilton vernacular, extra-time and penalties loom large if the game is not decided in 90 minutes. Czechia’s home record is impressive, 15 wins from their last 18 games and just two defeats in that time. Still, a humbling 2-1 loss away to the Faroe Islands during qualifying led to recrimination among players, fans and the football association.

The result? They sacked their manager and after missing out on at least three of their preferred targets they settled for 74-year-old veteran boss Miroslav Koubek.

Should Ireland win, then there will be a play-off final in Dublin against whoever comes out on top between Denmark (don’t mention the 2018 World Cup play-off!) and North Macedonia.

But what if we lose?

Remember what we said about TV companies and heartache? Well, even by Fifa standards it’s painful what they have served up as an alternative. If Ireland cannot get the better of Czechia on Thursday they will welcome the loser of that other semi-final play-off to Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, 31 March, for a friendly game that serves as nothing more than fodder for advertising and TV.

Football supporters will take their loyalty to extremes but this borders on a form of dodgy box masochism.

What are Ireland’s chances?

Hopefully it is a good omen that Parrott scored and notched an assist in AZ Alkmaar’s 4-0 Uefa Conference League demolition of Sparta Prague in the Czech capital earlier this week. The loss of Evan Ferguson due to ankle surgery – he will also be absent from the World Cup should Ireland qualify – robs Hallgrímsson of an impressive operator in attack, but Parrott has come to the fore for club and country this season with over 30 goals.

Josh Cullen’s absence in the heart of midfield since suffering an ACL injury in December will be felt, and while former England U19 captain Harvey Vale (whose grandfather was born in Kenmare and lived in Sneem before leaving Kerry for London) has been called up for the first time since switching allegiance, he won’t be a like-for-like replacement as a defensive midfielder.

Jayson Molumby is in pole position for one of those spots with Stoke City’s Bosun Lawal getting the nod over Conor Coventry, suggesting the imposing Dubliner might have a role to play.

Barring any late hitches Ireland should also have a settled defence with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and a back five of Seamus Coleman, Jake O’Brien, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea and Ryan Manning.

Is it worth a last-minute trip?

For sure, if sightseeing and a sing-song among like-minded souls is the name of the game. Some Ireland fans will always find a way to source tickets but the official allocation of 1,024 in the away end has been snapped up. There were in the region of 6,000 applications and the FAI stated preference would be given to those supporters “based on the last ten undersubscribed away games”. So, by all means chance your arm and enjoy yourself, but prepare to be disappointed.

Where can I watch?

RTÉ 2 will have live coverage from 7pm with kick-off from 7.45pm Irish time, 8.45pm local. It will be also be live on the RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio One. The 42 and The Journal will be liveblogging on the evening after days of on-the-ground coverage in Czechia. I will be reporting for The Journal from Prague and my colleague Gavin Cooney will be on duty for The 42.