RTÉ Sport journalist
Ireland may still be smarting from missing out on Euro 2022 qualification, however, Vera Pauw s international unit are starting to make noises amongst the top teams in the global game.
Defeat in a game that they dominated in Ukraine will haunt the Irish side for the foreseeable future as they missed out on a play-off for the England-hosted event next summer.
Ukraine advanced and will now play Northern Ireland for a place at the tournament on Friday, and while the Republic would put themselves at a higher level than both sides, they must instead look towards qualification for the next World Cup, which takes place in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.