If everything had gone to plan, right now Ireland would be preparing for a Euro 2020 play-off in Slovakia this Thursday. However, that and all other play-offs have been postponed until at least June due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
It is a game that we had been looking forward to for months and it feels a bit odd that it now won't take place. With the Euros being postponed until the summer of 2021, it also leads to questions over who would lead Ireland to the tournament should we qualify, with Stephen Kenny previously set to take over in August of this year.
That is a conversation for another day. For now, footballers and other sportspeople remain as affected by the coronavirus as the rest of us. Mick McCarthy is certainly feeling the effects.
Speaking to the FAI website, he revealed he is currently in self-isolation after two of his neighbours were diagnosed with the virus:
I should have been on the training ground at Abbotstown with the players today, getting ready for Slovakia and working on shapes and game plans.
Instead, I am back home in Bromley and isolating as two of our near neighbours have been diagnosed with coronavirus and it is now very real and very frightening for us.
Like so many others, we are trying so hard to play by the rules here and stay at home. My wife Fiona and I are not seeing our children or our grandchildren and it's tough.
We are doing what the authorities are telling us and that is the message I want to send to everyone in Ireland today.
Let's do as we are told - let's ensure we listen to the guidelines so that we don't end up like Italy. "Please do as the HSE, the Government and the Gardai are telling you.
Ireland's play-off has been provisionally fixed for June, but it is uncertain if the game will be able to take place at that time.
