"It's something we've come away from as a nation" - Ireland's Dara O'Shea
Dara O'Shea reckons Ireland have found what they were looking for - and if it's good enough for PSG, it's good enough for the Boys in Green.
It's not reinventing the wheel either, more so a return to solid, old fashioned values that the Ipswich Town defender feels were missing.
Results will dictate whether Heimir Hallgrimsson gets to extend his contract as Ireland manager, because his current deal expires at the end of the World Cup campaign.
That means the FAI could be embarking on yet another managerial hunt in November, if Ireland finish third or bottom of a group containing Portugal, Hungary and Armenia.
A second-placed finish would extend Hallgrimsson's stay into a playoff semi-final in March, and a final if they win that. And top spot means Ireland will qualify automatically for the 2026 showpiece in America, Canada and Mexico - but that's a tall order.
It is notable how bullish Hallgrimsson has been in his belief that Ireland can qualify. He's not shying away from it and, in turn, nor are his players.
Hallgrimsson has already said that he got Iceland to the 2018 World Cup with players he feels are not as good as the ones currently at his disposal.
Stephen Kenny wasn't shy about making big statements about his Ireland team going into qualifying campaigns, but most of those were over almost as soon as they began.
Hallgrimsson has restored a degree of pragmatism to the whole approach, and O'Shea is one of his most trusted lieutenants. And the significance of going unbeaten in the three games this year is not lost on the defender, going into tomorrow's friendly in Luxembourg.
O'Shea said: 'We understand the way the manager wants us to play and how he wants us to be as a nation. That's the identity of us as Irish people too.
'Against Senegal, our reaction in the middle of the park, we lost the ball, we got around it. There were some big tackles, some big blocks. That's something that we've kind of come away from as a nation, which we should never - that's our identity, we're hard working people.
'With every successful team, the fundamental is hard work. You watch PSG in the Champions League final, they've got all the talent in the world but they worked hard as well and that's what got them there. We've that embedded in us as Irish people, so we've got to show that on the pitch and not take the moments for granted.'
On Friday, Ireland were on track for a third win on the spin only to concede to Senegal eight minutes from time and settle for a 1-1 draw. But after putting Bulgaria to the sword twice in March, it means Ireland remain unbeaten in 2025 and O'Shea insists that's not to be sniffed at.
'There's obviously a mentality aspect of football and winning games and keeping that momentum going is massive,' he said. 'It's something we haven't really had as a nation for a while now. It's something this group hasn't had at all really.
'So it's important that we keep building and don't take the games for granted because before we know it we'll be in the World Cup campaign and right in the thick of it.
'You only get one chance to qualify, so it's important that we make the most of every moment we can. The manager believes in us as a group and he believes in himself. That's massive when you can feel the manager believes in you as a group.'
On the club front, O'Shea is reeling after Ipswich were relegated but he is already the subject of fresh Premier League interest for next season.
A clubmate of Ireland internationals Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor, O'Shea had a strong individual season and performed well in a losing side. Wolves, Leeds and his former club Burnley are all reportedly keen on making a move this summer.
But O'Shea said: 'I'm fully committed to Ipswich at the moment. I've got another four years there and I want to get the club back into the Premier League.
'I'm ambitious as a player and obviously I want to be playing in the Premier League but I know it's not as easy as that. Whatever happens in football it happens for a reason. You have a journey and you've got to stick to that sometimes.'
O'Shea added: 'I feel like I'm well capable of playing in the Premier League and I've got to get myself back there now. I spoke to the gaffer at Ipswich and that's the task he's set me - to carry on those standards of a Premier League player and still owe it to myself to be like that.
'It's really hard when you come off the back of relegation but I'm happy with how I played. I've grown into a leader and I play better when I have that responsibility.'
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