Ireland are also-rans and Heimir Hallgrimsson knows now that he has an Everest to climb
This isn't an Ireland that beats England, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. This is an Ireland that loses to Luxembourg and draws at home to Azerbaijan, and gives up three goals to a largely second string England in six minutes.
He wore the armband for a long time so Robbie Keane knows the importance of captaincy. When he was Ireland assistant manager to Mick McCarthy, he'd often have a few words with Seamus Coleman before kick-off.
Keane was at it again three years ago, doling out some advice to his skipper. But, even though he was still an FAI employee, Keane wasn't in Dublin, and he wasn't talking to Coleman.
Instead, he was in the Etihad Stadium in Manchester and his captain was Usain Bolt. Keane was helping Harry Redknapp manage a World XI to a 3-0 victory over England in the annual Socceraid charity fundraiser.
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The damage up front was done by two-goal hero, 2017 Love Island winner Kem Cetinay.
That Keane was still picking up a monthly wage from the FAI - even though he wasn't being utilised anymore by them - was a legacy of the disastrous John Delaney era. And the sorry state of the national team is another big part of that legacy.
We are bombarded with stats these days so many of them just wash over us.
But one cropped up in the wake of a dismal draw with Azerbaijan during Stephen Kenny's time in charge that stopped many in their tracks. Azerbaijan had 26 full time coaches in their national academy, Ireland didn't have one.
Sunday's humiliating thrashing by England brought to mind an appearance by this writer alongside Tony Cascarino on radio. During that discussion, Cascarino pointed out that Ireland used to beat big teams. Cascarino went on to mention beating England during his time.
But that was in 1988. It was 36 years ago. Imagine harking back to 1952 before games in 1988... You'd have been laughed at. One of the problems with Irish football is the disease of nostalgia.
Too many find it hard to leave the past behind - even though the past bears no relation to the present. What does Stuttgart '88 mean to Evan Ferguson. He wasn't even born until 16 years after Ray Houghton put the ball in the English net.
Ferguson may well watch the Saipan movie when it comes out next year. To him, there might be something new in it. He wasn't born until two years after Saipan.
Irish players are expected to live up to what increasingly looks like an impossible ideal. They know they're in a very different position to the likes of Houghton, Paul McGrath or the Keanes.
This isn't an Ireland that beats England, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. This is an Ireland that loses to Luxembourg and draws at home to Azerbaijan, and gives up three goals to a largely second string England in six minutes.
Heimir Hallgrimsson looks to have a fairly sunny disposition. You can be sure we'll knock that out of him soon enough.
The Nations League play-off and World Cup qualifiers draws will be made and we'll do the usual thing of talking ourselves up and buying into the hopey-feely stuff.
Deep down, we know how it'll end. The Ireland manager's job has generally left managers disillusioned, embittered and old before their time.
Everyone knows the game in Ireland needs serious government investment. FAI chiefs are begging fans to badger politicians on the campaign trail about it.
But it's hard to see many aspiring TDs thinking it's a vote winner. Sunday at Wembley was grim, but grim is the new norm.
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