The Republic of Ireland are no strangers to penalty pain. But unlike against Spain at the 2002 World Cup and Slovakia in the Euro 2020 play-offs, they led this game 2-0 and now must reckon with how they lost control of their destiny.

“We were in a good spot,” captain Nathan Collins told BBC Sport NI.

“We were playing really well. We were front-footed, creating chances, our press was working, we were hurting them on the ball.

“The timing of their first goal probably affects it a bit and knocks the wind out of you. They had a lot to fight for in the second half, but it’s probably the timing of it rather than the performance.”

There was a kind of twisted inevitability with how the Republic of Ireland’s fate was sealed after Hallgrimsson revealed in the build-up that his squad would not practise penalties.

It at least did not impact Parrott’s coolness from 12 yards. The talismanic striker converted in Budapest and expertly dispatched another for the opener in Prague despite a lengthy wait for the home side’s protestations to subside.

Parrott made no mistake at the start of the shootout, and while Adam Idah and Robbie Brady both followed suit, Azaz and Browne – who also failed to score in the Slovakia shootout – were denied by Kovar.

“They have a lot of thoughts in their head right now,” added Collins, who hit the crossbar early in the game.

“There’s not a lot you can say to a person when they’re in that position. But there are not a lot of people that would stand up and take a penalty.

“It took a lot of bravery for them to do that so there’s no fingers being pointed at them at all.”