Plenty of fire, not enough ice. That was the story of the Republic of Ireland's 3-0 loss to Sweden on Friday night as the wait for a win in Euro 2025 qualification goes on.
Cooler heads did not prevail in the moments that mattered most. The hosts were generally excellent in the opening 45 minutes, but they imploded in front of goal, while Sweden ruthlessly showed them how it's done through Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (2) and Fridolina Rolfo.
Eileen Gleeson's team were a ball of energy in that first half and really should have taken the lead.
The game's pivotal miss perhaps defined the contest: Lily Agg was extremely lucky not go in the book for a wild tackle on Rolfo; moments later, with her blood still up, she snatched at a glorious chance, sidefooting it wide with the goal gaping.
Fire and ice; aggression and composure.
It's not easy to get the balance right, to go full throttle out of possession and then take your foot off the gas at the right times to enhance your self control, but Ireland at least enjoyed moments that suggested they are getting closer.
"I think we started great," said defender Caitlin Hayes.
"We had them rattled. We could have gone in at half-time winning if we were a bit more clinical. There are definitely positives to take going into Tuesday.
"There's no time to go and lick your wounds. We just have to amend some of the things we did wrong and take the positives into Tuesday. We've got to keep pushing forward.
"I enjoy being tested by the world's best. It's a joy to play with this short on and it's a joy to play at the Aviva."
They will push forward without the injured Denise O'Sullivan and, likely, Ruesha Littlejohn who is a major doubt.
It means others will have to step up to the plate - which is a challenge, but also an opportunity for younger players to go toe to toe with a superb side.
"At this level you have to take your chances and if you don't you get punished," said Jessie Stapleton, who acquitted herself well in the middle of the park on Friday.
"They're all great teams, we just have to up to that level.
"The more we play against them, we have to bring it to them. In the first half, the first 20, 30 minutes, we showed we can be at this level. We started to fall off but we have to keep pushing. There's a result we can get there on Tuesday if we cut out the silly mistakes."
Gleeson was hugely frustrated by the missed opportunities, but believes they came with a silver lining.
"I think it's the chances created," the head coach said when asked what the biggest positive was.
"We set out with two strikers, went high right from the off and I think the girls really committed to that.
"There's definitely a few issues we had to fix in the midfield area with the three in their box but that was tactical stuff. Of course it was new, but it was getting that communication right.
"I don't think we got sliced open defensively. We got killed on (transitions) on the goals once we opened up. Things we can be better on? Be more clinical. But it's positive that we created the chances.
"If we're trying to play through the lines, we have to keep the ball, have better decision-making in moments."
It's on to Stockholm now for round two with the Swedes.
Peter Gerhardsson's tough, polished outfit are ranked sixth in the world and you can see why. Even without Stina Blackstenius, Amanda Ilestedt, Lina Hurtig and Rebecka Blomqvist they looked a class apart, but Ireland are nothing if not resilent, and they will travel to the Friends Arena determined to get something.
"We're a team that keeps other accountable, that knows what this shirt demands and the expectations there are when you put it on," Hayes added.
"When we fall short of those we're quick to pull each other up but look, we've just got to go back, listen to our coaching staff... and we'll do that and come back. We'll have a bit of a chip on our shoulder, we'll turn up and we'll fight again."
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