And there is some pretending going on, though not by the players and not by Souness. The next time Mick McCarthy sends out a teamsheet consisting only of players born in Ireland it will be trumpeted as a green triumph. Those defending McAteer and the like now will gloat about it, be sure of that. They would prefer he was replaced by a purer Irishman all along. They will probably say they said so all along.
National pride is one thing.
False indignant nationalism is another.