The most contentious, if not controversial, was the most recent trip in September 1989 which proved to be the last time Liam Brady kicked a ball for his country.

Not that he saw much of it, however. In a game in which Ireland were being overrun by a dynamic German midfield, Brady was insultingly hauled off after only 35 minutes for Andy Townsend. Charlton explained after the game he needed "midfielders to put the foot in" but by then Brady had already announced his retirement. He says today: "I made my decision just after. It was easy to make as it was clear I wasn't in Charlton's plans. As for the substitution, I thought it was wholly unnecessary. I'd be of the opinion changes before half-time have little effect so I think it was an ego-trip for Jack." In the event, Frank Stapleton gave Ireland an undeserved lead before Hans Dorfner earned West Germany a 1-1 draw.

A stark contrast from May 1979 when, despite a harsh 3-1 defeat to the likes of KarlHeinz Rummenigge, Brady's display had Europe purring with many Bundesliga scouts there to watch and German manager Jupp Derwall hailing his rise as an international star. The Irish Press said he had made full use of the shop window and within a year was signed to Juventus.

West Germany's two prior visits came between World Cup wins. In May 1966, a 21year-old Franz Beckenbauer announced the arrival of a new force, his goal and strikes from Wolfgang Overath (two) and Helmut Haller inspiring Germany to a devastating 40 win. Within two months that side would reach a World Cup final and within eight years its nucleus would win one. That was revenge for a decade earlier when goals from Noel Cantwell, Joe Haverty and Jimmy McCann gave Ireland a 3-0 win against the waning 1954 'Miracle of Berne' team.

For all that though, it is West Germany's first visit here as a divided country in 1951 that has become the most legendary . . . and in the truest sense of the word. Ireland recorded a fine 3-2 win . . .principally thanks to the referee blowing the final whistle as a German corner flew through the air but before it found the net, much like in the 1978 World Cup . . . but, apparently, such was the German gratitude for a team finally agreeing to play them after the war they adopted green shirts as their away jersey.

Lovely story, both myths unfortunately. Ireland were the fourth team to play the Germans and the second to host them after Austria, while the green jerseys are explained away as one of the colours of the German FA.

What should be the most notorious of meetings between the two, however, is the most forgotten, and perhaps purposely so. In October 1936, just as Eamon de Valera was finishing his demolition of the Anglo-Irish treaty and a year after Hitler introduced the Nuremburg Laws, the Third Reich team gave the Nazi salute to 400 German fans and officials in Dalymount's grand stand before succumbing to a 5-2 defeat to a thrilling Irish side . . . Joey Donnelly and Tom Davis scoring two apiece before Mattie Geoghegan sealed the win. Not that the home fans were unwelcoming to their visitors though. As The Irish Times reported, "at the close of the match the huge crowd on the far side rushed across the ground, took up position in front of the grand stand, and lustily cheered the visitors, hundreds of arms being raised to the Nazi salute".

Steve Staunton's team will have to do something quite momentous to top all that come next Saturday.