The USA have now scored 51 goals in the fixture, but two long-range efforts from defenders scoring their first ever goal — accompanied by goalkeeping errors lurching from marginal to magnified — and a penalty tells a story. Or two.

One of them is that the USA seem less likely than ever to make it a three-peat this summer; countries will have seen Ireland’s comfort in dealing with a Vlatko Andonovski side where temporary form is undermining acknowledged class.

The other is that the emergence of three players — defender Aoife Mannion, midfielder Sinead Farrelly and forward Marissa Sheva — reflects a vastly changed landscape for Ireland. Two are more than likely starters [and the other the first sub] for Ireland’s opening clash with the World Cup hosts in Sydney on July 20.

Ireland have taken a while to get to a place where they comfortably belong on the same field as the best side in the world, but their timing may be immaculate. The impact of such a radical re-alignment of the playing group within such a short space of time has had obvious tactical and technical benefits.

Vera Pauw must remove all the emotion and select just 20 outfield players, from a number soaring beyond a long-list of 50, after one final outing against France in Tallaght this summer.

That formidable assignment is hardly the most favourable for those who are attempting either to prove their fitness or their enhanced reputation in the manager’s eyes. It may be the only one they are afforded.

Indeed, given that the official send-off for the side, against Zambia, will be one where Ireland would like to depart with a flourish, Pauw may not be keen to experiment too much against the French.

Megan Campbell’s return will presumably buttress an enhanced midfield by allowing Katie McCabe to get closer to Denise O’Sulllivan and Farrelly.

With Ireland almost guaranteed not to give much away, this might improve their prospects of tackling a dismal record in front of goal.

​So as it stands, only the Zambia friendly on June 22 remains as an opportunity for the likes of Savannah McCarthy, Chloe Mustaki or Leanne Kiernan — to name the most prominent trio of currently injured but once favoured squad members — to convince Pauw of their World Cup worthiness.

Three of the players who featured so prominently in the last two camps — Mannion, Farrelly and Sheva — only made their debuts this year. If all are now in the squad, that obviously means that three women who would have been waking up on New Year’s Day fancying their chances of heading down under will be disappointed.

It’s a cruel, ruthless business. The axe will inflict fraught feelings upon those affected, especially in the unavoidable context of recent recruits.

“That’s the worst part of the campaign,” said Pauw on Tuesday in St Louis. “I hate my job at that moment but never forget it’s worse for them.”

Even selecting one from the comfort of the bleachers is no easy task; albeit one assumes the goalkeeping and defensive positions offer some clarity.

Then it becomes tricky the higher up the pitch you go; Ciara Grant, Roma McLaughlin and, to our mind most impressively, Lucy Quinn — not even in the original squad until Lily Agg’s injury withdrawal — have propelled themselves back into portentous positions.

Some may carp at Hampden heroine Amber Barrett’s limited opportunities but at least she is in possession of the chance; Kiernan, another not always invested with significant trust, can currently offer nothing while recuperating from injury.

Agg and Niamh Fahey, for different reasons, possess more of the manager’s faith even though both remain sidelined.

Aside from them, current form and fitness is king for these queens of Irish football. For others, the sword of Damocles will soon fall.

David Kelly’s squad

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Brosnan plays ever minute so clearly the alternatives remain behind emergency glass; they hardly play for their clubs either so not an ideal situation with Brosnan’s ill-timed propensity for alarming error undermining an otherwise vastly improved international reputation. Late recruit Sophie Whitehouse and domestic option such as Naoisha McAloon or Katie Keane unlikely to enter frame.

Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Áine O’Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool)

Not much contention here, with Campbell’s return last week a boon; the manager only needs Fahey to prove her fitness. Tara O’Hanlon being earmarked as cover for McCabe reflects her exalted status and she may be on the cusp. Luckless Savannah McCarthy would be a World Cup starter were it not for her ACL and Jessie Stapleton hasn’t been tried often enough.

Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Sinead Farrelly (NJ/NY Gotham), Lily Agg (London City)

We admit Mustaki is a personal preference; only returning to full fitness but, a year ago this week, played a crucial role in historic 1-1 Sweden draw. So many options here, Lucy Quinn’s late resurgence complicating a picture that also includes Roma McLaughlin, Ciara Grant, Jess Ziu (currently injured), and Jamie Finn. This is where the deepest cuts lie.

Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Amber Barrett (Potsdam Turbine), Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit)

Ironically, after we argued for months that Payne was wasted as a shot-shy striker who spent most of her time as a tirelessly running de facto wing-back, she has now finally started there; still, we will retain her as a striking option going forward, as they say. Amazing that Barrett is on the bubble but illustrative of intense competition. Another personal favourite, Leanne Kiernan, may sadly run out of road; given the manager hasn’t often trusted her, time and loyalty are currencies she lacks. Ellen Molloy’s injury and Abbie Larkin’s callowness rule them out.

Like others, this summer’s history will pass them by. But their time will surely come.