Psychologists often describe hope as a cognitive-emotional blend: part belief, part desire, part refusal to accept that outcomes are beyond our control. Reserves of hope were low nine days ago for the Republic of Ireland football team before its games against Portugal and Hungary. Two implausible victories later, supporters have been granted four precious months of additional hope until the World Cup play-offs in March. And they will point out that the second fixture, should the team win in Prague, will take place in Dublin. It is an adaptive strategy, a way to navigate uncertainty while staying invested in something larger than ourselves.
