The trouble with playing with fire is that you’re likely to get burned.
And if you’re introducing ice to the equation, well, there’s every chance you’ll be left standing in a puddle.
Ireland are certainly hoping to ignite their Euro 2024 campaign in the most spectacular fashion tonight, rather than see the occasion become a damp squib.
Kylian Mbappe has spoken in the build-up about it being France’s aim to win the European Championships in Germany next year.
For now, Ireland will settle for just getting there.
It's two years to the day since the Boys in Green suffered a humiliating home defeat to Luxembourg, in what remains Stephen Kenny’s lowest moment in this job.
World Cup qualification was effectively over after just two games having lost in Serbia days before.
Euros qualification won’t hinge on tonight’s result, but the manager needs no reminding how hard it is to play catch-up.
Momentum is key and particularly so in a treacherous group where few people give Ireland a chance of automatic qualification.
Twice in the last four days, Kenny has claimed that he doesn’t need to issue a rallying cry going into this glamour clash.
Nevertheless, he made a decent fist of it yesterday with stirring talk of bringing ‘fire and ice’ to the party and refusing to accept ‘a slow death’ playing a defensive game.
That’s fighting talk, and in the face of suggestions from former players like Shay Given that Kenny should be more pragmatic and deploy an old school Irish game.
But it wouldn’t be the first time the manager has made a rod for his own back either, with such bullish predictions.
Kenny’s steadfast refusal to deviate from his script comes as no surprise, of course, as he doesn’t have it in him to adopt a horses for courses approach.
In his eyes, that’s akin to waving a white flag.
Perhaps the more apt comment from the manager over recent days was when he urged his players to produce 'something extraordinary’ against the World Cup finalists.
Because Ireland will certainly have to be extraordinary to win this game, and nothing short of exceptional just to get a point that would represent a fine night’s work.
The hope is that after producing such a ruthless filleting of the Netherlands on Friday, a small degree of complacency against lower-ranking opponents might creep in.
“We should continue to take risks and not waver in any way from that, that's important, that's what the team is built on and that's critical,” said Kenny last night.
“It’s finding the balance to be able to carry a threat but also not leave ourselves exposed.
“We must make provisions to counter any counter attacks that they have, and then have balance and cover.
“It's an electric night and the crowd don't need a rallying call from me, they understand the traditions of Ireland and France.
“They understand the connection with the players and the supporters - you can feel it growing and it's very powerful.
“The crowd will really get behind the team, it will be a special occasion and a huge challenge, there's no doubt about that.”
Kenny continued: “We respect the talents that France have.
“Mbappe is obviously an exceptional player and we have to back ourselves and have conviction in the way we play.
“Ultimately we’ll show the courage that’s needed tonight, but it would be naive not to have provisions.
“We’re not naive enough to suggest that we don't have to pay attention to him because obviously he's an exceptional player, but they have a lot of exceptional players.
“But I’m very pleased with the overall quality that our players have shown recently.
“We’re an improving team, we’ve won eight of our last 15 games and over the last 20 games we’ve lost five and none of them have been by more than a goal.
“We feel we can play well against a lot of teams. France are a level up, they have been exceptional. It’ll be a huge test, but that’s what you live for, these games.
“The players all want to play and are excited about playing. It’s a very exciting game to be involved in and that’s the beauty of it.”
On Friday night at the team’s Dublin-based hotel, Kenny sat down with his coaching staff to watch France’s opening group game against the Dutch.
The game was done and dusted after eight minutes, with the Parisian crowd rejoicing in the fact their team were showing no signs of a World Cup hangover.
“It was an impressive performance,” conceded Kenny yesterday.
“It’s very rare a number one seed with world class players as Holland are, get taken apart like that and defeated convincingly. That's very rare. It was interesting to see.
“We've learned from that game and there's a lot to consider with that performance.
“But I've seen it with my own eyes anyway, I've seen them live a few times and I'm well aware of their strengths.”
Few are expecting Ireland to emerge unscathed tonight but, for 90 minutes at least, a rocking full-house is hoping their team brings fire to the party.
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