Some unfortunate team is going to have to come up against both Germany and a top-seeded team in their qualifying group for Euro 2020.
And while it’s no more than a 10/1 shot to be drawn against Germany, Irish supporters will be fearing the worst for their qualification campaign.
The 1-1 Uefa Nations League draw between Portugal and Poland on Tuesday night confirmed that Germany will be in Pot 2 for the upcoming draw in Dublin.
The Republic of Ireland, being third seeds, will be facing one team from each of the below pots, meaning that the worst case scenario will likely be the prospect of facing off with both France and Germany.
Pot 1 for Euro 2020 qualifying
England (UNL Pot)
Netherlands (UNL Pot)
Portugal (UNL Pot)
Switzerland (UNL Pot)
Belgium
Croatia
France
Italy
Spain
Poland
Pot 2 for Euro 2020 qualifying
Germany
Austria
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Czech Republic
Denmark
Iceland
Russia
Sweden
Ukraine
Wales
There will be five groups of five teams and five groups of six teams in the qualification campaign.
The best case scenario for the Boys in Green, you could argue, would be a group featuring both Switzerland and Bosnia & Herzegovina but the fact that only two teams will automatically progress from the group means that you wouldn’t exactly fancy Ireland’s chances.
Unlike the qualifiers for 2016, there will be no playoffs for third place. The top two will qualify automatically for the 2020 tournament and there will be playoffs based on the Nations League later.
And given Ireland’s recent struggles to do so much as find the net (going four goalless games for the first time in 22 years), one would anticipate a soul-destroying campaign unless something significant changes in the management set-up.
