Euro 2024 permutations: Play-off picture still hazy

11.09.2023 - 16:21 rte.ie

The Republic of Ireland's 2-1 loss to the Netherlands means our chances of qualifying for Euro 2024 are now in the hands of other countries.A fourth defeat in five games makes finishing in the top two of Group B all but impossible and so coming through the play-offs is the only possible route for Stephen Kenny’s side to Germany.Twenty of the 23 qualifiers (hosts Germany are automatically qualified) come via the 10 groups, with the final three places being decided courtesy of play-offs.Those play-offs will be based on Nations League performances rather than where you finish in the qualifying group so Ireland could potentially come fourth behind France, the Netherlands and Greece and still make it.

But what are the chances of that? Well, it’s about as straightforward as a Pep Guardiola tactics Ted talk but we’ll endeavour to explain.The four group winners of Nations Leagues A, B and C are guaranteed play-off spots in their respective paths; (A): Spain, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands (B): Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Scotland (C): Georgia, Greece, Turkey and Kazakhstan.But some of those countries and most in League A will qualify automatically, opening up play-off spots for sides like Ireland, who ranked 10th in League B and 26th of 55 overall.There were only seven teams in League D last time but winners Estonia are guaranteed a place in the A path if 13 or more of those 16 League A teams qualify automatically, which is currently the case.

So if the the A play-offs were decided today they would be: Italy v Estonia and Poland v Wales.Path B would be Israel v Iceland and Bosnia Herzegovina v Finland, and Path C Georgia v Greece and Kazakhstan v Luxembourg.Ireland can only get into Path A or B and so want as many as

soccer Republic of Ireland international soccer Euro 2024 Sport Stephen Kenny France Finland Germany Croatia Netherlands Spain Serbia Italy Scotland Georgia Turkey Poland Ireland Estonia Kazakhstan Iceland Israel Bosnia And Hzegovina Greece Luxembourg

MUNICH, Germany: Julian Nagelsmann has been given nine months to revive flailing Germany ahead of hosting Euro 2024 after being named as the sacked Hansi Flick’s successor as national team coach on Friday. Germany fired Flick with the national team struggling, the German football association (DFB) fearing another embarrassing performance in a major tournament, this time as hosts at next year’s European championships. Former Bayern Munich boss Nagelsmann has signed a deal until the end of next July, allowing the 36-year-old to leave after Euro 2024. “We have a European Championship in our own country — that’s something special,” Nagelsmann said in a statement. “I have a great desire to take on this challenge.” Nagelsmann said he signed the short-term deal “to keep the Euros in focus” but insisted he “would not rule out” an extension. Flick, who became the first coach in Germany history to be sacked, had won just four of 17 matches leading up to his dismissal and took the team to a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The four-time world champions were also knocked out in the group stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia under previous boss Joachim Loew. DFB president Bernd Neuendorf called Nagelsmann “an outstanding coach” and said: “We are convinced (he) will ensure that the national team inspires its fans and that the Euros are also a sporting success.” Flick was sacked after a humiliating 4-1 friendly loss to Japan in Wolfsburg in early September. Nagelsmann, who also succeeded Flick as Bayern coach, has been jobless since he was sacked by the German champions in March. DFB sporting director Rudi Voeller called Nagelsmann “an absolute football expert” and said he had “proven himself at a very

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