Exploring the Republic of Ireland's potential play-off path to Euro 2024

Once drawn alongside France and the Netherlands in the qualification phase for Euro 2024, there was a strong sense that the Republic of Ireland would be looking for a back avenue into the tournament.

Four games in, arriving at the half-way stage of the Group B campaign, nothing has changed to alter that initial instinct.

Three defeats and a solitary home victory – a hard-fought one at that – against the lowest-ranked side in the group, Gibraltar, while also going down to the fourth-ranked Greece in Athens.

In truth, aside from a creditable performance in the opening game against France, where Ireland were narrowly beaten, there has been little to get excited about.

Out-manoeuvred in Athens, outclassed in Paris, and out of sorts in the opening 45 minutes against the men from the tip of the Iberian peninsula, and yet somehow, Ireland cling on to the fact that they are not out of the race for the second qualification spot.

The Netherlands would, no doubt, feel a bit bemused and just a touch offended to be considered part of this mini group of three for that second spot for Germany next year.

But their 4-0 hammering from France in the opening game, coupled with their Nations League duties mean that they have yet to put the points or the performances on the board to suggest that they are closer to the level of French than that of Ireland or Greece.

There was a solid start to putting that scenario to bed in Eindhoven on Thursday night, as they easily accounted for Greece with three first-half goals securing the points, and they will be looking for, and expecting, more of the same in Dublin on Sunday night.

But they will have to tread carefully against a wounded side like Ireland who, at this stage, really have nothing to lose in the