Ireland could face England and Northern Ireland in next year's Nations League
Ireland have a 25% chance of meeting England in next year’s UEFA Nations League series after the pots were confirmed ahead of the draw in Paris on February 8.
While the FAI are busily searching to fill the managerial vacancy, they are also shaping their 2024 match calendar in the absence of being part of the major event of the year in Germany - the Euros.
Two friendlies in March are close to being announced, with another pair expected in June against teams preparing for the Euros but the primary business of the men’s team next year is seeking success in the Nations League.
They’ll have to buck their League B record in this fourth edition of UEFA’s latest international series.
Martin O’Neill was the first manager to oversee a team into the competition in 2018, finishing last of three teams behind Denmark and Wales following a winless four-match campaign that eventually led to himself and Roy Keane being sacked.
A subsequent rejigging of the format meant Ireland’s relegation to League C was overturned and Stephen Kenny’s first assignments – either side of the Euro 2021 playoff semi-final against Slovakia – were matches against Bulgaria, Wales and Finland in the four-team group played in front of mostly empty stadia during Covid-19.
Once again, not a win was recorded and only one goal scored as Ireland finished third, concluding with a drab scoreless draw against Bulgaria that avoided finishing bottom and being relegated.
By the time the next instalment rolled around in 2022, Kenny was bullish about topping the group.
The concept enables nations to be drawn with similar-ranked countries but defeat to the lowest seeds in League B, Armenia, all but killed off Kenny’s declaration inside 90 minutes.
One point against
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