Managerless Ireland to find out Nations League draw fate
Cameras will zoom in on manager reaction to the Uefa Nations League draw in Paris on Wednesday evening but in the case of Ireland, it’ll be the pursuers of the manager in the spotlight.
The resplendent Maison de la Mutualité is the head office of the Paris Mutual Federation but reaching common ground with No. 1 target Lee Carsley remains elusive.
This was the date and occasion predicted by Jonathan Hill as the ideal one for Stephen Kenny’s successor to be in residence.
Backroom teams would have been finalised and the newcomer could concentrate on analysing the opponents he’s drawn against for League B fixtures from September to November.
Not so. Instead, the chief executive Hill will be flanked in the auditorium for the draw by President Paul Cooke and new Chairman Tony Keohane.
It would be quite a turn of events if Ireland are landed in the same pool as England.
Their relegation from League A last season gives them a 25% chance of facing the Irish and potentially their current England U21 boss at the helm in Carsley.
The federations are working closely together on co-hosting Euro 2028, with an update to Uefa’s top brass – including the latest on the Casement Park debacle – part of their itinerary in France.
Back on the pitch, Ireland are in the third pot arising from their limb display during the Euro qualifying.
Before they resume competitive games in September, the outcome of which could seal a place in the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, Ireland have four friendlies.
Home games against Belgium and Switzerland on March 23 and 26 respectively had already been confirmed, with another Euros-bound side, Hungary, now visiting on Tuesday June 4 before they travel to Aveiro a week later on Tuesday, June 11 to meet
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