High noon on Tuesday will bring high stakes for Ireland’s women when they share company with the established forces in the draw for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers.
Ireland are where they want to be in the top tier but to reach Switzerland in July 2025 there may be lessons administered on route.
In the same way inferior opponents were easily swatted away in last Autumn’s Nations League B – Ireland winning all six games on an aggregate score of 20-2 – so too the weight of mainstays lurks to arrest their ascent.
To illustrate, head coach Eileen Gleeson – who’s travelled to Nyon for her first draw – could be digesting for lunch a group shared with World champions Spain, Euro holders England and Olympic silver medalists Sweden.
Quality is abundant throughout the pots. That’s expected among the top 16 ranked teams in Europe and the fact England were demoted to the second quartet underlines the calibre of opposition.
Ireland, as one of the nations promoted from the linked Nations League series, sit in the fourth pot, thereby avoiding Finland, Poland and Czech Republic.
A glance above them doesn’t make for great reading either.
All the favourites – Iceland, Belgium, Norway and particularly the Swedes – emerged from last week’s playoffs to preserve their status in the highest rung.
In the face of that daunting landscape, there are reasons to be upbeat.
Of most importance is the guarantee of a playoff route to the Euros before a ball is kicked.
Gleeson’s predecessor Vera Pauw had a point when criticising the maiden Nations League concept as preferential to the major forces but it’s worked out in Ireland’s favour now they’ve progressed to be in their company.
The format is straightforward in the round-robin
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