UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying Group B

[Insidetherock]

Think we'll have a long running view on potential play off places as this campaign goes on.

There are 7 potential places available that we can get into (8 in the very unlikely event that Estonia come out of the group with Belgium, Austria and Sweden)


We really really need the "seeded teams" to perform and get out of their groups to give us a decent shot at a minimum play off spot

The ones I'd watch out for, who I would see struggle to qualify directly would be

A. Scotland or Norway - Spain will definitely qualify, so one of these two, likely to miss out.. I reckon Scotland

C. Ukraine - England and Italy have to be favourites

D. Wales - could struggle post Bale, possibly losing out to Turkey

E. Unlikely anyone will get past Czech Republic and Poland

F. Belgium will qualify.. we really need Austria to keep out Sweden (who are bringing back Ibra at 41)

G. Need Serbia and Hungary to hold off Montenegro

H. Really need Finland or Slovenia to hold off Northern Ireland for second in this group behind Denmark. Both Finland and Slovenia would get play off places before us, so can't hope for the lads up North to qualify

I. This is a pox ball of a group.. Israel finished in no. 1 spot in Path B, because the Russians were booted out, and they fell on their feet getting an Iceland team on the slide and a poor enough Albanian team.. but you wouldn't put your house on them holding off Romania or even Kosovo.. we hope that they will

J. Iceland are falling like a stone in terms of chances to qualify.. but because they finished ahead of us in that 3 team group, they'll be entitled to a play off place ahead of us.. (this is very unfair, but is what it is)

Which means.. in my opinion, in the worst case scenario..

Group A teams that will struggle to qualify..

Wales
Austria


B teams that will struggle

Scotland/Norway
Ukraine
Israel
Iceland
Slovenia/Finland

As Estonia have to go from D to A..

Theres potentially only 1 space in the A play offs with Austria, Wales, Estonia,

It looks like 5 teams in B may not qualify, meaning there'll be a full path B, and 1 extra.. who would then go into Path A..

By my reckoning..

Our qualification chances could now hinge of Austria or Wales qualifying.. and Northern Ireland not qualifying

Israel proving my point so far.. one down at home to Kosovo..

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

I think people are getting tripped up here trying to defend Kenny. Kerr has a grudge. He was sacked after coming 4th but he feels he deserved another go. I don't think he did but when you look at the chances Kenny has been given, you can see why Kerr is irked.

Now, he's talking about not picking experience. The reason Kenny isn't is because the players coming through are better than what we had before. Some Kenny supporters try to paint it as giving youth a go but the reality is that any manager would be bringing these players on board.

The manager before Kenny had a midfield of Whelan, Hourihane and Hendrick. 3 of the most heavily criticised Irish players of the recent past. Kenny has had the luxury of having alternative options. Mainly Cullen after his Anderlecht breakthrough and improvement but also Molumby, Knight, Smallbone etc, as well as the previous options minus Whelan.

It's the same in other positions. Collins, Omobamidele, O'Shea add huge depth to our centre back choices and are far better than players like Keogh. Up front we have Obefami who returned after exile. Players like Ferguson making a huge breakthrough and before that we had players like Idah becoming an option. Again, this was far better than having to pick James Collins up front.

In goals, for a good few years it was picking keepers who weren't regulars all the time at their clubs but there really wasn't alternatives. Kenny has had Bazunu and Kelleher to choose from. Some try to paint Kenny as an unlucky manager but the reality is that he's been blessed to have so many options and players coming through. He really hasn't taken advantage of his luck.

Kerr on the other hand probably didn't have the luck but his record was actually decent. Only problem is that he didn't deliver when it really mattered. He's probably looking at the current situation in bewilderment though. Kenny hasn't delivered results when it mattered on top of having an awful record, Kerr was hounded out but Kenny is continually excused. You can see his point in fairness.

[Real ale Madrid]

G. Need Serbia and Hungary to hold off Montenegro



IF Montenegro finish second to Serbia - don't Hungary just fall into Play off A? Montenegro ranked below us?

[pineapple stu]

Fair point!

Kazakhstan v Denmark kicking off in 15 minutes. Denmark somehow not qualifying would be bad for us, but Kazakhstan can be a tricky place to go (as we've found out), so hopefully no blips there. Then NI v Finland a big match in that group later (Finland win wanted), and I think the rest either don't influence us or are all fairly one-sided.

[paul_oshea]

Is it not a bit early to be getting worked up over this stuff?

[pineapple stu]

Never! :p

Especially with Kazakhstan after pulling back a 2-0 deficit to be 2-2 with a couple of minutes to go.

Edit - in fact, Kazakhstan have just gone 3-2 up now. Mad game there.

[SkStu]

Fair point!

Kazakhstan v Denmark kicking off in 15 minutes. Denmark somehow not qualifying would be bad for us, but Kazakhstan can be a tricky place to go (as we've found out), so hopefully no blips there. Then NI v Finland a big match in that group later (Finland win wanted), and I think the rest either don't influence us or are all fairly one-sided.

2-2 now after Danes were 2 up…some goal to equalize!!

[SkStu]

Make that 3-2 Kazakhstan!!!!!

[Insidetherock]

IF Montenegro finish second to Serbia - don't Hungary just fall into Play off A? Montenegro ranked below us?

Yeah, but the problem for us, is that if Hungary don't qualify directly, it takes up a possible potential play off place if we don't qualify directly ourselves

Basically, the only play off paths we can get into, are the A or B path.. so we need as many teams higher than us in A and B, to qualify directly..

If Montenegro qualify.. Hungary will have the play off to fall back on..

The Kazakh result shows where we might have an issue.. if Kazakhstan were to qualify, then Denmark, Finland or Slovenia, would likely go with them.. meaning two play off spaces would be taken up..

We need Denmark to qualify.. plus one of Finland or Slovenia.. which would leave only one play off space taken up

Worst case scenario of all.. if Norn Iron and Kazakhstan qualified

Basically.. we sit ranked 25.. we need as few as possible teams ranked lower than us.. to qualify directly

[Real ale Madrid]

Yeah, but the problem for us, is that if Hungary don't qualify directly, it takes up a possible potential play off place if we don't qualify directly ourselves

Basically, the only play off paths we can get into, are the A or B path.. so we need as many teams higher than us in A and B, to qualify directly..

If Montenegro qualify.. Hungary will have the play off to fall back on..

The Kazakh result shows where we might have an issue.. if Kazakhstan were to qualify, then Denmark, Finland or Slovenia, would likely go with them.. meaning two play off spaces would be taken up..

We need Denmark to qualify.. plus one of Finland or Slovenia.. which would leave only one play off space taken up

Worst case scenario of all.. if Norn Iron and Kazakhstan qualified

Basically.. we sit ranked 25.. we need as few as possible teams ranked lower than us.. to qualify directly

I get you.

Anyway the Kazakh's won't qualify and Norn Iron are 1 down at home to Finland which is good news.

[pineapple stu]

The North pummeling Finland; wouldn't surprise me if they won this yet.

Long way to go before this all crystallises obviously. But fun to watch it unfold

[Insidetherock]

I get you.

Anyway the Kazakh's won't qualify and Norn Iron are 1 down at home to Finland which is good news.

Norn Iron losing to Finland, is good for us..

Bosnia losing to Slovakia, is bad for us..

Its going to be a lot of fun watching how these groups progress... especially come around September time when we've gone through 6 game weeks

:)

[Insidetherock]

The North pummeling Finland; wouldn't surprise me if they won this yet.

Long way to go before this all crystallises obviously. But fun to watch it unfold

Yep.. from September onwards.. it'll be like watching the Eurovision results coming in haha

[Nesta99]

I think people are getting tripped up here trying to defend Kenny. Kerr has a grudge. He was sacked after coming 4th but he feels he deserved another go. I don't think he did but when you look at the chances Kenny has been given, you can see why Kerr is irked.

Now, he's talking about not picking experience. The reason Kenny isn't is because the players coming through are better than what we had before. Some Kenny supporters try to paint it as giving youth a go but the reality is that any manager would be bringing these players on board.

The manager before Kenny had a midfield of Whelan, Hourihane and Hendrick. 3 of the most heavily criticised Irish players of the recent past. Kenny has had the luxury of having alternative options. Mainly Cullen after his Anderlecht breakthrough and improvement but also Molumby, Knight, Smallbone etc, as well as the previous options minus Whelan.

It's the same in other positions. Collins, Omobamidele, O'Shea add huge depth to our centre back choices and are far better than players like Keogh. Up front we have Obefami who returned after exile. Players like Ferguson making a huge breakthrough and before that we had players like Idah becoming an option. Again, this was far better than having to pick James Collins up front.

In goals, for a good few years it was picking keepers who weren't regulars all the time at their clubs but there really wasn't alternatives. Kenny has had Bazunu and Kelleher to choose from. Some try to paint Kenny as an unlucky manager but the reality is that he's been blessed to have so many options and players coming through. He really hasn't taken advantage of his luck.

Kerr on the other hand probably didn't have the luck but his record was actually decent. Only problem is that he didn't deliver when it really mattered. He's probably looking at the current situation in bewilderment though. Kenny hasn't delivered results when it mattered on top of having an awful record, Kerr was hounded out but Kenny is continually excused. You can see his point in fairness.

Agree or disagree makes no difference, the FAI could afford to sack Kerr and claim promoting from youth coach ranks was a bust. Like it or not the FAI cant pay Kenny to go even if they wanted to be short sighted and just sing to the almost English like impatient choirmasters of the Irish sporting public desperate for a fix (see the reaction if the rugby team falls short in the Autumn). There is a single common denominator in the decision making on Kerr and subsequently Kenny, thankfully a snake that has slithered off in to the long grass for good, someone who appointed people for himself if it was popular and just as easily sacked them when the tide turned, there was no footballing logic involved. For now, we can only support, put up or shut up. I still think we are on a generally needed course for improvement of Irish football and am fine with not shuflling the deckchairs or doing the old window dressing for a while. Drawing France and the Dutch may get Kenny off the hook with a reasonable campaign, by WC qualifiers there will be a deeply blooded panel of players with a good amount of potential coming possibly then ready also. Cohesion between methods and tactics at all age groups and general professionalisation of squad development has improved - no fish and chips the afternoon of a game. The FAI has improved believe it or not. I happen to think the rest will follow even if that is due to expanded competition numbers or as a co host or that we are actually starting to think strategically about the future of Irish football development and it reaps reward. Do we really want another expenisve appointment like Trappatoni who disparangingly didnt really believe Irish players could actually play or ONeill whose tactics were damage limitation first with some very basic pomo thrown in and we might get lucky.

[Real ale Madrid]

Yep.. from September onwards.. it'll be like watching the Eurovision results coming in haha

I hope we're not watching the last series of games (We don't have a game ourselves) looking for certain results. Or I hope we are. I'm not sure at this stage.

[Razors left peg]

Agree or disagree makes no difference, the FAI could afford to sack Kerr and claim promoting from youth coach ranks was a bust. Like it or not the FAI cant pay Kenny to go even if they wanted to be short sighted and just sing to the almost English like impatient choirmasters of the Irish sporting public desperate for a fix (see the reaction if the rugby team falls short in the Autumn). There is a single common denominator in the decision making on Kerr and subsequently Kenny, thankfully a snake that has slithered off in to the long grass for good, someone who appointed people for himself if it was popular and just as easily sacked them when the tide turned, there was no footballing logic involved. For now, we can only support, put up or shut up. I still think we are on a generally needed course for improvement of Irish football and am fine with not shuflling the deckchairs or doing the old window dressing for a while. Drawing France and the Dutch may get Kenny off the hook with a reasonable campaign, by WC qualifiers there will be a deeply blooded panel of players with a good amount of potential coming possibly then ready also. Cohesion between methods and tactics at all age groups and general professionalisation of squad development has improved - no fish and chips the afternoon of a game. The FAI has improved believe it or not. I happen to think the rest will follow even if that is due to expanded competition numbers or as a co host or that we are actually starting to think strategically about the future of Irish football development and it reaps reward. Do we really want another expenisve appointment like Trappatoni who disparangingly didnt really believe Irish players could actually play or ONeill whose tactics were damage limitation first with some very basic pomo thrown in and we might get lucky.

Best post I've read here for a while Nesta, fair play

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Agree or disagree makes no difference, the FAI could afford to sack Kerr and claim promoting from youth coach ranks was a bust. Like it or not the FAI cant pay Kenny to go even if they wanted to be short sighted and just sing to the almost English like impatient choirmasters of the Irish sporting public desperate for a fix (see the reaction if the rugby team falls short in the Autumn). There is a single common denominator in the decision making on Kerr and subsequently Kenny, thankfully a snake that has slithered off in to the long grass for good, someone who appointed people for himself if it was popular and just as easily sacked them when the tide turned, there was no footballing logic involved. For now, we can only support, put up or shut up. I still think we are on a generally needed course for improvement of Irish football and am fine with not shuflling the deckchairs or doing the old window dressing for a while. Drawing France and the Dutch may get Kenny off the hook with a reasonable campaign, by WC qualifiers there will be a deeply blooded panel of players with a good amount of potential coming possibly then ready also. Cohesion between methods and tactics at all age groups and general professionalisation of squad development has improved - no fish and chips the afternoon of a game. The FAI has improved believe it or not. I happen to think the rest will follow even if that is due to expanded competition numbers or as a co host or that we are actually starting to think strategically about the future of Irish football development and it reaps reward. Do we really want another expenisve appointment like Trappatoni who disparangingly didnt really believe Irish players could actually play or ONeill whose tactics were damage limitation first with some very basic pomo thrown in and we might get lucky.

That line has been repeated so often by Kenny supporters. It's not a choice between Kenny and hoofball managers. It's possible to get results while playing a progressive style. You just have to have a competent manager. Kenny has failed that test up to now but he said after the Luxembourg defeat that Euro 2024 was the actual aim. The time has come to put up or shut up. Let's hope he turns this around.

[seanfhear]

That line has been repeated so often by Kenny supporters. It's not a choice between Kenny and hoofball managers. It's possible to get results while playing a progressive style. You just have to have a competent manager. Kenny has failed that test up to now but he said after the Luxembourg defeat that Euro 2024 was the actual aim. The time has come to put up or shut up. Let's hope he turns this around.
And not 360 degrees ! !

[Eirambler]

Do we really want another expenisve appointment like Trappatoni who disparangingly didnt really believe Irish players could actually play or ONeill whose tactics were damage limitation first with some very basic pomo thrown in and we might get lucky.

I wish there was the opposite of a Thanks button for when people post straw man nonsense like this.

[elatedscum]

That line has been repeated so often by Kenny supporters. It's not a choice between Kenny and hoofball managers. It's possible to get results while playing a progressive style. You just have to have a competent manager. Kenny has failed that test up to now but he said after the Luxembourg defeat that Euro 2024 was the actual aim. The time has come to put up or shut up. Let's hope he turns this around.

The issue is, how likely are the FAI to appoint the right type of manager or the right manager at all, maybe 20%

There’s a clip in RTE somewhere after the October 2013 window where they interviewed people leaving the stadium, everyone was picking either Martin O’Neill or Roy Keane to be the manager and I got interviewed and said Marcelo Bielsa (who was out of work since that summer) and talked about the worked he’d done with the Chile, playing attractive football, bringing through young players and getting them out of the groups at the World Cup. Bielsa would have been cheaper than MON too. I’ve often wondered what if…

I have very little faith in the FAI picking the right next manager.

[Kingdom]

The issue is, how likely are the FAI to appoint the right type of manager or the right manager at all, maybe 20%

There’s a clip in RTE somewhere after the October 2013 window where they interviewed people leaving the stadium, everyone was picking either Martin O’Neill or Roy Keane to be the manager and I got interviewed and said Marcelo Bielsa (who was out of work since that summer) and talked about the worked he’d done with the Chile, playing attractive football, bringing through young players and getting them out of the groups at the World Cup. Bielsa would have been cheaper than MON too. I’ve often wondered what if…

I have very little faith in the FAI picking the right next manager.

I remember that.

[Nesta99]

That line has been repeated so often by Kenny supporters. It's not a choice between Kenny and hoofball managers. It's possible to get results while playing a progressive style. You just have to have a competent manager. Kenny has failed that test up to now but he said after the Luxembourg defeat that Euro 2024 was the actual aim. The time has come to put up or shut up. Let's hope he turns this around.

If only it was that easy - thin of the (probably) close to billions of Euro clubs could save hiring and firing. Sometimes teams need to be built on time and graft, no money to buy a team i iternational forward or ye dont have a golden generation that happen to come through together.


I wish there was the opposite of a Thanks button for when people post straw man nonsense like this.

You think Trap rated Irish footballers, trusted his own players, didnt allow any freedom, didnt tactically use some very good attacking players eg Duff. M'ON stories of limited trainig methods, no set piece prep, general sense of lacking any tactic bar sitting deep and playing for, ironically, a set-piece hoping for a breaking ball to give a chance rather than creating. It is my opinion of course too, so I'm indifferent to the strawman argument, but pose your own angle eg Trapattoni wasnt a football snob.

[SkStu]

Greece and Lithuania played out a 0-0 in a friendly earlier. Took a look at the stats and looks like Greece dominated possession and overall 26 shots (5 on target) to 3 (2 on target).

https://www.besoccer.com/match/seleccion-grecia/seleccion-lituania/2023745779

[Kingdom]

It is imperative that we get a result in athens. If we dont the positives of last night dissipate.
Id take a draw, but we should be looking for more possibly.

[tetsujin1979]

A minimum of four points gives us the best possible chance of finishing ahead of Greece. Anything less means we'll need to make up the difference against the Netherlands.
The Dutch don't look the strongest at the number, but they will improve.

[CSAD]

A minimum of four points gives us the best possible chance of finishing ahead of Greece. Anything less means we'll need to make up the difference against the Netherlands.
The Dutch don't look the strongest at the number, but they will improve.

If we want to have a right stab at this group I think we need to aim for 6 point in the summer.

[Eirambler]

Having taken nothing last night, if we don't get the six off Greece we can forget about finishing ahead of the Netherlands I think. We also need to take the Greeks out of contention entirely, as they have the advantage of playing France at home in their last game, by which point France will have almost certainly already qualified and won't be overly bothered about that game.







You think Trap rated Irish footballers, trusted his own players, didnt allow any freedom, didnt tactically use some very good attacking players eg Duff. M'ON stories of limited trainig methods, no set piece prep, general sense of lacking any tactic bar sitting deep and playing for, ironically, a set-piece hoping for a breaking ball to give a chance rather than creating. It is my opinion of course too, so I'm indifferent to the strawman argument, but pose your own angle eg Trapattoni wasnt a football snob.

No, I take issue with your (and others) insinuation that the only alternative to Kenny is a MON or Trap type. It's trying to reduce the argument to two distinct options, when in reality there are numerous other possibilities between those two extremes.

[Jd2793]

not really sure how kenny can get criticism for that. there were poorer performances under him where we got results against teams below frances level. not to mind some brutal sub choices in games. tactically we got it spot on tbh. finally using ogbene as a runner in behind and not a target man then he doubled up as an extra wing back against mbappe who was very quiet. as ever the litmus test is against the likes of greece but last night showed we can go toe to toe with the best.

[CSAD]

Having taken nothing last night, if we don't get the six off Greece we can forget about finishing ahead of the Netherlands I think. We also need to take the Greeks out of contention entirely, as they have the advantage of playing France at home in their last game, by which point France will have almost certainly already qualified and won't be overly bothered about that game.




No, I take issue with your (and others) insinuation that the only alternative to Kenny is a MON or Trap type. It's trying to reduce the argument to two distinct options, when in reality there are numerous other possibilities between those two extremes.

In a normal qualifying group 4 points from Greece and Gibraltar would do during the summer but in THIS group we need to get every last point that we can possibly get if we want to even give us ourselves a shot at qualifying.

The view from me is 6 points from Greec and Gibraltar and then 3 at home to the Netherlands and then see what we can do in Amsterdam (it’s the final game I believe so it’s a free hit). It’s not impossible to get a point in Paris but I believe that’s the sort of game where literally anything bar a bad defeat isn’t terrible.

[Insidetherock]

The play offs are our realistic hope of qualifying..

We need all 15 path A teams to qualify, and 3 path B teams..

And we'll get a place

Wales and Austria could be the key for us

[Nesta99]

Having taken nothing last night, if we don't get the six off Greece we can forget about finishing ahead of the Netherlands I think. We also need to take the Greeks out of contention entirely, as they have the advantage of playing France at home in their last game, by which point France will have almost certainly already qualified and won't be overly bothered about that game.




No, I take issue with your (and others) insinuation that the only alternative to Kenny is a MON or Trap type. It's trying to reduce the argument to two distinct options, when in reality there are numerous other possibilities between those two extremes.

Thats a fair point, I did pick the extremes to frame the original point I was making and there is of course the middle ground. I think it would be foolish and not cheap to replace the current management team especially when there is no obvious current plan b, names that have been dropped are no gauranteed upgrade, simply a fans opinion. The only reason to go for a plan b is if you are hiring a name like, for example, Trap or MON. I want every Irish manager to be a success, I'd like to think I also see a bigger picture, one being that if Guardiola was appointed he would limited by the players he can pick and hence would have to take time to develop and build a team.

[Real ale Madrid]

The play offs are our realistic hope of qualifying..

We need all 15 path A teams to qualify, and 3 path B teams..

And we'll get a place

Wales and Austria could be the key for us

Sorry to ask but if say Turkey qualify direct - what happens to their place in the League C playoffs?

Worth mentioning that Greece are assured a playoff also.

[Eirambler]

It goes to another League C team. No use to us and means someone else takes a B playoff spot ahead of us.

[Real ale Madrid]

It goes to another League C team. No use to us and means someone else takes a B playoff spot ahead of us.

Thanks. Interesting in that its Luxemburg who are ranked 5th and would be in line for a PO Spot.

[TonyD]

In a normal qualifying group 4 points from Greece and Gibraltar would do during the summer but in THIS group we need to get every last point that we can possibly get if we want to even give us ourselves a shot at qualifying.

The view from me is 6 points from Greec and Gibraltar and then 3 at home to the Netherlands and then see what we can do in Amsterdam (it’s the final game I believe so it’s a free hit). It’s not impossible to get a point in Paris but I believe that’s the sort of game where literally anything bar a bad defeat isn’t terrible.

What we need I think is to at least match the Dutch results against Greece, and probably need to beat them here, or draw here and in Holland. That should bring it close to the wire. Paris is probably a write off, but you never know. Not sure when that is, but it might depend on how France are fixed in the group at the time. Hopefully the French will win in Holland too.

[Insidetherock]

Thanks. Interesting in that its Luxemburg who are ranked 5th and would be in line for a PO Spot.

Yep, they'll get a Path C spot..

As of right now, at half time in the current tables, we'd miss out on a play off by 1 spot

But that's assuming ourselves or Holland don't pass out Greece

[Bungle]

If Scotland and Ukraine qualify directly, do we take the playoff spot in our nations league group?

[joey B]

Scotland 2 up on Spain and could be more,Spain made 9 changes from their win against Norway and it’s not turning out very well for them…..

[Insidetherock]

Nope, it's goes on position in Path B, not on each individual group.. we're 10th in Path B so unless 6 ahead of us qualify directly.. we won't get a place

[Bungle]

Nope, it's goes on position in Path B, not on each individual group.. we're 10th in Path B so unless 6 ahead of us qualify directly.. we won't get a place

Thanks for that!

[pineapple stu]

Wikipedia has a live list of who's making the play-offs as things stand (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2024_qualifying#Team_selection) - obviously it's less than a quarter of the way through the campaign, but a useful link as things go on I think.

So at the moment, Holland are the only League A team not qualifying directly (they're behind Greece on goal difference). Four League B and two League C teams are qualifying directly, including two and one respectively who won their Nations League Group.

So as it stands - and again, this is just for fun as there's so much yet to play for - the play-offs are

League A
Holland
Iceland (I think top League B teams fill the League B play-offs first, and then move up to League A?)
Norway
Estonia (League D winners)

League B
Israel
Bosnia
Finland
Ukraine

League C
Georgia
Turkey
Kazakhstan
Luxembourg

We're the next in line in League B. Romania, Greece and Slovakia are the three sides ranked below us who are automatically qualifying as it stands. Romania already have a four-point gap, and Israel (who we'd like to qualify instead) dropped two points to Kosovo at home. Slovakia have beaten Bosnia at home which is a big result for them. And Greece have only played Gibraltar; we can do our own bit there to sort them.

[Real ale Madrid]

So as it stands we need to throw our two games with the Netherlands to ensure they Q and take their place in the League A playoff. Greece take the League C P/O spot and Luxembourg lose out.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, throwing games would work too!

[Eirambler]

I think there is a possibility that, if things go as badly as they well might for us, but also if Greece do well, that it might actually suit us to make sure we lose our last qualifier away in Amsterdam.

I mean we're well capable of losing that game anyway, but if we're out of contention it might actually be in our interest to lose it. Which is a bit mad.

[Insidetherock]

Yeah, it's actually mad that it could arise, that we'd be better off losing a game rather than winning..

It might also make UEFA look at how the play off get calculated

There is also one other anomaly that we spoke about last time potentially arising, but didn't, but could very well arise this time

Should all 15 Path A teams qualify (and its not beyond the realms of possibility that Holland could pass out Greece), then on the current standings, the play offs would be..

Path A

Estonia, Iceland, Norway, Ireland

Path B

Bosnia, Finland, Slovenia, Ukraine

Which would mean teams finishing lower in Path B, have potentially easier play offs

[Insidetherock]

Really need Bosnia or Iceland to overtake Slovakia too, to give us some breathing space

[CraftyToePoke]

I don't think the swivel eyed rabid SK out brigade could handle it if he got an extension from having to throw a game and then actually throwing it, but there is part of me that would love to see it happen, I don't think their little hearts would be able for it. Keyboards would suffer up and down the country.

[zero]

now that the first international window has closed, where do we stand in terms of a possible playoff? maybe there's a website out there tracking this?

[Stuttgart88]

Discussion here from post #341 onwards

https://foot.ie/threads/278318-UEFA-Euro-2024-Qualifying-Group-B/page18

[tetsujin1979]

now that the first international window has closed, where do we stand in terms of a possible playoff? maybe there's a website out there tracking this?

Added a link to the play offs section on wikipedia to the first page
UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying - Play Offs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2024_qualifying#Play-offs)