At the start of World War I, Frankfurt’s Festhalle was used as a camp for German soldiers, but it will be the generals of the continent’s football teams who will meet at the historic site for the Euro 2024 draw sunday.
The multi-purpose arena opened in 1909, and although it had a dark role to play in World War II with its involvement in the November pogroms in 1938, it somehow avoided demolition, when a fire ripped through the interior, while Allied forces dropped bombs from above – Led Zeppelin, in this case, was the first rock bank to hit the headlines in 1970.
The Commander-in-Chief of Irish Forces, Stephen Kenny, will be on hand to see what battles will present themselves throughout the 2023 international calendar, with his Republic unit sitting in the true no man’s land of Pot 3.
As a result, Ireland will find themselves alongside two higher-seeded teams for the qualifying stage of the Germany-hosted tournament, and while there are plenty of potential landmines lurking in the upper echelons, the draw toss could also be quite favorable to green. army.
A new world order of sorts in the front row, following some unlikely results in the latest edition of the UEFA Nations League, with England and France now finding themselves in Pot 2, while Hungary and Poland are among the top seeds – Italy, Spain and the Netherlands will remain there for the traditionalists, while Germany will automatically qualify as hosts.
Can there be a preferred option for Ireland among the elite teams given that they are all out following a consistent calendar year of international football?
Familiarity can help soften this particular blow, as Ireland have done quite well in mostly close games against Denmark, Hungary, Poland and Portugal in recent years, while their 2- 2 with Belgium can probably be ignored due to the fact that a B team traveled to Dublin.
Switzerland are another team that would look good on paper as the top seed in the Irish group, however, the maiming Mick McCarthy’s men received in Geneva in 2019 could still be an injury that hasn’t. not completely healed.
A potential double whammy is what Ireland need to avoid when it comes to the Pot 2 draw, especially if one of the big names matches the top seeds.
If Ireland were to be thrown into such a group with France or England included in the second string, Kenny’s campaign could look doomed before a ball is kicked in anger next year.
Otherwise, the boss shouldn’t really be too stressed about being drawn alongside Austria, Czech Republic, Wales, Israel, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Turkey. Scotland or Finland – again a series of teams that Ireland have faced in recent years with rarely a goal separating the sides, albeit mostly in favor of the opposition.
Sitting in Pot 3 alongside the Irish are Ukraine, Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Albania, Montenegro, Romania, Sweden and Armenia, and therefore cannot be drawn with Kenny’s team.
The teams perceived to be weaker make up Pots 4, 5 and 6, and while Ireland should now have the confidence to beat most, if not all, of these teams home and away, potentially difficult ones await.
Turkey and Greece have boxed well below their weight on the international stage in recent years, while Kosovo, Bulgaria, Georgia and Luxembourg would all love to take something from the Irish in either game.
Likewise in Pot 5, where Kenny could be without a derby-style game with Northern Ireland or another game against Slovakia, which ended Ireland’s Euro 2020 hopes. during this penalty shootout in Bratislava. Belarus will also have fond memories of beating Ireland at Turner’s Cross on the eve of Euro 2016.
Andorra, San Marino and Liechtenstein sit in Pot 6, which will create three groups of six teams, and while they could prove excellent confidence-building outings, it’s likely the results won’t matter. not in the grand scheme of things, and time might be better applied elsewhere.
Eight to ten games over five international breaks from March to November means there is no three-game window, nor the crazy four-game run that gave Ireland trouble last summer.
But once the draw is done, Ireland will be hoping for a pleasant schedule, especially in the first group games in March where Kenny’s side hope to set the tone for the year ahead with the ultimate goal of qualification. at Euro 2024 in the lead.
The Euro 2024 qualifying draw will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Sunday from 11am.
UEFA Nations League pot: Netherlands, Croatia, Spain, Italy
Saucepan 1: Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland.
Saucepan 2: France, Austria, Czech Republic, England, Wales, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Scotland, Finland.
Jar 3: Republic of Ireland, Ukraine, Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Albania, Montenegro, Romania, Sweden and Armenia
Pan 4: Georgia, Greece, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia.
Jar 5: Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Belarus, Lithuania, Gibraltar, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, Malta.
Pan 6: Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein.
Schedule of qualifications in 2023:
March 23-25 - Day 1
March 26-28 – Day 2
June 16-17 – 3rd day
June 19-20 – Day 4
September 7-9 – Day 5
September 10-12 – Day 6
October 12-14 – Day 7
October 15-17 – Day 8
November 16-18 – Day 9
November 19-21 – 10th day
Watch the Euro 2024 qualifying draw on Sunday at 11am on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow the blog live on the RTÉ News app and at rte.ie/sport.
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