UEFA oversight means Republic of Ireland may need to lose Euro 2024 qualifier
Republic of Ireland have found themselves in a bizarre situation where their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 would be helped if they lose to the Netherlands next month.
Their hopes of securing automatic qualification came to an end last week when they were beaten 2-0 by Greece. France have already sealed their spot at next year's tournament by topping Group B with 18 points, while Greece currently sit second with 12.
The Netherlands are third with nine points and Ireland sit fifth with just three, while Gibraltar have failed to pick up a single point. As a result, Ireland's only hope of making it to the Euros is through the play-offs, with 12 teams set to compete for three spots next March.
Those teams will be selected based off their displays in the 2022/23 Nations League, with the best-ranked teams from Leagues A, B and C that have not already qualified getting a second chance. Four teams are set to be picked from each league.
Six sides have already earned their spot at the Euros, with Belgium, France, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Turkey joining hosts Germany. Among those sides Spain, Portugal, Belgium, France and Germany were all ranked in League A, while fellow League A teams Denmark, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, England and Wales currently occupy a top two spot in their Euro 2024 qualifying groups.
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Croatia, meanwhile, sit third in Group D but are level on points with Wales, and Poland are third in Group E and one point behind Czech Republic. Netherlands are also a League A side and if they beat Greece on Monday night and Ireland in November they would go level on points with Greece in Group B.
That would then set up a one game shoot-out for qualification which would favour the Netherlands, whose final qualifier is against Gibralatar while Greece's last game is against France. If that happens and results elsewhere go in Ireland's favour, then only two playoff spots would be given to League A teams.
A bizarre quirk in UEFA rules means the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2024 qualifying hopes could be better served by losing to the Netherlands next month (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)UEFA rules state that 'if fewer than four teams from one league enter the play-offs, the first available slot is allocated to the best-ranked group winner of League D' which is Estonia and that any remaining spots are then given to the 'best-ranked teams that have not already qualified'.
Ireland are ranked 26th and would advance to the play-offs this way if results go in their favour and only four teams above them in League B fail to qualify automatically. However, they would not make the play-offs if Greece finish above the Netherlands in their group, meaning it could be beneficial for Ireland to lose to Ronald Koeman's side.
Whether or not Ireland do reach the play-offs could have a major effect on the future of manager Stephen Kenny, whose current contract is due to expire in November following their final qualifying game.
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