Why Ireland’s chances of reaching Euro playoffs are almost zero - 0.12%

Here we look at the relevant groups and why logic decrees any fanciful notions must be discounted.

SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S A CHANCE: Ireland have a 0.12% chance of reaching the Euro 2024 playoffs. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Ireland does love a major tournament but the famine will stretch toward a decade once next month rolls around and the line-up is confirmed for the Euro playoffs next March.

In a difficult group against France and Netherlands, that was always likely to be Ireland’s fallback from a failure to finish in the top two but two other developments have deepened the gloom.