Managerless Ireland to find out Nations League draw fate 

MANAGER LIMBO: FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill. Pic: David Fitzgerald, Sportsfile

Cameras will zoom in on manager reaction to the Uefa Nations League draw in Paris on Wednesday evening but in the case of Ireland, it’ll be the pursuers of the manager in the spotlight.

The resplendent Maison de la Mutualité is the head office of the Paris Mutual Federation but reaching common ground with No. 1 target Lee Carsley remains elusive.

This was the date and occasion predicted by Jonathan Hill as the ideal one for Stephen Kenny’s successor to be in residence.

Backroom teams would have been finalised and the newcomer could concentrate on analysing the opponents he’s drawn against for League B fixtures from September to November.

Not so. Instead, the chief executive Hill will be flanked in the auditorium for the draw by President Paul Cooke and new Chairman Tony Keohane.

It would be quite a turn of events if Ireland are landed in the same pool as England. 

Their relegation from League A last season gives them a 25% chance of facing the Irish and potentially their current England U21 boss at the helm in Carsley.

The federations are working closely together on co-hosting Euro 2028, with an update to Uefa’s top brass – including the latest on the Casement Park debacle – part of their itinerary in France.

Back on the pitch, Ireland are in the third pot arising from their limb display during the Euro qualifying.

Before they resume competitive games in September, the outcome of which could seal a place in the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, Ireland have four friendlies.

Home games against Belgium and Switzerland on March 23 and 26 respectively had already been confirmed, with another Euros-bound side, Hungary, now visiting on Tuesday June 4 before they travel to Aveiro a week later on Tuesday, June 11 to meet Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

Ireland will need to top their group to be sure of that but runners-up keeps them active for possible promotion in the two-legged playoff against a nation that finishes third in League A. 

Conversely, there’ll be no safety in another third-placed finish as a playoff against a League C must be hurdled in March 2025 to avoid the drop.

The draw starts at 6pm Irish time and will be streamed live on Uefa.com.

Pots and various permutations below:

Pot 1: Austria, Czech Republic, England, Wales 

Pot 2: Finland, Ukraine, Iceland, Norway 

Pot 3: Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Montenegro 

Pot 4: Georgia, Greece, Turkey, Kazakhstan 

Best draw: Wales, Iceland, IRELAND, Georgia.

Worst draw: England, Ukraine, IRELAND, Greece.

Postcard draw: Austria, Finland, IRELAND, Turkey.