Ireland discover their potential Nations League playoff opponents
LOOKING UP: Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson at Wembley Stadium.
Four months of winter hibernation follow Sunday’s 5-0 hammering by England but Ireland will face one of Slovakia, Bulgaria, Kosovo or Armenia next up in a playoff.
Two wins over Finland ensured Ireland avoided automatic relegation to League C but they still face a two leg playoff between March 20-25 to survive.
Heimir Hallgrimsson will be present for the draw in Nyon this Friday, aware Ireland are still favourites to win despite Sunday's embarrassment at Wembley.
Slovakia were the team Ireland last encountered in a playoff. That was for a berth in a decider to earn a ticket at the Euro 2020 (delayed until 2021) finals and the Slovaks prevailed on penalties in an empty Bratislava stadium due to Covid-19.
Armenia is another possibility, with memories fresh of the 1-0 shock they inflicted on Ireland in Yerevan in June 2022.
It took a late, contentiously awarded Robbie Brady penalty to eke out a 3-2 win in the home return.
Had Belarus beaten Bulgaria in Monday’s concluding League C fixture, the FAI were facing a logistical nightmare.
Belarus aren’t allowed play at home due to FIFA and UEFA applying a ban on account of them facilitating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, meaning the ‘away’ game would have been in a neutral country - likely Hungary - behind closed doors.
That Bulgaria held out for a 1-1 draw cemented their second spot in the pool, possibly creating a March duel against Ireland.
The nations drew 1-1 and 0-0 during the 2020 Nations League series, the latter result at an deserted Lansdowne relegating their Bulgars.
Kosovo compete the quartet on that side of the draw. They began life under UEFA’s umbrella in 2016, rising from an initial ranking of 190 to 101.
They were 90 minutes away from reaching the 2018 World Cup and are considered one of the best League C teams even though they missed out on direct promotion to League B.
Romania topped the group but Kosovo walked off the pitch as stoppage time of a scoreless draw loomed last week, seemingly appalled at abuse from the crowd.
Should Ireland be paired with Kosovo, it will be the first clash of the nations at senior level.
Ireland will be at home in the second leg.
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