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8 teams Ireland could face in the Euro 2016 playoffs

Martin O’Neill’s side’s loss tonight means they will have to play two additional matches in their bid to reach France.

N.B. It has yet to be confirmed whether or not Ireland will be one of the four seeded teams.

1. Turkey (Fifa ranking: 37)

Turkey Netherlands Euro Soccer AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Turkey need just a point against Iceland to guarantee their spot in the playoffs at the expense of the Netherlands.

2. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Fifa ranking: 30)

Soccer - UEFA Euro 2016 - Qualifying - Group B - Wales v Bosnia Herzegovina - Cardiff City Stadium David Davies David Davies

Israel take on Belgium in their final game and need to better Bosnia’s result against Cyprus to have any hope of displacing them in third.

3. Ukraine (Fifa ranking: 24)

Spain Ukraine Euro Soccer Angel Fernandez Angel Fernandez

Slovakia will claim second provided they beat Luxembourg — otherwise Ukraine will leapfrog them if they can beat Spain.

4. Slovenia (Fifa ranking: 46)

Soccer - UEFA European Championship Qualifying - Group E - Slovenia v England - Stozice Stadium PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Slovenia will almost certainly finish third, with Estonia three points behind them but with a markedly inferior goal difference (their head-to-head record is identical).

5. Hungary (Fifa ranking: 33)

Greece Hungary Euro Soccer AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Hungary have finished third in their group and may yet qualify automatically as the best third-place team depending on results elsewhere.

6. Sweden (Fifa ranking: 45)

Soccer - UEFA European Under-21 Championship - Final - Sweden v Portugal - Eden Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Sweden are nearly certain to finish third unless they beat Moldova and Russia lose to Montenegro in the final round of games, which would take the Swedes to second and put the Russians in the playoff.

7. Croatia (Fifa ranking: 16)

Brazil Soccer WCup Croatia Mexico Petr David Josek Petr David Josek

One of the more uncertain outcomes, Croatia need to beat Malta and hope Norway don’t win in Italy to avoid third place and a playoff spot.

8. Denmark (Fifa ranking: 28)

Mideast Qatar Handball World Championship AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Denmark have finished third in their group, and so, will definitely be one of the sides in the playoffs.

Germany stutter past Georgia to top Group D>

3 talking points from Ireland’s disappointing loss to Poland>

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12 Comments
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    Mute Ciaran Rice
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:11 AM

    And to think of all the Morons on here who questioned his ability cos he only scored goals in….. eh….France, Spain, Italy, holland. Now he’s scored against the dross that England has to offer they surely must be eating their words.

    Imagine what he would have done in the EPL in his prime.

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    Mute Teddyzigzagbigbag
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    Feb 6th 2017, 9:27 AM

    He’s a beast

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    Mute Mick Power
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:14 AM

    I wanted him to fail for obvious reasons but has any other player proved to be a great player in all the top leagues, can’t think of any.

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    Mute Sloop John G
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    Feb 6th 2017, 11:21 AM

    Yeah, have to give him credit. He’s already hit 20 goals with, at the very least, 18 games still to go.

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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 2:27 PM

    A beast will you get a grip ffs

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    Mute Billy Larkin
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:00 PM

    Class act.

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    Mute I'mthatguy
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:26 AM

    Lots of ignorant idiots saying we wouldn’t make double figures for the season. Read the stats and weep

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    Mute bob wilbury
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    Feb 6th 2017, 11:53 AM

    Hopefully he stays fit cos if he dont we’re gone.hes going the right way to becoming a club legend

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    Mute John Lally
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    Feb 6th 2017, 2:01 PM

    I’ve been saying for years how underrated he actually is when you compare him to Messi and Ronaldo. He’s consistently been the top striker in the world and top 5 or 6 in the world for about 15 years. I’m a Liverpool fan so wanted him to fail obviously but he’s such an incredible player and should go down as one of the greatest ever

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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 2:28 PM

    Hahaahahaah are you disturbed

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    Feb 6th 2017, 2:43 PM

    How many has coutinho ?

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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 2:54 PM

    Who the midfielder who every top club in Europe would take tomorrow . More then any midfielder the Mancs have that’s for sure .

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    Mute Mick Power
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:20 PM

    Give it a rest Johnny what’s this got to do with him.

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:23 PM

    Who who ?? What are you a fking owl ?

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    Mute Bognor regis
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:27 PM

    Mata has the same amount of prem goals as coutinho and more overall.

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    Mute The Bloody Nine
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:35 PM

    They both have 5 league goals, as does Ozil and Eriksen. One more than Pog and Gareth McAuley.

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    Mute Bognor regis
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:39 PM

    Just debunking another claim from marcus bale. He’s the sean spicer of the 42!

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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:42 PM

    Jenny BlaBlavo: i said who once and that joke i heard in school in 1972 i think which proves what most already know . Your a young slightly stupid little child . I’ll finish off like you do with a big Blahaahaahahahahahahahah

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    Mute William Kavanagh
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:44 PM

    @Johnny Bravo: What does Coutinho have to do with this story? Ibra is an Striker. Couthinho is a midfielder. Were you born this way?

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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:46 PM

    Debunking what you amadán. Brining politics into football . That’s the foreign in you i suppose . Sticking the beak in

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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:48 PM

    Don’t start him off . You will get thinking he will then get a big nose bleed and just start Blahaahaahahahahahahahah out of him . Remember he is only 13 or 14 years of age and possibly a slight bit stupid

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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:49 PM

    He doesn’t foreign stop

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    Mute Bognor regis
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    Feb 6th 2017, 6:13 PM

    Debunking what you said! I’m comparing you to another well known fabricator of alternative truths. I’m Irish by the by not that nationality has anything to with me proving you wrong. Don’t get too upset about being called on it.

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Feb 6th 2017, 6:21 PM

    It’s getting old isn’t it!

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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 7:03 PM

    @bognar Sussex : do you not make any of your own points or do you just go round checking other people’s for specific times dates etc… seriously are you some sort of human spell check or just a weirdo . Politics is boring but it’s desperate to mix with football and looking to then converse with . Seriously foreign

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:14 AM

    He’s finished!!

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    Mute Irishoversea
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    Feb 6th 2017, 10:22 AM

    Sure has 20 and counting

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Feb 6th 2017, 1:08 PM

    I’m guessing my sarcasm was missed!

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    Mute blueman79
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    Feb 6th 2017, 12:47 PM

    Lukaku has 16 in the league already

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    Mute Marcus Bale
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    Feb 6th 2017, 3:20 PM

    16 goals for Everton at this stage of season is brilliant . He is on fire . Some ability . Still only young .

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Feb 6th 2017, 8:20 PM

    Very true Marcus. They are a good side under koeman

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