Updated at 10.27
IRELAND ARE EXPECTED to be confirmed in pot 4 when Fifa announces the final pots for the World Cup 2018 draw on Thursday.
The Boys of Green were in pot 2 in the last qualifiers in Euro 2016, and could face an even tougher challenge as they bid to qualify for the next major tournament, as a series of disappointing recent results mean they are expected to be placed in pot 4.
That said, while Ireland’s task may well be difficult, it is certainly not impossible. Wales and Iceland, who were in pots 4 and 5 respectively ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifying draw, both currently lead their groups and look likely to qualify.
However, the Irish team’s position alongside the likes of Estonia and the Faroe Islands is an indication of how badly the team have fallen of late.
Meanwhile, Ireland received potentially good news earlier this week, with confirmation that the Euro 2016 playoffs will be seeded.
The Boys in Green still need to finish third in their group, of course — an increasingly unlikely scenario — but should they achieve this feat, their Uefa coefficient ranking means they will almost certainly be one of the seeded teams.
Moreover, here’s how the World Cup seedings are expected to pan out, ahead of the official announcement on Thursday…
POT 1: Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Romania, England, Wales, Portugal, Spain, Croatia.
POT 2: Italy, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Iceland, Denmark, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
POT 3: Poland, Ukraine, Scotland, Hungary, Sweden, Albania, N Ireland, Serbia, Greece.
POT 4: Turkey, Slovenia, Israel, Ireland, Norway, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, Montenegro, Estonia.
POT 5: Cyprus, Latvia, Armenia, Finland, Belarus, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova.
POT 6: Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Georgia, Malta, San Marino, Andorra.
It was written as if we have a chance!!
We don’t. This is one of the worst times for our national team unfortunately! We don’t seem to have that cohesive battle ready spirit teams of old used to have. A lack of skill but by god we would at least have a go. What happened??
The game has changed. Players like Keane mc grath Moran don’t exist anymore. Modern football with attacking full backs three behind a striker and two ball playing midfielders has left us behind. We are stuck in the dark ages technically and with the influx of better foreign players into the premier league our pool of players have fallen down the ranks. Irish players used to be managed by Ferguson shankly clough even mourinho and benitez. Now they play for Bournemouth and derby.We used to produce players of quality with spirit now we produce neither.
This is exactly the formation that Dundalk FC play (2 attacking full backs, one holding mid, one up front). Now, I’m not for one second comparing LOI football to international football, but if at least one team from our national league (as well as many more) can see that the old 4-4-2 formation doesn’t work, and can find the players to fit, then surely our international manger can?
I think it’s a problem of a different nature. Trap and Mon both don’t seem to trust the players to do anything else. Also a lot of modern football is about ball retention and other than mc carthy houlihan Coleman and Brady we don’t have good footballers. Obviously we have good players but not ball players. 442 is safe it’s what the management and players know. You only have to look at the treatment of houlihan from the last two management setups. Most other teams are building teams around these attacking midfield ballers. I think the management see it in training and they know we are limited and can’t go toe to toe in football terms.
why cant we have a good honest football organisation like the dutch an Belgium :(
Irish football is like Irish politics . CORRUPT. It should be a maximum two term prisedency of four years per term.Delaney is there donkeys years and the game has regressed in Ireland yet no one challenges Delaney
No one challenges Delaney because he has all his men around him. He is protected from any challenge. He will be there for life if he wants. His Ego and self Serving Importance will keep him as head. Only cares about himself and buddies. Golden circle financially sorted for life. The state of Irish Football and its development is not important to him.
It’s because we have one of the worst kids set ups in Europe. Kids being trained by dad’s through out the country, north and south. The lucky ones get to England and the rest get nowhere. Both leagues are full of long ball football which will never change in our life time. Sounds harsh but true especially as our associations only care about money and not development.
Germany, France, Sweden, Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia….goodnight.
Wales, Iceland ,Scotland, Ireland.
Hello Russia
Wales Bosnia and Albania please thanks
we’d probably still not qualify
Well it’s pot luck init…!!! :)
Not much difference being 4 or 3 seeds anyway. Teams from 3rd or 4ty pot are teams you need to get points from if you are going to qualify.
Albania are 3rd seeds. Albania!
Jonathan they beat Portugal away last year in qualification and drew away with Denmark. At the moment they are a Superior team to us they are third in their group. We haven’t beat anyone of note in a competitive match in ages yet we have a serious attitude towards countries we see as being below us. Scotland Wales Albania are all better than us right now
Wales Bosnia Albania Azerbaijan and San Marino please
Bosnia becoming one of beat teams in Europe, no thanks
Maybe Iceland instead
Status Quo on loop …..Down down deeper and down….Thanks John D, what a great job you are doing
Even John D can’t invent players. Talent just not there at present. But as already stated if the wind blows the right way we may still get a doable group draw.
True Sean. For years we produced top talent from Brady to mc grath to Keane to duff. Players are still going to England but there is to much competition. We should be sending our youth to Spain and Portugal. This is something the fai can rectify. Send a delegation to Spain and work a deal for an elite group of young players every year to go to Spain. Start a programme here for young talent to qualify for this elite group. Everyone wins Spanish clubs get first choice on new talent which is basically just handed to them. The players learn more than hit the big man and in a few years the senior team will benefit.
It says the pots are finalised on Thursday but when is the draw on?
The draw is in three weeks’ time – July 25th.
on the plus side … it means that we wont be playing against those pesky Faroese in their Island! !!
I have no complaints about this, we’re shite and its no more than we deserve. Seriously need to have a look at how players are being trained from grassroot levels up to the top.
Romania in pot one and greece in pot three, makes sense that
Ireland 4th in the world!!!! Are they havin a laugh!!! Sur weren’t we beaten by the Fairy Islands..!!! :)
Iceland in pot 2 – joke