Updated at 10.20am

WITH FOUR QUALIFIERS out of the way, there are still six more to come over what is sure to be an eventful next 11 months as Ireland look to secure a place at Euro 2016.

The demoralising defeat away to Scotland in November means both Ireland and the Scots currently sit level on seven points alongside Germany with Poland in the clear at the top with a three-point lead.

If the campaign was to end tomorrow, the Boys in Green would not only miss out on automatic promotion, they would also fail to land a place in the play-offs. Group D is arguably one of the most competitive, especially after Germany’s surprise loss at the hands of Poland — although you do get the feeling that the world champions will have enough in reserve to land top spot.

That said, there are reasons to be optimistic ahead of a meeting with the Poles in March. As Martin O’Neill stressed, three of Ireland’s first four games have been away from home. The next two (v Poland and Scotland) are at the Aviva Stadium and he maintains that is where qualification will be won or lost.

Then it’s what should be a handy trip to the Algarve to face Gibraltar in September before home matches with Georgia and Germany and a final away fixture in Poland in October. If we do get there, it is likely to be by the smallest of margins as those challenging for the runner-up spot will no doubt take points off each other.

Some may believe that Ireland are better off missing out on qualification as one thing Euro 2012 thought us is that we can’t compete with the top sides. However, the prospect of bringing an army of Irish supporters across the water to France for an all-new 24-team tournament is one which excites me immensely.