Soccer

Chances of Ireland being seeded for playoff draw all but gone

Only a series of unlikely results over the next two days would see Ireland seeded

Ireland’s Wes Hoolahan in action during his side’s 2-1 loss to Poland. Photo: Adam Holt/Reuters
Ireland’s Wes Hoolahan in action during his side’s 2-1 loss to Poland. Photo: Adam Holt/Reuters
Ruaidhrí Croke
Mon Oct 12 2015 - 00:00

After last night’s result in Warsaw it is now highly unlikely that Ireland will be one of the four seeded teams in the Euro 2016 play-off draw.

In Group C third place will either be Ukraine or Slovakia. Ukraine are significantly higher than Ireland in the Uefa ranking while, assuming Slovakia beat Luxembourg in their final game tonight, they will also overtake Ireland.

Ukraine need to beat Spain to pip Hungary to the automatic spot for the best third-placed team, but Hungary, who finished third in Group I, sit two spots ahead of Ireland in the Uefa table.

Assuming Sweden beat Moldova in their final Group G game, they will also overtake Martin O’Neill’s team.

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As it stands the four teams set to be seeded for the draw next Sunday are: Ukraine (or Hungary if Ukraine can beat Spain), Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Denmark.

Ruaidhrí Croke

Ruaidhrí Croke

Ruaidhrí Croke is a sports journalist with The Irish Times