Irish get clarity on remaining Euro fixtures

VERA PAUW’S Ireland side have been told to prepare to finish their European Championship qualifying campaign this year – even though the finals have been pushed back to 2022.

UEFA have communicated the information to teams that were awaiting clarity on the order of play for a campaign that was abruptly paused.

Pauw’s side had three games remaining when the Covid-19 crisis brought a halt to their schedule.

They are top of their qualifying group for the finals which were initially scheduled for next summer.

However, they have played a game more than the German side that has won all four of their qualifiers, scoring a total of 31 goals with none conceded.

Their away trip to Germany – which was pencilled in for April – will now take place on September 19. Ireland then face an away date in Ukraine on October 23 before their Group I assignments finish at home to the Germans in Tallaght on December 1.

UEFA are set to provide more specific detail about match operations in due course with behind-closed-doors fixtures on the agenda for the foreseeable future.

Pauw’s team are attempting to make history by becoming the first Irish senior women’s side to qualify for a major finals.

In addition to the nine group winners, the three best runners-up will also qualify automatically with the other second-placed teams entering a play-off to determine the final competitors for the tournament in England.