NO SPAIN, NO GAIN FOR IRISH
IRELAND will play Spain, Poland and Sweden at Euro 2020 if they win the play-off in March.
The Boys in Green would face the Poles and Swedes at Aviva Stadium before closing Group E against Spain in Bilbao.
In Bucharest last night, FAI president Donal Conway said: “While Spain would be very formidable, we could compete with Sweden and Poland.”
England fans could descend on Dublin for a Last 16 tie with Germany, France or Portugal.
Another scenario sees Ireland and England play each other in the Last 16 in Copenhagen, if they both end second in their group.
IRELAND have landed a favourable Euro 2020 finals draw – providing they negotiate the playoffs.
If they qualify, the Boys in Green will face Poland and Sweden at Aviva Stadium on June 15 and 19 respectively before finishing the group away to Spain in Bilbao on June 24.
And according to FAI president Donal Conway, that’s all the incentive Ireland need to beat Slovakia in March before a play-off final away to either Bosnia or Northern Ireland.
In Bucharest last night, Conway (above) said: “Spain is Spain. But Sweden and Poland, they’re not huge teams but reasonably good. It does incentivise the whole thing. It regenerates and sets the whole thing off again, the journey to Euro 2020.
“I’d let Mick Mccarthy speak for Mick Mccarthy (below) in due course but while Spain would be very formidable, I think we could compete with Sweden and Poland.”
Ireland last faced Sweden at Euro 2016, drawing 1-1 in a group stage clash in Paris and the Swedes have qualified this time around by finishing as runners-up to Spain.
Ireland’s last competitive meeting with Spain was at Euro 2012 as Giovanni Trapattoni’s men were thrashed 4-0.
And the Boys in Green last duelled with Poland in a meaningful game during the Euro 2016 qualifiers, drawing in Dublin before losing narrowly in Warsaw.
Poland boss Jerzy Brzeczek reckons their two games in Dublin next summer – one of them against Sweden – will feel like a home from home.
Brzeczek said “We know exactly how it looks in Ireland because there is a lot of Polish communities there.
“We remember the matches we played in the past, when the stadium was full of Polish fans.
“We know the Polish people in Ireland will be very interested by these games and the stadium will be full of Polish fans.”
Brzeczek continued: “We’re aware we can play against two host nations if Ireland get through but that cannot be changed so we have to be prepared.”
FAI president Conway knows the draw could have been a lot worse for Ireland should they triumph in the key play-off games in March.
Conway said: “If you look at it from a hosting city perspective, of course we would love to be there.
“But with the Polish population in the Republic of Ireland and the Swedes will travel to Dublin in very significant numbers, it’s a hell of a lot better than being in Group F.”
Conway was referring to the Group of Death that includes World Cup winners France, Germany, reigning European champions Portugal and one of the play-off winners.
Aviva Stadium will host the Last 16 clash between the side that finishes second in that group and the winner of England’s group that also includes Croatia.
Conway continued: “Commercially, it’s an opportunity to bring the second biggest tournament in the world to Dublin and promote football and show off football.
“If it were Northern Ireland, if it were the Republic of Ireland, it’s a huge focus on football in Ireland, a huge way of promoting it, a huge way of selling the game. The FAI will be very pleased with it.”