Irish need points in Geneva
The Republic of Ireland need to take away at least a point from their clash against Switzerland in Geneva tonight or they will be in peril of elimination from Euro 2020.
Tonight’s 2020 European Championship qualifiers provide the opportunity for more countries to secure their place at next year’s finals, thus following in the footsteps of Belgium Italy, Russia and Poland over the weekend.
The Republic of Ireland and Spain are next in line.
The Irish will qualify with a win, but that is far from likely as they take on a desperate Switzerland, who need victory in the match in Geneva to stay on course to advance from Group D.
Irelands have 12 points from six games, the same as Denmark who only play again next month, when they complete their qualifying programme with two more matches.
The Swiss are four points back, but have a game in hand. Should they beat Ireland tonight, they will move to just one point behind and leave the group undecided until the final round of games next month.
Given that the Swiss should win their last two games in November against Georgia and Gibraltar, victory tonight should ensure a final tally of 17.
Denmark’s penultimate qualifier is against Gibraltar, which barring a seismic shock will see them advance to 15 points, setting up a dramatic showdown in Dublin with the Irish on 18 November to determine the other qualifying berth from the group.
Those scenarios all change, however, if Ireland win tonight. Given how things are likely to turn out, it is important that the Irish leave Geneva with some points in their pocket.
But Switzerland have been the most convincing team in the group even if they trail at the moment.
They have played both Denmark and Ireland away already and in both matches were unlucky not to come away with victory, giving up late equalisers.
Spain need only draw tonight when they take on Sweden away in Group F to book their place in the finals.
The Swedes, however, can ill afford to drop home points, even if they sit second in the group. They are only one point ahead of Romania on 13 and four ahead of Norway on 10.
Romania host Norway tonight at home and will eliminate their visitors from the race if they win. There is a chance they could then also catapult Sweden into second place.