IT’S ALL GONE TO POT

O’Neill boys face tough draw after slip-ups

BACK-TO-BACK defeats have cost Northern Ireland a place among the top four seeds in today’s World Cup play-off draw.

Losses to Germany and Norway have seen Michael O’Neill’s men slip from 20th to 23rd in the rankings.

And with Christian Eriksen’s Denmark climbing seven places following last week’s win over Montenegro, the latest FIFA list confirms they have leapfrogged Northern Ireland.

It cements their seeding alongside Switzerland (11th), Italy (15th) and Croatia (18th) with the Danes now up to 19th.

Those four will go into one pot in the draw in Zurich with the Republic of Ireland joining Northern Ireland in the other pot alongside Sweden and Greece.

O’Neill’s men lost 3-1 at home to Germany, while Chris Brunt’s own goal saw them lose in Norway.

Reckoning

The Republic of Ireland jumped eight places to 26th after beating Moldova and Wales in the space of four days. But Martin O’Neill’s side, who pipped Wales to a play-off spot, were never in the reckoning for a seeding.

Games take place home and away, with the first legs between November 9 and 11 and the second between November 12 and 14.

The first team drawn for each tie will be at home for the first leg.

The four play-off winners will take the number of European teams at next summer’s finals to 14.

Russia qualified automatically as hosts while France, Portugal, Germany, Serbia, Poland, England, Spain, Belgium and Iceland advanced after topping their groups.

Meanwhile, England are up to 12th and have jumped back above Wales, who now lie 14th.

It confirms that Gareth Southgate’s men will be in pot two for next year’s finals, with the draw taking place on December 1.