The Republic of Ireland will play the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Wales, Cyprus and San Marino in the qualifying stages for the 2008 European Championships in Austria and Switzerland.
New manager Steve Staunton will now get to work on scouting missions ahead of the opening games in the autumn but has an ideal chance to scout both the Czechs and Germany at the World Cup finals.
They are the only two sides in the group participating at this summer’s showpiece.
Although Staunton will be relieved having not been drawn in the eight-team Group A, not to mention Group C where Italy and France go head-to-head, he must face a Czech team riding high in the world rankings.
At two in the world, Karel Bruckner’s Czech side will fancy their chances of topping Group D, although Jurgen Klinsmann will also be confident his German side can post top billing.
Staunton, though, will need to upset one of the pair by snatching first or second spot for qualification as there are no playoffs.
Speaking yesterday ahead of the draw Staunton said he was not too concerned about which teams he would face. Being fourth seeds ensured Ireland would face quality opposition, he stressed.
But he said avoiding "one or two tough journeys" would be preferential. As such, it is not the worst draw from a logistical point of view and supporters will welcome it.
For instance, Slovakia were pulled from pot three, but Staunton’s men could have drawn Russia or the Ukraine. Similarly with the lower pots, trips to Wales and Cyprus are a lot more pleasing than arduous treks to Estonia, Albania, Belarus or Armenia.
By avoiding the eight-team Group A, Ireland can begin their campaign in September and not August. This allows the FAI plan ahead for their lucrative home friendly against Holland - who also avoided the ‘group of death’ - on August 16th.
Moreover, by facing just six opponents and not seven, it means Ireland won’t have to play two additional qualifiers against lowly ranked opposition.
Financially, the draw was always going to be a "win-win" situation for the FAI. With Croke Park temporally open next year for soccer, the association can expect to earn some €10 million in additional revenue although its hand is severely restricted as no home games can be staged in June or September 2007 as the All-Ireland championship will be in full swing.
Ireland now have a programme of 12 games, and FAI chief executive John Delaney will discuss fixtures with his rival counterparts in Frankfurt on February 9th. With Croke Park not available for qualifiers in 2006, Delaney will push for home games with Germany and the Czech Republic in 2007.
At his unveiling in Dublin, Staunton - who is on a four-year contract - said qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the real target but stressed Ireland would give it their all during the Euro 2008 campaign, which, for the boys in green, will start in September.
Staunton plans to give his players a lengthy summer break with the aim of starting the campaign as fresh as possible.
Indeed, it could prove an opportune time to play both Germany and the Czech Republic.
Ireland have, of course, faced Germany in top flight competition before, drawing 1-1 at the 2002 World Cup finals, but Klinsmann’s team are going through something of a transitional period, and it will be interesting to see how they fare as World Cup hosts this summer.
The Czechs qualified for the World Cup after negotiating a two-leg play-off with Norway. However, a number of their top stars are nearing retirement, and Staunton will hope to take advantage of what too could be a team in transition.
Take, for instance, Juventus star Pavel Nedved. The 33 year-old came out of international retirement for the most recent campaign but could well view the World Cup finals as a fitting stage to once and for all bow out on.
England were handed a favourable draw. The quarter-finalists at the last tournament will face Croatia, Russia, Israel, Estonia, Macedonia and Andorra. Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson attended the draw, but the Swede will not be in charge for the campaign after announcing he will leave his post following after the World Cup.
Scotland received a very tough draw, and Walter Smith's side will face Italy, France and Ukraine along with Lithuania, Georgia and the Faroe Islands. Northern Ireland will meet Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Latvia, Iceland and Liechtenstein in Group F.
Euro 2008 draw
Group A: Portugal, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro, Belgium, Finland Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan
Group B: France, Italy, Ukraine, Scotland, Lithuania, Georgia, Faroe Islands
Group C: Greece, Turkey, Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary, Moldova, Malta.
Group D: Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Cyprus, San Marino
Group E: England, Croatia, Russia, Israel, Estonia, FYR Macedonia, Andorra.
Group F: Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Latvia, Iceland, Northern Ireland Liechtenstein.
Group G: Holland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Albania, Belarus Luxembourg.
