HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON is now planning for a Nations League relegation play-off in March – but it also allows him further preparation time for the World Cup qualifiers.
Ireland visit Wembley tomorrow night to take on England which – if it were possible for a derby game – means little for Hallgrímsson’s side.
The Boys in Green are going to finish third in the Nations League no matter the result which means a relegation play-off to avoid League C next year.
And it is unlikely a win will change Ireland’s FIFA ranking too greatly with the Boys in Green on course to be among the third seeds.
Yet the win over Finland on Thursday which assured Ireland would finish third and avoid fourth spot and automatic relegation does have other World Cup repercussions.
It means that Ireland have a much greater chance of not starting their World Cup qualifiers until next September, giving Hallgrímsson more preparation time.
Rather than the 14-month campaigns of old and often six or seven team groups, UEFA’s decision to add play-offs to the Nations League had changed the calendar.
Instead of fewer big groups, there will be lots of smaller groups – 12 in total with five groups of four teams and seven groups of five.
Those five teams groups are to start in March so, naturally, UEFA want the sides in play-off action like Ireland to be the four-team groups which begin in September.
But with 28 nations in play-off action, not every play-off team can be placed in a four-team group – and UEFA even reserves the right to change a country's seeding if required.
Yet the odds are in Ireland’s favour and that is good news for Hallgrímsson as it would give him further international windows in March – the play-off – and June to experiment.
The play-off draw takes place on Friday when Ireland will face a second-placed League C side with Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Kosovo, Belarus and Armenia as potential opponents.
While the two-legged affair is competitive, it would certainly represent an easier start to the year than facing, for instance, a side like England in the World Cup qualifiers.
The draw for those qualifiers will take place on December 13 and be based on FIFA’s rankings to be published on November 28.
As a third seed, Ireland will have it all to do as only the top side in each group will qualify automatically, with second place going into a play-off semi-final.
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