Desperate scramble to make the cut

The situation should be a good deal clearer after this evening's games around Europe but for the moment the Republic of Ireland remain just one of 29 national teams chasing the remaining 13 places at next summer's European Championship finals in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In addition to the hosts, the Czech Republic have already made sure of their place at the competition but, after that, there are still quite a few very open groups and quite a scramble developing to make it through as the best second-placed team in a group.

As only matches played against the other top three teams in each group will count towards qualifying by this route the calculation will be based on a total of six games with each nation playing for a possible 18 points.

At present the totals amassed so far by countries in a position to finish second range from 13 right down to just one point. Of those at the higher end of the scale, however,, Italy, Sweden and Spain all look likely to top their respective their groups and qualify by right for the finals.

That leaves only two countries in double figures in the current table, Romania and Turkey. The latter look to be in the stronger position for if the Germans beat Northern Ireland and the Turks take three points from their game against Moldova, as both should, then the pair could well meet next month knowing that a draw would be enough to see both into the finals while even a losing team might progress.

The only threat to them would be from countries reaching 12 points or more from their six games, a group that includes the Republic, but in several cases including that of Mick McCarthy's side, the achievement of 12 points from these games would possibly involve results that would be enough to push them to the top of their groups.

After Germany and Turkey, then, the main contenders would appear to be from Groups Two, Seven and Eight. The Portuguese, in particular, look set to finish with 12 or 13 points from the six relevant games should they end up behind Romania in the final table while the Irish could finish with 12.