Close one!
The draw for the Euro 2020 qualifiers took place on Sunday morning, and the Republic Of Ireland team found themselves in a relatively okay Group D with Switzerland, Georgia, Gibraltar, and Denmark.
However, they were initially picked to go into Group C, which would have put them alongside Germany, Netherlands, Estonia, and Belarus.
Due to the technicality that no more than two host nations can play in the same group, they were moved down to a slot in Group D, with Northern Ireland then picked immediately afterwards to fill that slot in Group C.
When the name was first chosen however, the gasps and laughs around the room were all too clear, with the camera cutting to Mick McCarthy for his reaction, and all he could do was laugh…
Gasps in Dublin as Ireland appear to be drawn into a group with Germany and Netherlands but they quickly turn to cheers as the two-hosts only rule means we move to Group D instead #Euro2020draw pic.twitter.com/Q6FVnKkHf1
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) December 2, 2018
Once the laughs had died down a bit, and once Republic Of Ireland had been moved to Group D, the presenters asked Robbie Keane what he thought of the last minute move:
“Ah listen, every game is obviously tough, so we’re certainly looking forward to it.”
Insightful.
