Euro 2020: Qualifier draw

New boss Mick McCarthy learns his and Ireland's fate at the draw for the Euro qualifiers in Dublin

Patrick Madden Sun, Dec 2

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10:43

Good morning!

Welcome to our coverage of the draw for the Euro 2020 qualifiers, which are being held in Dublin.

So it's out with the old and in with the, err, older for Ireland, as Mick McCarthy returns in the wake of Martin O'Neill's sacking.

McCarthy's brief is fairly straightforward. Guide Ireland to the next European Championships, before Stephen Kenny takes over in 2020.

Today he will find out how feasible that task will be. Will Ireland land a manageable group, or will they end up robbed like Tyson Fury and have to try and qualify ahead of France and Germany?

With Dublin acting as one of the host cities for the 2020 Euros, there is a lot riding on Ireland making it to the tournament. And not just for financial reasons - it would also inject a bit of life and zest back into Irish football.

We'll be bringing you all of the 'action' as it happens, with the draw set to start at 11.0am - fingers crossed.

Come on!!!
10:49

Emmet Malone is rubbing shoulders with the great and good at the Dublin Convention Centre this morning. He has set the scene for the draw, and you can read that HERE.
10:52

Ireland's thoroughly dismal showing in the inaugural Uefa Nations League means they head into today's draw as third seeds, and are open to an absolute stinker of a group. The seedings are as follows:

Pot 1: Switzerland*, Portugal*, Holland*, England*, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Poland. (* denotes Nations League finalists).

Pot 2: Germany, Iceland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria, Wales, Czech Republic.

Pot 3: Slovakia, Turkey, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Serbia, Finland, Bulgaria, Israel.

Pot 4: Hungary, Romania, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Cyprus, Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Georgia.

Pot 5: Macedonia, Kosovo, Belarus, Luxembourg, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Gibraltar, Faroe Islands.

Pot 6: Latvia, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Malta, San Marino
11:00

How's it going to work? Well, true to form, Uefa have made what should be a relatively straightforward process fiendishly complicated.

24 teams will take part in the next Euros, with 20 places up for grabs through the qualification groups and four set aside for the Nations League.

There are 10 qualification groups - five with six teams, five with five - and the top two in each will book their place at Euro 2020. However, because the next tournament is being held across 12 host countries, it isn't an open draw.

Ruaidhrí Croke has explained everything succintly - you can read his guide to the draw HERE.
11:05

Germany's Nations League relegation means they are second seeds this morning and therefore the obvious team to avoid.

A worst case scenario could see Ireland grouped with France, Germany, Greece, Kosovo and Latvia.

The best case? Poland, Iceland, Lithuania, Gibraltar and San Marino, perhaps.
11:06

Things are starting to happen on the stage at the Dublin Convention Centre. John Delaney has a massive grin on his face with Michael D stuck alongside him.
11:07

Before the draw there's an obligatory montage of the last European Championships in France. Violins, slow motion etc etc.
11:11

The decision to spread Euro 2020 across 12 nations is - apparently - a way of celebrating 60 years of the competition (€€€).
11:13

The host nations: England, Germany, Italy, Azerbaijan, Russia, Romania, Holland, Ireland, Spain, Hungary, Scotland and Denmark.
11:17

Ronnie Whelan is on stage to conduct the draw with Portugal and Blackburn Rovers legend Nuno Gomes.
11:19

How many former pros does it take to do a draw? Four, apparently. Whelan and Gomes are joined by Robbie Keane and Vítor Baía (former Porto and Portugal goalie).
11:22

Whisper it quietly. . . but the draw is finally underway!
11:23

GROUP A: England
11:23

GROUP B: Portugal
11:23

GROUP C: Netherlands
11:24

GROUP D: Switzerland
11:24

GROUP E: Croatia
11:25

GROUP F: Spain
11:25

GROUP G: Poland
11:25

GROUP H: France
11:26

GROUP I: Belgium
11:26

GROUP J: Italy
11:27

GROUP A: England, Czech Republic
11:27

GROUP B: Portugal, Ukraine
11:28

GROUP C: Netherlands, Germany
11:28

GROUP D: Switzerland, Denmark
11:29

GROUP E: Croatia, Wales
11:29

GROUP F: Spain, Sweden
11:29

GROUP G: Poland, Austria
11:30

GROUP H: France, Iceland
11:30

GROUP I: Belgium, Russia
11:31

GROUP J: Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina
11:32

Time for the third seeds. Ireland CAN'T end up with the Netherlands and Germany because all three are host nations. Phew.
11:32

GROUP A: England, Czech Republic, Bulgaria
11:33

GROUP B: Portugal, Ukraine, Serbia
11:34

Wow! Ireland are drawn to play Netherlands and Germany in Group C. But, they are moved into Group D instead.

The next team out of the hat to play in Group C. . . Northern Ireland!!!
11:34

GROUP C: Netherlands, Germany, Northern ireland
11:34

GROUP D: Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland
11:36

GROUP E: Croatia, Wales, Slovakia
11:36

GROUP F: Spain, Sweden, Norway
11:37

GROUP G: Poland, Austria, Israel
11:38

Group H: France, Iceland, Turkey
11:38

GROUP I: Belgium, Russia, Scotland
11:39

GROUP J: Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Finland
11:39

Some familiar faces for Ireland. The next team in Group D are Georgia.
11:39

There was a time when I thought I might well never set foot on Tbilisi.
— emmet malone (@emmetmalone) December 2, 2018
11:42

Group C: Netherlands, Germany, Northern Ireland, Estonia, Belarus.
11:42

Completing Group A: Kosovo!

What do you make of the #ThreeLions' qualifying opponents? pic.twitter.com/3CFOzGWP36
— England (@England) December 2, 2018
11:44

Group D: Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Georgia, Gibraltar.

All things considered, that's a pretty handy draw for Ireland. Georgia and Gibraltar were also in their group for the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
11:46

Ireland are in a five team group, the final round of balls are being plucked from their bowls. Full line-up to follow. . .
11:52

GROUP A: England, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosovo.

GROUP B: Portugal, Ukraine, Serbia, Lithuania, Luxembourg.

GROUP C: Netherlands, Germany, Northern Ireland, Estonia, Belarus.

GROUP D: Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Georgia, Gibraltar.

GROUP E: Croatia, Wales, Slovakia, Hungary, Azerbaijan.

GROUP F: Spain, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Faroe Islands.

GROUP G: Poland, Austria, Israel, Slovenia, Macedonia, Latvia.

GROUP H: France, Iceland,Turkey, Albania, Moldova, Andorra.

GROUP I: Belgium, Russia, Scotland, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, San Marino.

GROUP J: Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Finland, Greece, Armenia, Liechtenstein.
11:52

The Swiss and Danes will be tough but it could have been worse overall. And certainly could have got fourth seeds you would have been more worried about.
— emmet malone (@emmetmalone) December 2, 2018
11:55

Right, that's enough for a Sunday morning.

Thanks for joining,there will be plenty of reaction coming throughout the day - as well as the full fixture list later this afternoon.

Cya!!