After a depressing few months for Northern Eire followers, the Euro 2024 qualifying draw has given the Inexperienced and White Military motive to be cheerful.
Ian Baraclough’s staff had been handed a comparatively form attract Frankfurt on Sunday morning, touchdown in the identical group as Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and San Marino.
In contrast, the Republic of Eire had been handed a draw that included Netherlands, world champions France and Greece.
With two groups set to qualify for Germany, Northern Eire can declare to have an out of doors probability of upsetting the chances and qualifying for his or her second event in a decade.
Whereas Northern Eire had been positioned in Pot 5 by UEFA as a result of their disappointing shows within the Nations League, they’re ranked above each Slovenia and Kazakhstan within the FIFA World Rankings and simply three locations under second seeds Finland.
The down facet is that this group boasts few star names with Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak arguably the one two world class names set to go to Windsor Park in 2023.
Right here, we take an in-depth have a look at the 5 groups standing in Northern Eire’s manner of a spot at Euro 2024.
DENMARK
Denmark’s title might not be as glamourous as Italy or Spain, however there’s a robust argument they're each bit pretty much as good as their pot one counterparts.
They reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and certified for the World Cup in Qatar with ease. On this yr’s Nations League marketing campaign they beat reigning world champions France in each Copenhagen and Paris.
Kasper Hjulmand’s staff maybe lacks a famous person however Sevilla striker Kasper Dolberg, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen present some class.
Is there any excellent news for Northern Eire? There are strategies within the Danish press that goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, captain Simon Kjaer and Manchester United playmaker Christian Eriksen might retire after this yr’s World Cup.
The Danes received’t relish a return to Windsor Park. They misplaced 2-1 on the rain-sodden Belfast venue in 2007.
Supervisor: Kasper Hjulmand
Star Participant: Kasper Dolberg (Sevilla)
World Rating: 10
Value of a Pint: £6.33
FINLAND
Finland made historical past at Euro 2020 once they certified for a serious event for the primary time.
Though they failed to achieve the knockout rounds, the Finns did defeat native rivals Denmark 1-0 in a sport that noticed Christian Eriksen collapse on the Parken pitch following a cardiac arrest.
Since then, Markku Kanerva’s staff have struggled for type. They completed third of their World Cup qualifying group behind France and Ukraine, earlier than shedding to Bosnia and Romania within the Nations League.
High goalscorer Teemu Pukki stays a drive to be reckoned with at 32, whereas Venezia ahead Joel Pohjanpalo and Augsburg midfielder Fredrik Jensen are ones to observe.
Northern Eire followers may have fond recollections of the Kyle Lafferty impressed victory over Finland at Windsor Park in March 2015.
Supervisor: Markku Kanerva
Star Participant: Teemu Pukki (Norwich Metropolis)
World Rating: 56
Value of a Pint: £6.52
SLOVENIA
No Northern Eire fan can overlook the well-known night time substitute Corry Evans scored a late winner in Maribor towards Slovenia in September 2010.
Simply as they had been a decade in the past, the Slovenians stay considered one of European soccer’s middleweights. They completed fourth in World Cup qualifying, a full 9 factors behind group winners Croatia. In Nations League B they prevented relegation because of a shock closing day draw away to Sweden.
Captain and goalkeeper Jan Oblak is considered one of many most interesting goalkeepers in Europe, whereas ahead Luka Zahovic – son of the nice Zlatko – and Udinese midfielder Sandi Lovric may cause any staff in Europe issues.
Supervisor: Matjaž Kek
Star Participant: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
World Rating: 63
Value of a Pint: £2.81
KAZAKHSTAN
Solely essentially the most devoted members of the GAWA will make the huge 8,000-mile spherical journey from Belfast to Astana.
However what's going to they discover once they get there? £1 pints and a house staff the includes nearly completely of Kazakhstan Premier League gamers.
In World Cup qualifying, Kazakhstan didn't win a sport and misplaced 8-0 to France in Paris. Nevertheless, they fared a lot better in Nations League C profitable 4 of their six video games to assert promotion to League B, beating Slovakia residence and away.
High tip. In the event you make the lengthy trek to Astana don't put on a mankini. The native police have been identified to arrest holiday-makers for dressing as Borat.
Supervisor: Magomed Adiyev
Star Participant: Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov (CSKA Moscow)
World Rating: 76
Value of a Pint: £1.03
SAN MARINO
At 211 within the FIFA World Rankings, San Marino are formally the worst staff on the earth.
In truth, they've received only one match of their whole historical past, a 1-0 pleasant win over Liechtenstein in 2004.
In a daring try to safe a second victory, the San Marino FA lately organized a pleasant with island nation Seychelles in Serravalle. It ended scoreless.
A phrase of warning, nonetheless. In June, Iceland solely managed to win 1-0 in Serravalle.
Supervisor: Fabrizio Costantini
Star Participant: Filippo Fabbri (Olbia)
World Rating: 211
Value of a Pint: £3.52