Why Ireland need to LOSE to the Netherlands to have chance of Euro 2024 qualification

Ireland are in a strange predicament where it would be more beneficial to their chances of Euro 2024 qualification to lose to the Netherlands next month.

Nations are currently reaching the climax of European qualification ahead of next summer’s tournament in Germany and it’s becoming increasingly clear which ones can start preparing for the tournament, those that will have to enter a play-off and the ones that will fail to make it altogether.

Indeed, following a recent loss to Greece, their fifth defeat in six matches, Ireland have no chance of qualifying automatically out of Group B.

However, Stephen Kenny’s side's chances of making it to Euro 2024 are not quite over.

Due to the introduction of the Nations League teams have two avenues of qualification.

The European Championship play-offs include the best-performing sides from the Nations League that failed to qualify automatically for Euro 2024.

For Ireland to be in the play-offs there cannot be more than seven teams above them in the Nations League ranking that failed to qualify automatically.

The Netherlands are among the teams above Ireland in the Nations League rankings, and so, it would be beneficial if Ronald Koeman’s men to qualify ahead of Greece, a side ranked below Kenny’s side.

In turn, a loss to the Netherlands would create an additional play-off spot for Ireland, but a win would almost certainly take away their chance to advance.

Sportswriter, Gavin Cooney, said on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter: "This is truly bonkers. Ireland's flagging play-off hopes can be boosted by an Ireland defeat to the Netherlands."

Ireland face Gibraltar on Monday, in a fixture they will be expected to win fairly comfortably.

However, the crunch match against the Netherlands takes place in their final qualifier on November 18.

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