With the draw for Euro 2016 just days away, we assess the Republic of Ireland's potential opponents in France next summer. Today it's Pot 2 where we'll be hoping to avoid the likes of Italy and Austria.
Ireland will be in Pot 4 for the draw, which takes place on Saturday in Paris. Darragh Maloney will be joined by Brian Kerr and Richie Sadlier, while Tony O'Donoghue is in Paris from 5pm on RTÉ2. Ed Leahy will be live blogging the draw on RTÉ News Now from 5pm.
Austria
Austria were one of the surprise packages of the Euro 2016 qualifying stage, topping their group and dropping just two points as they overcame the more fancied Russia and Sweden on their way to France.
A 4-1 victory over Sweden in early September ensured that the Austrians qualified with two games to spare and manager Marcel Koller will be confident that his side can raise just as many eyebrows at the tournament proper.
Bayern Munich's David Alaba is one of the more recognisable names in the squad but Austria’s success is built on their team spirit more than the ability of any individual and Koller has them playing the type of high-tempo, high-pressing game that will cause problems for any team they face – including Ireland should we be drawn with them.
Croatia
This isn’t a vintage Croatian side by any stretch but their home form was enough to see them qualify automatically behind Italy in Group H, and they could even absorb a one-point deduction for the behaviour of their supporters.
A poor start to their campaign saw manager Niko Kovac replaced by Ante Cacic and only Italy were able to beat the Croatians, although they did limp to a 1-0 victory over Malta on the final day and needed Italy beating Norway to ensure their place at France.
In terms of players, Real Madrid duo Matteo Kovacic and Luka Modric, along with Barcelona’s Ivan Rakatic, are their key men and on their day all three have the potential to be match winners. However, the supporting cast around them aren't always reliable.
Italy
Italy are very much the side that Ireland will hope to avoid from the second pot. Much like the great Italian sides of the past, Antonio Conte’s side are built on the foundation of a mean defence and stifling midfield.
A defence centred around the likes of Giorgio Chielini, Leonardo Bonucci, Matteo Darmian and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon would be enough to give any team nightmares, let alone one that could be as short of attacking options as we have seen Ireland in the past.
However, while Italy have a wealth of options at the back, they struggle to impose themselves as much in attack. Southampton frontman Graziano Pelle was their top goalscorer in qualifying with three goals and the majority of their victories in qualifying came by just a single goal.
Russia
Russia stumbled through qualifying, sacking manager Fabio Capello on the way and finishing eight points behind Austria in second place. But new boss Leonid Slutsky looks to be well on the way to making them a force to be reckoned with again.
Slutsky has had to work with an ageing group of players and the new manager has struggled to find young talent to replace the old work horses of the past – especially in defence where their lack of pace is likely to be exposed against the better teams in France.
Zenit St Petersburg striker Artyom Dzyuba is Russia’s main threat and scored eight times in qualification, while Arsenal target Aleksandr Kokorin is the kind of tricky attacker that could help to unlock the meanest of defences.
Switzerland
The Swiss recovered from a poor start to their qualifying campaign in Group E to finish second behind England but they lost home and away to Roy Hodgson’s side and suffered a surprise defeat to unfancied Slovenia before eventually booking their place in France.
Manager Vladimir Petkovic certainly has some decent attacking options in the likes of Josip Drmic and Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri but this is a team that lacks steel and, aside from Borussia Monchengladbach’s young midfielder Granit Xhaka, they look rather lightweight in the centre of the park.
The Swiss certainly are one of worst team that Ireland could face from the second seeds and if drawn with them, it would be a game that we’d have to target a win in.
Ukraine
This is the first European Championships Ukraine have qualified for, after taking part in Euro 2012 as co-hosts, and they had to overcome Slovenia in the play-offs to do so.
Finishing behind Spain and Slovakia in Group C, Ukraine’s progress to France 2016 was built on a mean defence and they conceded just five goals in all 12 of their group games and their play-off with Slovenia. Manager Mykhaylo Fomenko has his side incredibly well drilled and while they might not always be the most exciting team to watch, it’s hard to argue with his results.
With attacking options like Sevilla’s Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko of Dynamo Kiev, they have goals in them too and this is a team that many would rather see Ireland avoid in their draw.
Dream draw: Switzerland. The Swiss failed to impress in qualifying, struggling to even remain competitive with England and there remains doubts over whether or not they have the stomach for a hard fight. Lightweight is the word that springs to mind and Ireland could certainly bag three points against them.
Nightmare draw: Italy. Forget any memories of Ray Houghton’s goal at Giant’s Stadium, this is an Italian side that will travel to France with real hopes of returning home with the Henri Delaunay trophy. They’re a side that harks back to the great Italian sides of old and any team that beats them will go a long way.
