The UEFA Nations League has been widely accepted as being a success since its inception back in 2018 and the countdown to the fourth iteration of the competition begins on Thursday with the league phase draw taking place in Paris (5pm Irish time).
After initial apprehension, the tournament has continued to gain popularity over the past six years with the play-off path proving particularly popular among nations who struggle to qualify for the two major international tournaments.
In fact, 12 nations are primed to hammer it out next month to complete the 24-team line-up for this summer's Euro 2024 tournament in Germany.
Alas, no Ireland, north or south, in that 12-team shoot-out, nor in the summer showpiece as both Stephen Kenny and Michael O’Neill’s outfits failed to fire in the qualifying stages.
While the Nations League is more than doing its duty to make for a more interesting international calendar, with much fewer meaningless friendlies adding to the odd-year ennui in between World Cups and Euros, the Irish have yet to really get going in the competition.
And perhaps the last edition proved the beginning of the end for recently departed Republic manager Kenny, who declared his intentions of winning his group and gaining promotion to the marquee matches of League A.
A third-place finish was the best that Kenny’s side could muster in a group of four, where Scotland and Ukraine battled it out for top spot, as Ireland had just enough to stay afloat with Armenia relegated following the six-game shootout.
And so it begins again in the French capital, with the Irish delegation heading to Paris with no team leader in place to offer insight following the culmination of the draw for the 2024-25 competition.
No doubt, a manager – or head coach, as is the preferred FAI option – will be in situ long before the league phase begins in the autumn, with competitive games set for September, October and November to take the team into the World Cup qualifying year of 2025.
The format remains straightforward with all 54 UEFA nations divided into four leagues based on their results in the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League, and then further divided into pots based on rankings.
The reigning champions, Spain, who defeated Croatia in a penalty shootout last summer, remain in League A, Pot 1, alongside Italy, Netherlands and the aforementioned beaten finalists.
Ireland remain in League B, where they have been since the very beginning, however, there is additional interest in the second tier on this occasion with the relegation of England following a poor outing last time out.
Sixteen teams will compete in League B and while Ireland will be looking for an improved performance this time around, they would surely welcome being drawn alongside Gareth Southgate’s England, which would prove popular with fans and those who control the purse-strings in the FAI.
Austria, the Czech Republic and Wales are the other three top seeds, while Finland, Ukraine, Iceland or Norway will be matched with Ireland from the second string.
Slovenia, Albania and Montenegro are placed in Pot 3 alongside Ireland, which rules them out as opponents, leaving a potential rematch with the Greeks from the fourth-ranked sides.
And it could prove the best option in terms of logistics as Georgia, Turkey and Kazakhstan could all lead to longer away days for the travelling squad and fans.
While England and Wales are in League B with the Republic of Ireland, Scotland find themselves in with the elite thanks to their impressive campaign where they topped the table ahead of Ukraine, despite losing 3-0 in Dublin in what was one of the few memorable moments of Stephen Kenny’s tenure.
Northern Ireland remain in League C and will be hoping for a strong campaign to push for promotion ahead of the next edition.
And with no Euro 2024 action for the Republic of Ireland, these Nations League games will prove the next competitive action and the first of the new manager’s tenure.
Thankfully there will be games before that as Ireland host two high-profile opponents next month at the Aviva Stadium.
A new manager is expected to be announced in plenty of time to assess and select the squad as two Euro 2024 teams, Belgium and Switzerland come to Dublin on 23 and 26 March respectively.
Further summer friendlies against Hungary and Portugal were announced this morning.
Whether it is a continuation of the squad that Kenny has established over the past three years or a national team reset, it remains to be seen, but despite the friendly nature of the fixtures, the new regime will be anxious to, and no doubt expected, to hit the ground running.
While the waiting game continues ahead of the new appointment, the players will know that they have to step up, perform and impress before the competitive Nations League kicks off after their extended summer break.
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