The fixtures have been announced.
The draw for Euro 2020 qualification was made at the Convention Centre in Dublin on Sunday morning. The Republic of Ireland were drawn in Group D alongside Switzerland, Denmark, Georgia and Gibraltar.
It is not an easy group, but it could have been a lot worse. Mick McCarthy’s team had originally been drawn in Group C alongside Germany and the Netherlands.
But more than two host nations for the tournament could not be drawn alongside each other. So, Ireland could not be placed in this group. Amsterdam, Munich and Dublin are among the 12 host cities for Euro 2020.
Instead, McCarthy’s team went into Group C, and Northern Ireland took Ireland’s place in Group D.
Ireland are also in a five-team group, rather than a six-team group, which means that they will have two matchdays free. So, McCarthy will have time to work on the training ground with his new squad.
Group A, featuring England, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Kosovo, would have been a more favourable draw for Ireland. But they would have accepted this draw before it was made.
Here are the fixtures for Euro 2020 qualifying.
Our #EURO2020 qualifying fixtures confirmed!
Mar 23 Gibraltar 🇬🇮 (A) 17:00
Mar 26 Georgia 🇬🇪 (H) 19:45
Jun 7 Denmark 🇩🇰 (A) 19:45
Jun 10 Gibraltar 🇬🇮 (H) 19:45
Sep 5 Switzerland 🇨🇭 (H) 19:45
Oct 12 Georgia 🇬🇪 (A) 14:00
Oct 15 Switzerland 🇨🇭 (A) 19:45
Nov 18 Denmark 🇩🇰 (H) 19:45 pic.twitter.com/4zCg0f6lJf— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) December 2, 2018
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