UEFA have confirmed the seeding for Euro 2012, and Ireland, as expected, are in pot four.
It means Trapattoni’s men will definitely avoid playing France, Denmark and Czech Republic in the first round, after advancing against Estonia last night.
However, a nightmare scenario could see them paired with Spain, Germany and Portugal in the first round.
The seedings are based on a team’s current UEFA co-efficient ranking.
These rankings, meanwhile, are based on 40% of the average ranking points per game won in the Euro 2012 qualifying stages, 40% of the average ranking points per game won in the 2010 World Cup qualifying stages and tournament, and 20% of the average ranking points per game won in the Euro 2008 qualifying stages and tournament.
Consequently, with 28,576 points, Ireland are the lowest ranked side out of all the teams in the tournament, aside from Poland and Ukraine, who, as co-hosts, qualify as top seeds automatically.
Euro seeding: Pot 1 Poland, Ukraine, Spain and Holland. Pot 2 England, Germany, Italy and Russia. Pot 3 Croatia, Greece, Portugal and Sweden. Pot 4 Ireland, France, Denmark and Czech Republic.