The UEFA Nations League is here to frazzle the brains of even those who could work out the permutations for the final week of World Cup qualifying on the back of a napkin, relevant today as we learn of the Ireland Nations League draw.
The competition itself is relatively straightforward, but the added complication of the Nations League link-in with qualification for Euro 2020 making it largely baffling.
We're going to focus on the simple bit first, tell you our opponents, and if you've had a couple of shots of coffee, then read on for the bit about qualification for the Euros.
Ireland Nations League Draw - Our Opponents
First up, the simple bit: Ireland are in League B, and if we win our three-team group, we will be promoted to League A (and will be in with the big boys).
Ireland have been drawn with Denmark and Wales in a repeat of the end of our World Cup qualifying campaign.
We will play both home and away across September, October, and November this year. The dates of those fixtures will be confirmed later today.
Ireland Nations League Draw - What It Means For Euro 2020 Qualification
Right, as for qualification for the Euros.
If we win the group, it more or less guarantees us a playoff for the Euros. Cast your mind back to qualification for Euro 2016, when a third-place finish was enough to earn a playoff against Bosnia. For Euro 2020, however, a nation cannot earn a playoff by finishing third in their playoff group. Instead, those playoffs will be doled out based on performance in the Nations League.
There are four playoff spots up for grabs, one in each of the four Leagues. These will go to the top side in each group. Should they have already qualified for the Euros automatically via their qualification group, then the playoff spot will go the best-ranked Nations League side not to qualify for the Euros via the qualification group.
The playoffs will take place in March 2020, consisting of a one-legged semi-final and a final playoff.
The Nations League games are competitive games, meaning that any player to play for Ireland in the competition will not be eligible to play for anyone else.
