If Ireland's qualifying group for EURO 2024 didn't look daunting before the World Cup, it most certainly does now.
Most Irish fans will have had their heads in their hands when the draw revealed Ireland would face off with both France and the Netherlands, as well as Greece and Gibraltar, in their quest to qualify for the 2024 championships in Germany. Given that France look like the strongest contenders of the last four in Qatar, and the Dutch were unlucky not to join them in the semi-finals, it is clear that Irish boss Stephen Kenny has a mountain to climb during this campaign.
Indeed, it is a make or break campaign for Kenny. Slack could be cut for the 2022 World Cup qualification, as performances improved from the previous year's Nations League, and impressive results at home against Portugal and Serbia began to improve the atmosphere around the Ireland camp.
20 November 2022; Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny before the International Friendly match between Malta and Republic of Ireland at the Ta' Qali National Stadium in Attard, Malta. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
But, with another poor Nations League campaign ticked off, Kenny is now under pressure to turn things around - and he could not be coming up against tougher opposition. It looks as though Ireland will have to hope for a Nations League play-off route once again, if they are to reach a first major tournament in eight years.
With Kenny under pressure, discussion has begun on what the safety net will be, if the ex-Dundalk boss is forced out. Reports in the English press this week suggest that former Ireland man Lee Carsley is in pole position to take over whenever Kenny does ultimately depart.
Report: Lee Carsley in contention for Ireland job
Writing in the Telegraph this week, football journalist Sam Wallace spoke on the alternatives for the FA, should they choose to sack Gareth Southgate. Wallace said that Carsley, who was a mainstay of the Irish team in the mid-2000s, would be in contention were it not for his non-English nationality, and his supposed future commitments to the FAI:
The FA appointed Lee Carsley last year, a capable coach who had a number of previous FA roles, but critically, he played for the Republic of Ireland. He was Birmingham-born but earned 40 caps for the Irish national team. He is not a potential successor to Southgate.
Indeed the suggestion is that he is very much likely to be the long-term successor for the Football Association of Ireland if it does not push on with Stephen Kenny beyond Euro 2024 – or perhaps even before then. In that respect the English FA has done its development work for the FAI.
Carsley is currently working with the English FA, as head coach for the nation's Under-21 team. He is highly regarded in coaching circles, but England appear to be dead set on appointing a home grown coach, meaning Carsley would be ruled out (despite being born in Birmingham).
The former Blackburn, Everton, and Birmingham midfielder won 40 caps during his time as an Ireland player, playing under Mick McCarthy, Brian Kerr, and Steve Staunton during an 11-year international career.
13 October 2007; Lee Carsley, Republic of Ireland, in action against Lukas Podolski, left, and Simon Rolfes, Germany. 2008 European Championship Qualifier, Republic of Ireland v Germany, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit; Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
Wallace's line in the Telegraph of "perhaps even before then" is an ominous warning sign for current manager Stephen Kenny. Though he will likely be afforded some grace given the outrageously difficult draw planted at Ireland's door, he will know that results need to be maximised if the Kenny experiment is to extend beyond the 2024 finals in Germany.
The fact that the FAI are already seemingly making contingency plans does not bode well for Kenny.
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