Republic of Ireland Manager Martin O’Neill has been given an extra incentive to leapfrog Scotland in our ultra competitive qualifying group.
Ffollowing an announcement by Uefa today, Ireland know we will be seeded in the Euro 2016 play-offs if we manage to finish in third spot.
Albania, Israel or Norway are possible opponents if we manage to finish third but we will certainly need the rub of the green along the way.
O’Neill and his assistant Roy Keane are fully aware that our hopes are hanging by a thread after a draw with the Scots in Dublin recently.
The permutations for third place are complicated as both countries must play the same opposition in the remaining games.