Whereas ending second would safe a play-off, Northern Eire may nonetheless have a shot at reaching the World Cup even when they end outdoors the highest two because of their Nations League group win final 12 months.
The highest 4 Nations League winners who don’t end within the high two of their World Cup qualifying group will earn a play-off place.
Second place continues to be up for grabs, however let’s speak the hypothetical worst-case situation and Northern Eire end outdoors of the highest two come the top of Group A in November.
When it comes to rating, Northern Eire completed twelfth out of the 14 group winners within the Nations League, which implies they want eight of the 11 groups above them to qualify or have already booked a play-off spot.
Whereas eyes have been on all teams all through the marketing campaign, in the end there is just one extra match that Northern Eire have to control.
If the Czech Republic beat minnows Gibraltar on Monday, 17 November – the identical time NI tackle Luxembourg of their last qualifier – then O’Neill’s facet will likely be assured a play-off it doesn’t matter what occurs.
You’ll anticipate Germany to complete within the high two, and if they do not then NI could be the group to profit in Group A.
England confirmed their qualification for subsequent summer season’s event with a 5-0 win in opposition to Latvia.
Spain, France, Portugal and Norway are all assured of a top-two end of their respective teams.
A minimum of one in all North Macedonia or Wales, who’re presently battling with Belgium for qualification, will end within the high two in Group J and would be the seventh of eight groups that Northern Eire want to achieve the play-offs.
In order that leaves the Czech Republic in Group L, who ought to have sufficient to beat Gibraltar regardless of a late cost for second by the Faroe Islands.
Sweden and Romania, together with the group that misses out in Group J, would be the different groups to profit from their Nations League group wins.
