Barring a seismic change in the Fifa rankings between now and next Monday, the Republic of Ireland will be drawn against either France, Russia, Greece or Portugal in the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup.
Of the eight teams going into the hat next Monday, they are the four highest ranked teams in the current Fifa standings and will therefore be seeded for the play-off draw.
Ireland’s current ranking of 38th leaves them in the second tier of countries – alongside Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia – after Fifa’s decision to seed the draw.
While Ireland’s place in the play-offs was already secured before tonight’s 0-0 stalemate with Montenegro, four other countries had to get over the finishing line.
Ukraine were first to confirm their names in the hat, beating Andorra 6-0 in an early kick-off in Group Six. Their win rendered Croatia’s result in Kazakhstan meaningless, although Slaven Bilic’s side were made to fight hard for a 2-1 win.
Elsewhere, Portugal had little trouble seeing off Malta 4-0 while Greece joined them in the draw with a 2-1 win over Luxembourg.
In Group Three, Slovakia’s 1-0 win over Poland saw them qualify automatically leaving Slovenia to fight it out in the play-offs.
Fifa will release updated rankings on Friday. Fifa decided last month to seed the the teams into two groups of four, with the top four in the world rankings in one pot and the others in a second pot.
Teams qualified for play-offs (current world ranking)
Russia 6
France 10
Greece 12
Portugal 17
Ukraine 25
Republic of Ireland38
Bosnia-Herzegovina 46
Slovenia 54
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