Here’s How The Aviva Stadium Could End Up Holding TWO Euro 2020 Games

Lads, we were so close.

When Shane Duffy got his head onto what looked like a hopeless ball in the opening minutes of the second play-off game against Denmark, we were already putting our local Credit Union on speed dial for the morning.

It wasn’t meant to be, sure who wanted to travel to Russia anyway… (tear).

Well if and WHEN we qualify for the next major tournament, it looks as though the green faithful won’t have to travel to far in order to see the Boys in Green play. 

Preparation has already turned to Euro 2020 and UEFA have announced that “each qualified host country will play a minimum of two games at home”.

#UEFAExCo: Breaking news@UEFAEURO 2020: Host city pairings confirmed:

Group A: Rome & Baku
Group B: Saint Petersburg & Copenhagen
Group C: Amsterdam & Bucharest
Group D: London & Glasgow
Group E: Bilbao & Dublin
Group F: Munich & Budapest

More to follow pic.twitter.com/UeQd8kHTVg

— UEFA (@UEFA) December 7, 2017

Dublin is among the 12 host cities selected for the new, one-off format and if the magic happens (we’re talking Shane Long v Germany or James McClean v Wales type of magic) and we end up qualifying, then Ireland will play two group stage games in the Aviva Stadium. 

UEFA are marking the 60th anniversary of the tournament by hosting it in a shitload of cities hence why matches at the Aviva could be on the cards. 

We know what you’re thinking, ‘we’ve only qualified for the Euros three times (’88, ’12, ’16)’ but the new 24 team format means it’s now easier for Ireland to get through the group stages as we found out in Euro 2016.

Each of the 12 host cities have been paired together in six groups of two and it also means a trip to Spain could be on the cards for travelling Irish fans.

For the next three years, ‘a nation holds its breath’, for this. 

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