A must-lose game? How a defeat will bizarrely help Ireland qualify for Euro 2024

In near enough every circumstance in any sporting event, a team or individual must win to qualify for tournaments and better competition.

In this unusual situation, the Republic of Ireland would be better with a loss to the Netherlands next month to qualify for the European Championships in 2024.

Ireland beat Gibraltar 4-0 away from home on Monday night, but their hopes of getting into the Euros through the playoffs were crushed after a 2-0 loss to Greece last week.

Ireland have had a demoralizing campaign under manager Stephen Kenny, losing five matches in six before they played Gibraltar on Monday.

Despite their terrible run of form, the 2024 European Championships are still up for grabs, even in the strangest of circumstances.

The introduction of the Nations League in 2018 has given Ireland a lifeline and the newest route to progress into the major tournament.

The European Championship Playoffs will consist of the best-performing teams from the Nations League that failed to qualify automatically through the qualifying groups.

Therefore, with the seven spots available from the Nations League, Ireland cannot have seven teams finish above them in the Nations League rankings that have failed to qualify automatically.

The Netherlands are one of those teams that are higher than Ireland in the rankings, so why does Ireland need to lose against them?

It would be better for Ireland to lose against the Netherlands because Ireland will need them to finish above Greece, who are also in their group.

Greece ranks lower than Ireland in the Nations League rankings, with Greece playing in League C, Group Two, and Ireland in League B, Group One.

If the Netherlands beat Ireland, Ronald Koeman's side will be on 15 points from seven games, three points ahead of Greece in the same number of matches played.

A win against Ireland would almost guarantee the Netherlands finishing above Greece, who play Kylian Mbappe's France in the final qualifying match.

Ireland last played in a major championship at the 2016 European Championships, getting to the Round of 16 after beating Italy and drawing to Sweden in the group stages.

The Irish lost to eventual finalists France 2-1, with Antoine Griezmann scoring a brace and Robbie Brady scoring for Ireland. It was the first time Ireland made it to the knockouts of a European Championships.

Although the chances are slim that Ireland will qualify for the upcoming competition in Germany, the Nations League has offered Stephen Kenny's team a lifeline, but they must lose to the Dutch.