Home comforts

In this last round of qualifying matches for the football event Euro 2016, it has to be the greatest achievement of the Home Nations (the Republic of Ireland includes here as part of the British Isles) since qualifying for international tournaments became standard.  At one time or the other, one of the five has always fallen flat.
To be sure, England's uninspiring 1-0 win over Estonia by the Baltic Sea is utterly forgettable but it complements the set all the same.  Wales triumphed 2-1 over Cyprus in Cardiff despite being down to ten men for much of the second half.  Then last night, Scotland claimed a battling 2-2 draw from early group pacesetters, Poland in Warsaw and in the same group the Republic of Ireland drew with World Champions Germany with the last kick of the game in the Ruhr industrial heartland of the latter.  But the best result of all was unfancied Northern Ireland, for so long whipping boys, making the journey to Greece to beat their tasty hosts 2-0 in Piraeus.  This kept up the province's 100% record with three wins out of three.
It can't last.  England will almost certainly qualify for Euro 2016 in France.  The Welsh momentum is still precarious and still largely dependent on Bale dragging opposing players to him, allowing his teammates to flourish.  Scotland and Eire are in a very tough group, fighting each other while Germany will eventually come good and Poland are always dangerous.  As for Northern Ireland, it would be lovely if they could get over the line but so often in the past a fine little run has flattered to deceive.  It would be salivating to see all five make it to France, even if it is within a bloated expanded set-up of 24, rather than the usual 16 standard going back to the last century.  Ironically, all five may have qualified within stricter criteria with fewer finalist for the full tournament, so it would be sad if their qualifying feats were cheapened by this fact.  Still, good times for the moment.