FAI officials acknowledged yesterday that they may have to look outside Europe for opposition to take on Ireland in the European Championship warm-up game planned for February 10th.

After consulting with agents looking after 12 European countries Bernard O'Byrne, the FAI's chief executive, confirmed they had drawn a blank. "The discouraging thing is that several of the countries contacted are free on that date, but they are simply not interested in a February game," he said.

"We are still committed to arranging a game on February 10th for Mick McCarthy believes it is essential that he has the chance of bringing his players together before the game in Macedonia on March 27th."

Negotiations for games on two other free dates in April and October next year are farther advanced, but O'Byrne prefers to wait until he has completed the package before making an announcement.