Yugoslavia's defeat of Macedonia last night keeps Vujadin Boskov's side in pole position in Group Eight of the European Championship qualifying competition.

Last year's World Cup finalists, have the toughest run-in of any of the group's three main contenders for next summer's finals with trips to Skopje (Wednesday) and Croatia, the current group leaders (next month) still to come before the qualification battle is finally resolved.

Assuming the Yugoslavs win again on Wednesday, then their visit to Croatia will be the key to deciding which of the three goes through automatically to next year's championships in Belgium and The Netherlands.

If Yugoslavia slip up in either game, then wins in Ireland's remaining two games would assure Mick McCarthy's side of a place in the finals as six points would also be enough to beat the Croatians into second place, should Miroslav Blazevic's side win their remaining match.

If any of the three teams finish level on points, then placings will be decided on the basis of head to head meetings with goal difference followed by away goals, counting towards qualification.

This means that after the games played over the last five days, Ireland hold what is effectively a one point advantage over Croatia, while last week's goal by Bejan Stankovic gives his side the edge over The Republic.