The Euro 2012 play-offs are over and we now know all 16 teams who will be competing in Poland and Ukraine next summer. Barring any injury issues, there will definitely be some Villa interest as the Irish saw out their considerable advantage from the first leg against Estonia to book their place in the finals with a 1-1 draw in Dublin.

Just try to stop Shay Given and Richard Dunne getting on that plane.

The draw for the groups will take place next month, but we know the seeding already. Each group will be made up of one team from each of the following four pots:

Hopefully Darren Bent and Gabby Agbonlahor, at least, will also be going to the tournament, but their places in the squad are far less certain than Dunne and Given. It’s not impossible for England and Ireland to be drawn in the same group, who knows, maybe we’ll get to see this foursome battling it out against each other.

Barry Bannan’s back, baby

The reserves sent a very strong side over to league leaders West Brom last night and came back with all the points thanks to second half goals from Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan and Graham Burke.

Joining Albrighton and Bannan in the starting line-up were Brad Guzan, Ciaran Clark, Shane Lowry, Nathan Baker and Gary Gardner, fresh from action in Belgium the night before with England U21s.

But it was Bannan, in something of a come back game, that grabbed all the attention with a remarkable piece of invention; volleying in a defensive clearance from 30 yards, lobbing the Baggies keeper in the process.

With his recent indiscretions in the past*, lessons hopefully learned, he’ll be challenging for his place in the match day squad again. With Gabby in a fitness battle and Jermaine Jenas ineligible to play against his parent club, there’s got to be a good chance that he’ll at least make the 18 at Tottenham.

*Figuratively speaking. Bannan will appear in court on November 25th and is charged with drink driving and also accused of driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without due care and attention.